Tomodachi Life - Living the Dream

First thoughts:

This is a fun game and if you do a lot of world building, like me, its fun to put your characters in their own little world. I’ve already planned out several mii’s on my different Switch Accounts to have multiple islands. 

The game play isn’t too bad, it does move fast. Romance can happen within an hour or so and it can also disappear at the same speed. 

I will say – you will need to slow down with this game OR make enough Mii’s that you’ll be busy. Take your time, don’t rush through it (like I did) and spend your time with the characters you create. People are already complaining that there isn’t enough game play. I did rush it as it was my escape from busy season at work. So I was playing for hours at a time and just doing everything at once and I have unlocked almost everything there is but I understand that this was my fault.

I now try and say hello to each of mine, feed them (even if they don’t ask), and get them new clothes if possible. So if you’ve got 30 mii’s then you should speak with each one. I also then spend my time dropping Mii’s together if I want them to be besties, interact, or get romantic. 

Customization:

I’m 50 / 50 on this side of things. On the one hand, you have unlimited options to draw and create with their free drawing tool on just about everything. From hair, to faces, to objects, housing, etc – you can make their world as you see fit.

On the other side – there are very few preset game options when it comes to decorating the outside of your house and interiors. I am an artist (by trade and for fun) and even I’m finding it over whelming as I realize that I have to physically CREATE EVERYTHING if I want it to look different than it is now. Drawing 3D buildings has never been a talent of mine, I can barely draw 2D Buildings DX. 

Their editor isn’t bad but I do advise you to get a stylus. Using their editor without one is a pain in the butt. To me, its harder than ACNH. 

Events/Cut Scenes

There are so many events that even I am still seeing new ones. I thought I had unintentionally unlocked them all when I over played it, but I’m still uncovering new ones. I think the more different your Mii’s personalities are the better. 

They do repeat after awhile but to me its nice knowing how relationships are progressing.

Pairings/Couples

I absolutely ADORE that they added the option for Non Binary ontop of the other main two and that you can choose whether your Mii will date anyone or just a guy or just a girl. I was immediately throwing all of my BL characters in to shove them together. XD It just opens up the game in general to be a lot of fun. 

Censoring (or lack there of)

I’m also a huge fan of nothing being censored. I know this means that we can’t share our designs or visit each other as easily because of this. I don’t want some kid to accidently fall in an island with high rated stuff. It just gives adults more freedom to be silly and add what we want to it without having to worry about getting a strike from Nintendo or a block. 

Aesthetic Designing

You can spend all of your money and time making it the perfect island but it starts to feel like you’re bullying your Mii’s into having no opinion what so ever. It’s actually a lot of fun giving the Mii’s pocket money and letting them decorate. Sometimes you’ll login to the game and there will be a tree in the middle of the road or a bench facing the water and if you stand – you’ll fall in.  But it’s so much fun for them to tell you where they want stuff since they live there. I know a lot of cozy gamer aesthetic girls are going to be telling me that how dare I let them decorate and blah blah, but too bad. Decorate a little but don’t leave the Mii’s in an ugly aesthetic island where they aren’t appreciated or loved. 

Cheating

So I absolutely 100% ADORE that you will get PENALIZED for time traveling! TT is cheating and yes, I will DIE on this hill. These games are meant to be taken day by day, not 7 days in 7 hours. ACNH let people get away with that and got players used to it. I hate it SO much. Then they get burnt out and then they complain non stop even though they did it to themselves. Well in THIS GAME, you will be PENALIZED for time traveling. So guess what? You do have to play on THEIR TERMS.

Updates

I do think updates are coming whether they are DLCs or just free updates, they’ve got room to expand. Also if you look at what you can unlock, the Quik Build Amenities, Island Builder and Travel Tickets aren’t “completed.” I know it sucks and you’re used to just being given everything IMMEDIATELY but have patience. It’s not a half done game or a broken game – you just played through it too fast.