The Sims

"All I needed, a SECOND meaningless life!"

The Sims was huge when it came out on PC... as big as the saying, ''gnarly'' was, even. Now, two years later, developers try to do the same thing again to the PS2... but it's a lot like trying to bring the word ''gnarly'' back into the English lanuage... it can't be done twice, and I don't think anybody really wants it to happen twice. It's been done people!!! move on to something else... like, Monkey Sim or something... but, that aside, this is still a good game... let's see why...

GAMEPLAY: 8/10

Smoother than the PC version. For those who never played the PC version (all, like, three of you), in the game, you take control of a ''Sim'' that you customize in the beginning of the game (everything from personality to clothes), then you tell that Sim what to do, when to do, and how to do... everything. From waking up to using the bathroom (they tinke their pants if you don't tell them to do this), to finding a significant other, you control their little lives... it's pretty much just a simulated suburban person... thus the name SIM, I guess... this is a lot of fun... but it CAN get old. Managing ALLLL the various disciplines of your Sim is a difficult and sometimes repeditive task... and there just aren't enough hours in the day to do anything. You go to work for about six hours a day... and then you have to eat, play, and try to raise your stats (I'll explain that later) before you run out of energy and need to sleep. It just seems like your Sim is ALWAYS unhappy... and when you finally get your life worked out, you go to the next level and have to start all over again (that's right, the rumors are true-for the first time, you actually CAN beat the Sims); the main reason this is so hard is because the timing is unrealistic... shutting of your computer and takind a tinkle can take TWO HOURS!!! Waz up wit dat? Stat raising... this is possibly the HARDEST obstacle in the game... you lift weights, play chess, paint, and study your way to better talents, for about every three hours (Sim time) of work, you go up one stat. This get's hard because, before you can raise your stats, you have to get your Sim in ''the mood'' to study - or, in other words, they have to be perfectly happy to play chess! This gets complicated! For instance, one time (at band camp -lol), my Sim was unhappy because he couldn't get a promotion... but I had to work out to get high enough stats to get a stupid promotion... but he wouldn't work out because he was SUPID UNHAPPY!!! GRRRRRR! Enough said... the gameplay is creative (well... it WAS two years ago... now it's just re-vised.), fun, and difficult.

PLOT: PENDING

You start off in your mom's house (*cough*LOSER!*cough*) with no talent, no job, and no money... you then gotta study and get a job and borrow some money from your mom so you can start your life. From here, you create your OWN story... do whatever you want... Have it you way (beacuse of protective licenses, we have to change statement ''way'' to statement ''style'', thank you - and the company Burger King loves you, just FYI)!

GRAPHICS: 9/10

Better than the PC version... they're really good, actually. There's really not much to say... the graphics are not disappointing, check screenshots.com if you don't believe me. One problem - there are a few slow-downs here and there, but not too often.

SOUND: 8/10

Good enough... everythings good. From Simmish (think english played backwards and that's the Sims language) to the music and tv sound effects (I espeially like the rap sound tracks!).

OVER ALL: 8/10

Not bad, bot bad at all... but it's just anm improved Sims game where you can't go on a date or buy a pet... but that's okay. The multiplayer makes up for that (which is pretty fun). Is it the most fun I've ever had? No. Is it addictive? yes, very... you'll have trouble putting the controller down. All around a good buy!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/20/03, Updated 01/20/03