I love Sims games, but this one didn't do it for me especially on the DS. I was disappointed because the only part I enjoyed was to squish the bugs with my stylus. I would not recommend this game to Sim fans because it might change their opinion on Sims.

I love Sims games and couldn't wait to try Castaway after finally upgrading to DS. Well, the plot is unique and it was fun to play, but I think it could have been better than it was. The following are Pros, Cons, and a few ways I think would improve the game.

Pros:
----The main pro is that it is a Sims game and they are always fun to me.
----I like the plot. Your Sim falls off a platform while waving to a ship and lands into a crate which is carried through turbulent weather to a deserted island. You must find food, make shelters, and find objects to craft useful (and sometimes not too useful) things or to trade with the few other Sims who also managed to find their way to the island.
----It is easy to navigate from one area of the island to another. Once you find a place, it is added to the map and all you have to do is click on the location and you're there. Your survival guide is also easy to use. You can find an item you need to craft and it will list what you need to find to craft it.
----The food you eat affects different levels of physical needs which is a new feature.
----The spear fishing and rod fishing is fun.
----I like how you can collect different things and use them to craft new things; however, there is also a con to that.

Cons:
----There are a lot of items you can find and others you can craft, but many of the items are useless. A birthday cake? A flamingo? A jack-o-lantern? You can't put these items just anywhere, either. You can only place them where there are rocks. Most of these decorative items look silly outside on an island.
----It is an impersonal game which seems to be the trend with Sims games lately (i.e. Pets2). The background graphics are very nice, but you don't get close-ups of the Sims. There are only 4 other Sims on the island, but they're so small it's difficult to detect much personality. The herb grower wears a hat, the doctor seems lazy, the chef is aggressive and the student is a little quirky. That's about it. I really could care less if they liked my Sim or not. The only time it matters is when you need to trade. You don't need to constantly give them gifts as other reviews have stated. When you see their picture in a thought bubble, that means it's time to pay them a visit and talk with them to maintain their good graces. Communication is just in graphics, no words. Sims no longer have personalities like they did in Bustin' Out and The Urbz--even your own Sim seems boring. Plus, the other Sims are stationary. You can never bump into one in an unexpected place. They are always in the same place, awake or sleeping.
----The frequent rainstorms get to be really annoying.
----You can't save the game at any spot like on other games. You have to go to sleep first before you're given the option to save.
----The game is too short! My Sim found his way off the island after only finding about 50% of the items. I'm continuing to play the game to
see if I can find everything. My Sim keeps fishing, digging, and diving to find more stuff and is up to 95%, but it takes a little away from the game knowing you've already finished it.

The game would be better to me if it were longer and more items were used in the missions of the game. Plus, the intro to the game showed a journal. I thought that entries to the journal would be added after certain milestones of the game were reached, but it was not seen again. Why not incorporate the journal idea more? Have items be more useful, for example, putting the torches up could attract more supply planes. Maybe playing the radio or phonograph could attract the other Sims on the island (or, better yet, a party ship) to come over and dance. I'd definitely like better relationships with the other Sims. Have them move about the island and give them more personality. Once leaving the island, have a place for your Sim to go. Maybe bring things back to the island or take some of the other Sims off the island with you. Oh well. I can't wait to find out where the world of Sims on the DS goes next.

The graphics aren't the best but its fun...really really fun to me anyway. But at this moment I am stumped, it is for maybe 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders?? I enjoy it though.

I was really excited about getting this game after reading the enthusiastic reviews about it. I was not disapointed at first. The game had an incredible story to go along with it, and you learned to survive. But it was very annoying how you had to constantly fill your needs at the same time. Also, almost all the foods had a downside to them. For example, the food could increase your stomach but decrease your hygiene.
I had expected much moer from this game, and it could be much better.

I AM A SIMS ADDICT AND I LOVE THIS GAME!!THIS IS A GREAT GAME TO BUY IF YOUR AN ADDICT LIKE I AM!!I RECOMMEND THIS GAME!!!