A decade after its first launch, Tomodachi Life comes back to the scene when video games have evolved from being only enjoyed by playing them to becoming a thing to share and watch moments of. This puts TomodachiLife: Living the Dream at the perfect moment.
Tomodachi Life is a Game of the Year candidate because of its ability to adapt its approach without reinventing itself entirely. The long-awaited sequel has added several elements while maintaining the same random yet easy-to-play approach that made its predecessor stand out. The game does not attempt to revolutionize the formula but rather improve it.
This unique identity defines the gameplay of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.
Instead of having anything related to competition or progression, the game focuses on creating situations and moments. The Miis interact with each other, create relationships, argue and generally do things that do not make much sense. The player is not in full control of what takes place, instead the player guides the situation. This also means it is easy to share.
In places such as TikTok and Twitch, this unpredictability transforms immediately into video clips. There is no need to explain the weirdness. This has been another important factor in the game’s fast growth online. With a gap of over 10 years between releases, Tomodachi Life not only managed to attract its existing fan base but also a new one which would experience it via video clips and live streams.
Creativity has played a huge role in this growth. Players aren’t only playing the game. They have managed to take it to another level of creativity by recreating the characters of their favorite celebrities and dressing them up, creating special foods for them, as well as constructing whole islands on top of what is provided in the game itself. This makes each player’s island very personal. The “no filter” freedom helps achieve this.
In terms of control, the players have increased their ability to dictate the words and actions of their Miis. These have brought the most viral content concerning the game. Famous individuals are used to create unusual and utterly bizarre situations, whether based on current events or just sheer whimsy. These spread fast, and each of them brings more eyes back to the game.
However, this feature has a downside of its own.
Despite the emphasis on creating memorable moments, the game struggles with making them shareable enough. The players cannot save the photos or videos captured during the game without any additional devices. As for the capture card, its use is not always convenient. In light of how social the game is meant to be, it seems like an oversight.
It seems like the developers also want everything to be too safe. Almost all of the Miis are good people, and everything works out well for everyone despite what the situation was before. The argument goes quickly by itself, and the characters work things out easily way too often. In the end, the game loses its spontaneity, becoming predictable after some time.
However, one should not forget about the positive aspects of the game.
In this particular case, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream does not aim to compete with other games. It does not need it since the main strength of this title lies elsewhere. It offers players to watch whatever happens on their own terms, whether it makes sense or not.
It doesn’t command your attention. It holds it in moments.
But after all is said and done, it was worth the wait. While it has made some changes that will enhance the experience, it hasn’t abandoned its essence. And that careful balance is exactly why it has become a Game of the Year contender.
