The Sims: Hot Date

"Control someone's love life, for once"

The Sims: Hot Date

You are loitering around a cheap diner in the slums of the town, offering sleazy pick-up lines to girls and being shot down repeatedly in the process. When you do get someone to give you a chance, you put your “charm” to work. Naturally, what you think is suave and charming is really sick and perverted, so they leave you. You hear the faint playing of music and look across the street and see a jumping dance party. You think up some more suave things to say, and make your way over to the club to try your luck.

That is what makes this game so great; you have absolute freedom over what your social life is like. If you want to be a recluse, you don’t have to go Downtown. If you’re feeling a little crazy, however, there are many different places you can try put yourself to the test.

I am impressed. The Sims series has done it again. They have made another expansion pack for the hit game, and it is a good one. You see, in The Sims: Hot Date, you get to go Downtown baby! Get ready for a night on the town, son, because it is going to be a long night.

The downtown area is a great addition to the already excellent game that is the Sims. Take it all in at the beach or go to one of the restaurants for a romantic dinner. However you spend your time, you will be sure to have fun. There are also new NPC’s, the Townies, that will roam around the different lots just waiting for a nice guy/girl like you to come into their lives. You will also run into other Sims from your neighborhood, which can be pretty cool.

There is a new taxi service in town, and that's your ticket to infinite opportunities. There are numerous downtown areas, each completely different. There is also an empty lot for you to create your own masterpiece of a miniature mall for your Sim to go to. There is a place for you, no matter what your taste.

Inside these little paradises are endless options. You can go clothes shopping for your date or go and hang at the diner and pig out on greasy foods. You can take your date to a fancy restaurant or to a candy shop. Take them to a bar or a lounge. There are so many things to do, you won't know where to start, and that’s the beauty of it all.

Also, the way you interact with other Sims has been modified. Instead of simply ''Talking'' in the other installments, you can talk about the sixties or music. You can get very specific in what you want to do. Also, your Sims now have special interests. They may like music more than movies, or travel more than the Sixties. Your date has special interests too. It would be to your advantage to talk to her about something they like, instead of something you like.

The only downside is that you will spend most of your time downtown instead of at home. This can prove disastrous for a family on the financial edge if the father is out clubbing all night. So my suggestion is to cheat so you have tons of money and you don't have to worry about that. Also, make sure you pick up Livin' Large and/or House Party if you don't have them already. Hot Date does not automatically add all the new items to your game. So, if you don't have Livin' Large, there would be no point in taking your date back home (if you know what I mean). It’s also pretty nifty that each neighborhood has it’s OWN Downtown, so you can modify each one to your personal tastes. Of course, the number of neighborhoods that you have all depend on what expansion packs you have bought.

So, in conclusion, The Sims: Hot Date is really a must for people who have loved the Sims since the first game. It also might appeal to people who have never played the Sims before. I suggest picking it up at your local gaming store, it won't let you down.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/01/02, Updated 03/14/03