Great game for any Sim fan or newcomer alike. Story mode adds to the game, and free play keeps it going.
The free play mode is fantastic, although not adding too much since The Sims 2 its still a lot of fun for any Sim fan. The freeplay mode will surely keep you coming back for more, especially when you build up communities with Sims you've made and already established sims. Fulfilling Sims aspirations, needs, wants, is a great deal of fun. Also getting a job, getting a wife/husband, having kids, watching your kids grow up and become successful, gaining skill upgrades in various different ways, and becoming successful in your job will keep you playing for hours on end.
The game might not be dramatically updated in graphics from The Sims 2, but its still the same love-able formula that works and its always fun to listen to their weird sim language.