While all this isn't revolutionary Sims gameplay, at least a few new under-and-above-the-sea and on-the-beach gaming elements provide more than the standard expansion Sims pack offering.

I don't think anyone will feel The Sims 3 is an incomplete game without Island Paradise. Sure, it's fun, but $30 is a lot to spend for filler content for a game that's four years old and already has an announced sequel.

The Sims 3: Island Paradise is one of the most comprehensive and original expansions of the last years. It does not only extend previous content but also adds features never seen before in The Sims 3. We have no doubt that we are facing a number of additions that will surely have its place in future installments of the series, now that its third iteration could be coming to its end. It is a must for fans of the series. For others, an expansion that we should not pass up ... unless you hate everything related to the sun and the beach.

This Sims expansion offers a lot of content: relaxing, resort managing, a new world and so on. A nice opportunity to pamper your Sims.

While the total sum of the additions doesn't quite match the $39.99 asking price at the moment, Island Paradise comes with a gorgeous environment, plenty of areas to explore, and lucrative resort management. Wait for it to drop in price a bit, and it's an expansion worth getting your feet wet.

Maxis has filled this tenth expansion with a lot of content, but The Sims 3 starts to feel a bit overboard.

If tropical islands and resort management sound like fun then you'll likely enjoy this; if they don't, then you're really not missing any major updates to the base game. Either way, though, you'll likely want to wait for a price drop.