The Sims 4 Star Wars: Journey to Batuu Review – Close Enough To Galaxy’s Edge

Love it or hate it, Star Wars is one of the most prolific Intellectual Properties out there. This media juggernaut spans movies, videogames, and even cartoons. Many people secretly go to bed wishing they could be in a Galaxy, Far Far Away. The Sims 4 Star Wars: Journey To Batuu aims to give players the closest feeling they can get to being part of Star Wars, except only for our virtual avatars.

Interestingly enough, this DLC is way more than just a costume pack, with quests and even a story. How does the DLC stack up? Let’s find out.

A Stone’s Throw Away From Batuu

This entire DLC is very much based off of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction in California. While we personally can’t go there at great personal risk, it’s good to know that we can live vicariously through our Sims instead.

The world of Batuu looks amazing, and it really captures the Star Wars feel. You can find iconic fixtures like the Millennium Falcon here, to really sell that this is a world in the Star Wars universe. There’s also a very Cantina-esque bar, complete with weird Aliens behind the bar serving you drinks. I only wish there were strangers here offering my Sims Death Sticks.

Batuu has three districts, and travelling between them gets you a Star Wars-styled screen wipe. It’s a small detail, but a fun one that really helps sell the flavor of this DLC.

It’s not an empty park, either. The world is brimming with aliens from all walks of life, really giving you the feeling of an alien world. There’s also plenty of buildings, though most of them serve as facilities for your time on Batuu.

Taking Part in Your Own Star Wars Story

Of course, there’s more to do than just taking in the sights. The area actually has its own story, which takes place in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The First Order and the Resistance are fighting for control of Batuu, and your Sim’s actions will determine who ultimately wins.

This quest will also get you to cross paths with famous Star Wars characters, like Rey and Kylo Ren. You’ll also get to participate in plenty of Star Wars-flavored activities, such as getting your own droid and engaging in lightsaber duels. Thankfully, there’s no way to lose your arms in the game.

Of couse, being a Sims game, the actual depth of these quests is rudimentary at best. Storm Troopers can check your ID, but unless you actually have negative standing with The First Order, it’s not like they’ll actually do anything about it.

Not Exactly The Best For Your Sims

Another gripe with this interactive quest feature is that your Sim will actually need to have good stats. The DLC gives you several stat checks, which means your Sim will need to be up to par. You’ll want to check on your Handiness, Programming, Rocket Science and Fitness for these.

While it’s a cool feature, it does kind of go against the point of The Sims, because now you’ve got to actually be concerned with the practical side-effects of your Sim’s stats.

The game’s quests will also take a toll on your sims, as they’re not exactly xenophiles. Sometimes alien species can cause your Sims to be disgusted, which will affect their stats. Additionally, theses quests can put your Sims in a Tense mood, which will also cause them to stop having fun. I get that stopping galactic fascism isn’t a fun task, but it can cause trouble for people who’d rather not put their Sims in that kind of situation.

Taking The Magic Home

Of course, if you’re just here for some Star Wars-flavored Sims content, you won’t be found wanting. The DLC adds plenty of new items. These items can be brought back to your regular home, too, so you can finally be that family on the street with a Landspeeder in the garage.

Of course, it’s not all house decor. Your Sims can wear Star Wars-themed threads too, with plenty of outfits to blend in with the Batuu crowd. This isn’t just limited to your threads, either. You can get some items that straight-up change your race, becoming one of the local aliens in Batuu. You can also dress up like Kylo Ren, so you can give that poor child the happy family that would have stopped him from becoming a horrible fascist.

Final Thoughts

On one hand, I’m glad that The Sims 4 decided to go out there with the Star Wars content. It’s thematically great, and a good way to get your Star Wars fix in yet another game that previously didn’t have it.

On the other hand, the quest content is easily the weakest part of the DLC,. Not everyone likes negative stat buffs for their Sims, and having the quests cause them can be a big turn-off for anyone interested in it.

That being said though, adding some sci-fi elements to the Sims is always a fun time, and running around with a Storm Trooper costume on makes me feel like I’m directing a Robot Chicken sketch. Like all things The Sims, it’s a fun jaunt when you don’t think too much about it.

The Sims 4

Publisher: EA

Developer: Maxis

Release Date: 2014-09-02

Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Steam, Xbox One

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