The Sims: Unleashed

"Add To Your Sim's Life With This Special Expansion!"

If you enjoy The Sims, you will love Unleashed. Unleashed is the latest expansion pack for the top selling game by Maxis. It adds so much to The Sims, it will be like playing a brand new game!

The first thing you will notice after installing this little gem, is the new neighborhood. You now have 41 lots to build on! All your old houses are still there, right where they were before on Sim Lane. But now, you actually have an entire community instead of one cul de sac. You can turn any lot into a residential or a community lot through the rezone button located at the top of your neighborhood
screen. And the best part? You can now build a house without having to move a Sim onto the lot!

There's also a new section of town for your Sims to explore - Old Towne! This is what community lots are for. These lots are a part of the neighborhood screen and aren't a separate area like Hot Date's Downtown. On these areas, you can build malls, parks, hotels, anything you can dream up! Your Sim will go there via the Old Towne Shuttle. The only downside to this is that you can only go with everyone in your household, so don't plan to bring the husband's mistress with you! Unless of course, your Sims are kinky like that.

The biggest feature in this game is the pets. So many people asked for them, and Maxis answered. Your Sims can now add a dog or a cat to their family, or buy a turtle, bird, fish, or iguana. You buy the pet in Old Towne, and you get to pick their gender, color, and name. While you're there, you can purchase them a collar, pet treats, or a toy. If your little Simmie decides he really wants a dog, buy him one! But beware, dogs aren't house trained! The Sim will have to house train him, and until he does, you'll have pee puddles all over your house.

If Your Sim really has the patience, her pet can become an award winning feline or canine. By training them in obedience and tricks, they can win various prizes at Old Towne. If your pet is really bad, he'll win the booby prize, but better luck next time and keep striving for the first place award!

Is your Sim a homemaker or on some kind of funky natural diet? Well, your Sim can now grow his own garden! By buying a pantry and placing the vegetables in it, you can eat off the land and never worry about paying for food again! Or you can sell them and make a pretty profit for all your hard work..and hard work it is! Get yourself a cat, you'll be needing one to hunt all those pesky garden critters.

For the working Sim, there are a few new career paths he can take a stab at. Your Sims can now earn their living through fashion, culinary arts, education, animal care, and even the circus! These jobs, just like the original jobs, have 10 levels in each track. They also come with new cars for the carpool.

There are many, many more new things in Unleashed. There's a new phone book that organizes all the people you know nicely. Several new NPCs are there to help your Sim out, or just entertain her at Old Towne. There are over 125 new objects and walls/floors. These include items for your pets and lots of new items just for your Sims. The new french quarter theme is beautiful! There are also lots of new social interactions, including interactions between sim and pet, sim and sim child, and sim and another sim.

But of course, with all the good, there is the bad. What, you thought Maxis just wanted you to have fun? You now get constant visits from annoying stray animals. If your Sim has taken up gardening, you need to be careful of the rodents! Mice, rabbits, skunks, gophers, and raccoons will be unwelcomed visitors to your Sim's house.

Gameplay: 10/10

Story: n/a

Graphics/Sound: 10/10

Playtime/Replayability: 8/10, like the original The Sims, it does get old after awhile.

Final Recommendation: 9/10 Do your Sims a favor and buy it already!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/03/02, Updated 11/03/02