For those of you who have followed my previous reviews, you will know how interested I am in how the Maxoids design and populate their new neighborhoods. You may recall that I had mixed feelings about Desiderata Falls and how I felt it seemed as though more work could perhaps have been done on the population. I am intrigued to see whether Belladonna will make me feel more postively.
Dominating the heart of this neighborhood is the grand statue of Bella Goth proudly holding aloft the platinum plumbbob, fronted by the long Central Park. Some of this monument at least can be seen from almost everywhere in the Cove.
Belladonna is actually split into several distinct districts that emulate different the different social classes. To the "north", there is an affluent looking district up on the hill. To the "south", there is the bay and then there is an area of mixed value stretching from the highrise apartment buildings in the "east" to the farmland in the "west".
For some reason, there are two antenna masts within very close distance to each other. These serve as landmarks at the centre of the districts of the affluent "hill residents" and the less affluent "valley folk". One of them is up on the hill with Tech Avenue running along one side of it. It is surrounded by more affluent and minimalist-appearing buildings. The other one is just down the hill and has Main Street running along one side. It is surrounded by the less affluent and buildings that are more "worn" in appearance.
This is Travis Pinkney. He is one of my sims and moved into the Cove shortly after the Cartman family. He lives in one of the City Centre Lofts just off Main Street where the rent is quite cheap and there is a row of local shops just around the corner.
Here he is reciting one of his poems at the Center Drip Coffee Shop to a packed house. He can get coffee and juice here at the Drip and there is also a snack machine.
For his clothing needs, there is the Desprit Deals Clothing Store and if he needs to stock up on foodstuffs and anything else for the house there is the Swift N Thrift Mini Mart. He doesn't have to go here for his shopping or to stock up his fridge. He could visit the more affluent parts of town. Travel time is the same and believe it or not, so are the prices.
At the other end of the scale, here are Chloe and Peaches Parker who live in their own mansion up on the hill. As expected, there are stores up here on the hill as well that are also in the same style. The difference in architectural style is clear to see. In this expansion pack, EAxis have done a lot for atmosphere when it comes to their example neighborhood. Here, Chloe Parker has taken the helicopter to go on a trip to Freya's Fine Foods. Yes, she could see it from the window but if you have your own helicopter, it's a shame to waste it.
Finer Fare Market made itself out to be a purveyor of fine foods, jewelry and magazines. It even had snack machines and its own food stand, which sold hot dogs, hamburgers and gyros (kebabs to us on this side of the pond).
Freya's Raiments was next door. As might be expected, this place made itself out to be an upmarket retailer of classy clothes. It also sold jewelry and had the same make of food stand as its neighbour and two vending machines. Although it seemed to be a bit repetitive, it was done in a different but still oppulent style.
The Belladonna Cove Park District is one continuous area, comprising of four different lots and various elements of neighborhood decoration. Assuming the cove is the south, from west to east, it seems to visually deteriorates in value. From the newly built open air stage and large playground at Central Park West, it ends up in the somewhat shabby looking Central Park East which is need of a major overhaul, featuring only two bathrooms and a barbecue area.
Running along the south of this continuous row is Bella Park Road and across the other side of the road from the park are various community lots.
Opposite Central Park East is the Archimedes Arcade. This has an indoor playground for the children and teens, one games room with a pool table and dart boards, another one with arcade machines and upstairs, there are four computers and a large TV with console for the purpose of playing video games. It even has a chess table for those who would rather have a quieter game. For those who have FreeTime, this would a gaming hobbyist's dream. It also has a shop that sells magazines and computer/video games or for those who wish to wet their whistle, there is a juice bar.
Opposite Central Park is Belladonna Cove Groceries and Cratus Gym.
The former is the third grocery store in this neighborhood and is somewhat like previous grocery stores. As well as the fridges and shelves with foodstuffs to buy, it also includes a jewelry rack so your sims can glam themselves up with their grocery shopping. Instead of the almost obligatory barbecue, there are snack and drinks machines plus a large playground area with a roundabout, slide and swing. You can't let the kids have all of the fun here.
The latter has a gym including exercise machines, an area to do aerobics to music from a boogie box, an open air swimming pool, four recliners, changing rooms with showers and two vending machines, which is coming as no surprise. If it isn't a barbecue or food stall, the community lot has to have two vending machines. I must remember to check out my nearest clothes store to see if there are vending machines in the foyer or a barbecue outside. However, I suppose I should know by now that the simworld is similar but so very different to the real world.
Opposite Central Park Pavilion is I N Clothing and Apparel. This is made up of two timbered buildings. On the left is a diner with a "One Complete Diner" serving hamburgers, hotdogs and gyros. It also has two restrooms. On the right is the clothing store with various clothing racks, two jewelry racks and two changing rooms with mirrors so you can put on your new togs and jewelry before you go home. There is a chess table outside for those who would rather have a game than get new clothes.
There are no communal lots opposite Central Park West but there are two across the road that leads up the hill to Audrey Avenue.
The Belladonna Cove Public Library is an awe inspiring building. Outside the front are various chess tables. Inside is a large area with bookshelves, chairs and couches so people can read in comfort. Although our sims can't literally borrow books, they can read them and they can buy magazines. There is also a private reading room which can be reached from the special double bookcase. It's a mystery which book to read to open it, though. For those who get a hunger from reading or a thirst for me, you might not be too surprised to find that there are two vending machines here too.
The Belladonna Cove Art Museum is next door. This is also quite an awe-inspiring building. Outside, there is a human statue, which must be one of the museum's live exhibits. There are also two chess tables. After climbing the wide stairs to the museum, it is building with two levels to it. On the ground floor are sculptures and paintings in various themes. On the upper floor is a food stall and also two vending machines.
I didn't have too much to say about the museum in Desiderata Valley, but I do like the look of this one.
Further along on the edge of town is Gamesend Grounds, which from the look of it is intended to be used as the final resting place for your dearly departed sims. Unless you want your remaining sims to be scared to death by their ghosts or think having an urn around the house is a cool ornament to go on a shelf, moving their gravestone to here is a good choice. The is a small building here with two restrooms and would you believe it? Two vending machines as well.
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