"Not exactly "Hot" Date, more like "Fun", or sometimes "aggrivating" Date."

The 3rd installment of the already brilliant ''The Sims'' game, comes trucking more goodies for your Sims to mess with, and, much more improved Social lives.

Just about every shape, thing, object, and size has some sort of sound to it, whether it be TV's with their owns channels, dish washers going off, or the squeak of turning off the shower, nothing is left undone in this department. Even though your little friends still speak some weird sim language, it's nothing bad. Nothing much has changed.

Sound (9/10)

Simple ''3D from a somewhat top-down view'' graphics. Although they're not stunning, or beautiful in any kind, it's not a huge problem, even though The Sims actually does truck quite alot of graphical goodness from it's up-close view. You can see blinking lights on their high-tech kitchen devices, speakers pumping away, and the DJ spinning discs.

Graphics (8/10)

Doesn't take a genius to figure out this is where it all matters. Things have changed, not too dramaticly, but pretty well from the last expansion pack (Livin' Large), but it's got it's fair share of things, like, able to take your Sims away from the homelife, and take them for a night on the town. You can do pretty much anything downtown, except, drive there yourself. You can shop, dine, buy ice cream, race boats, have a nice picnic, and zillions of other really fun things. Social life has dramaticly improved (Sadly, not in real life if you buy this game), where it's very detailed, as how it usually takes longer to get a wife (There's a new ''Love'' bar, that shows someones affection towards you, so you know you're ready), and instead of just hitting ''Kiss'' and getting that bland, same old kiss, you can choose from up to 6. Say, your future wife likes Hollywood, but you hate it. Well, you can buy a magazine, and read up on Hollywood stuff, and when you talk about it again, you'll have more intrest, thus, the relationship progresses. You can even ''warm up'' to your date by buying yourselves drinks, and boasting about yourself. And, this time, it usually works.

Gameplay (10/10)

Even though this pack comes with a little few new objects, it's added 2 huge other things, like the new detailed Social life, and a Downtown area. Even if you don't like this series, this should at least keep you satisfied for quite a while.

If that's not reason enough to buy it, I don't know what is.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/19/02, Updated 03/19/02