The Sims: Livin' Large

"A decent first expansion pack, but I was expecting more"

The Sims: Livin’ Large
A decent first expansion pack, but I was expecting more.

The Sims: Livin’ Large isn’t so much of a full fledged expansion pack as it is an “extra stuff” pack. Meaning nothing new is really introduced to the series with this game, it’s mainly just a ploy to get you to pay money for extra items to buy and use in The Sims. The one thing that Livin’ Large is perhaps infamous for is the “Love Bed,” where your Sims can now engage in sexual activity in many ways. Regardless of the fact that nothing revolutionary is added to the series, the game just doesn’t feel complete without this expansion pack because some of the new things you can buy are just too cool.

Now, if you haven’t played The Sims before, let me run down the gameplay for you real quick (I don’t even know why you would be reading this if you haven’t, but whatever). The Sims allows you to create your very own “digital person” and lead them through everyday life. You build them a house (modest or extravagant) and furnish it for them with a huge catalog of items available at your disposal. While the concept itself doesn’t sound too exciting to use for a game, it is carried out in a way that makes it incredibly innovative and crazily fun to play. Life isn’t too simple, as you may have known from prior experience. Everything from fires to social catastrophes to blatant abuse of your Sims can and will occur in just about every family you create. The sheer unpredictability and eccentricity of The Sims makes it a game worth playing and owning.

If you need a more descriptive summary of the game, refer to either my review for The Sims or other people’s reviews for it. I don’t want to spend too much time on the subject on The Sims in this review.

Ok, I lied when I said Livin’ Large didn’t bring anything new to the table (which it doesn’t in terms of something completely revolutionary). You see, in the original Sims game, there were very few lots and pre-made houses to choose from. Livin’ Large implements a somewhat new system in which you have multiple neighborhoods to choose from. This makes things a whole lot easier if you are sharing the game with a sibling or friend, so you can have clear separation of one’s properties. If you don’t have anyone else who plays it, or you just simply don’t share it with others =P, then you will have lots-o-plenty to choose from when prompted to build a new house. This addition, although seemingly useless to conservative players, will prove to be very helpful to those who share the game.

Like stated earlier, Livin’ Large focuses mainly on giving you more options when it comes to furnishing and adorning a house. There are so many new items in Buy and Build mode, that it is astonishing. Nearly every category has received at least a few new objects in their inventories, and there are also new wallpapers and carpets. Some things are very chic, like the bearskin rugs, while others are unbelievably handy to have around like the electronic robot who cleans your home (although, it costs a hell of a lot of money to acquire one of these bad boys). The items, although entertaining, don’t really serve as a base for an expansion pack in my eyes.

Oh, there are also new “skins” (which are aspects such as clothes, faces, and skin tones used to create original Sims), most of which are pretty damn cool. Some people enjoy having new skins to work with, so this is a perk for the series to have these added onto the package of The Sims.

Although Livin’ Large doesn’t seem like much of a deal, the notorious heart shaped bed actually makes the whole package worth it. Now, it doesn’t seem right that a single item makes the entire expansion pack worth getting, but that is the case in Livin’ Large. The heart shaped bed can take loving relationships to new heights, as you can now engage in sexual activity with your lover. When the vibrating function is activated, this gives two Sims the option to “Play in Bed” (See: “Make barking noises while have sexual intercourse with one another”) which some people like to toy with. Sadly, like in real life, some Sim gamers make it their life to try and see how many Sims they can bed. While this may seem a little immature, it’s actually quite entertaining to weave a life of lies and deception all to lead a life of sexual stimulation. It’s quite odd how a game can take out a person’s competitive (or sex crazed) side, not to mention how a single object manages to make this expansion pack worth getting.

Now, like I’ve said throughout this entire review, this expansion pack is more object oriented, so you’ll find the same thing both in the graphical department and the sound department. The new themes you are able to accomplish with the new décor look pretty damn cool, though (like giving a medieval touch to an old mansion or making one room a psychedelic party room). The Sims still speak Simlish, and nothing much has changed at all when it comes to music.

The Sims: Livin’ Large, although not the best expansion pack, it actually pretty brilliant marketing on the part of Maxis. After a revolutionary first installment, they can’t very well introduce something new and exciting every time they release an expansion pack (although all of the following expansion packs do have something refreshing for the series), so they get the masses ready for it. This little item add-on is really worth getting if you’re a Sim fanatic. If you aren’t an aforementioned fanatic, you might find this pack a waste of time and money. I guess it all depends on your outlook on the Sims series.

In four words: The Sims get nasty!

Final Score: 7 out of 10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/26/03, Updated 04/26/03