The Sims: Hot Date

"The third expansion: The best yet?"

From what we have seen so far, there are two kinds of exapnsion packs, one that just adds a load of new items (Livin' largeLiving it up) and one that adds a whole new mode with some new items to go along with it (House Party, the ability to have partys) Hot Date is one of the latter, adding essentially a new neighborhood but it is so much more. Now lets get down to buisness.

GAMEPLAY 910: Not much different from any of the previous games, which is in no way a bad thing whatsoever. In fact, it is even better, because now, let's say you wanted to kiss somebody okay? Previously you would have just had a sweeping, romantic kiss. Now you can just peck them on the lips, be passionate, romantic, or suave! The same goes for most other interaction options as well; hug, brag, insult, entertain, talk and even attack! Another change is in the buy mode. Ordinarily, you go in, click on lights, and you get all the lights. Now, however, you click on lights, and submenues come up, like 'wall lights', 'standing lights', 'hanging lights', and miscellaneous. If you want to bypass this however, you can just click on all so no worries there. Of course the biggest change is the newly added downtown mode. Each neighboorhood has it's own downtown, each already built, but they all have one vacant lot and the option to bulldoze. There are also spefic items only available in downtown mode, such as podiums to put in resteraunts (it's how your sims can actually order food, plust, in some seats, they can play footsie) and purchase stands, where they can buy new formalwear, PJs, and swimsuits. This is really cool, as it replaces the one you wear at home, but only if you also put a cash register there. There are also three food stands, an ice cream one, a ''cheap eats'' one, and a hot dog one. Plus, the bars, like all the other purchasing-ablity-giving items come with their own employees. And, after you have a drink from the bars, your possible interactions totally change. Flex is funny as hell, espicially when it turns the other SIm on, and if the flexing sim is a fat guy in a toga! The last little tidbit about downtown is mostly everything costs monry, even pool! The dance floors however don't whihc I am thankful for. Whoops I forgot that you can't put downloaded items in your downtown without a certain program. (See the Message Board for this game). And of couse the new items that com with it, are really cool as well, especially the lover's hot tub. The Sims have finally found another place to ''play'' hehehe...

GRAPHICS 8/10 Not improved, but that might be a good thing. Sure there are prettier things out there, but I'm content with what we have now, aren't you?

SOUND 9/10 Nothing that special here either, but there are a few new music types, and the clip when they ''play'' in the hot tub is hilarious. Same thing with some of the new interactions, especially ones after you have used a bar.

RENT OR BUY: BUY

We all know you cant ren't computer games, so thinf of rent as borrow, or play at a friends house. This expansion is really, really, good, and with some stores having it for as low as $17.99 DEFINETLY worth your $$$. Of course with the holidays just around the corner, you might want to put it on your wish list, but can you really wait? I know I sure couldn't! This has been my first, of what I hope will be many reviews, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/28/01, Updated 11/28/01