The Sims

"Your life suck? Then make a new one."

Finally, every next generation game counsel's wish has been granted. The mega smash hit for the PC has finally been ported over to the PS2 with more extras than you can shake a stick at. Yes this is a port of the PC version it itself but more than a few aspects of the original outline of the game have been changed. Before I go onto a rant about these new things, let me take the time to explain what The Sims, is. I case you haven't been out of your house lately and gone shopping for a new game, turned on the TV, opened up a game magazine, or newspaper in the last oh 3 or 4 years, then you've been missing out on what the Sims truly is. The Sims are people, just like you and I. They live in their own little neighborhood and have tasks that they must have taken care of. Like us they must be fed, must use the bathroom and shower, and almost always be entertained. The must get a job, and keep this job, working their way up the food chain, just like we do. In short, the Sims is an actual life simulator. See Sim is short for simulator? Anyway, over the last 3-4 years, The Sims has released numerous expansion packs that have opened up new abilities for the Sims. But not until now have the Sims acquired better characteristics than before.

Gameplay 9/10
The Sims has one of those unique gameplay designs that has never been done before, it has given us the ability to play god. We are put in control of these peoples lives, deciding how they will look, act, and operate. We decide what activities they will partake in and when. The Sims are pretty much helpless little babies that need you to tell them what to do every second of the day. The gameplay in the Sims is also open ended. You will never end it, thankfully, so you can keep making more money than you can imagine and build bigger and better homes for your Sims.

This game is pretty much broken up into three categories of life Simulation. The first is Get a Life. In this mode you start out living at home with your “mom” and have a certain amount of tasks to complete before you can move out, such as fixing a TV, cooking, and borrowing $800 from your mother. After you finish these objectives you are then moved into another house with other roommates that you must help out. You are then presented with another set of objectives to further complete. You do this so on and so on. After you complete a goal in each stage of the process, you are rewarded with another object that you will be able to unlock in buy mode, I'll get to that in a second. This is a totally different game, not appearing on the computer version, and it ads a bit of relief to the regular game.

The second mode is the actual Sims game mode. You will start off in a neighborhood with about 3 houses already built and 5 other properties that you can build on. You are also able to make your own families at this stage. In the family creator mode, you are able to design your people with any of the already, pre-fabricated design parts available. You will decide how your Sim will act at this stage, giving them characteristics for socialites, activity, neatness, and more. After you finish designing your Sims you can put them in a pre built house or build a new one. Once you have moved into your new house/property, you are then presented with build and buy modes. In build mode, you are able to either make new walls of and on to existing ones. In this function you will be able to access all features for making your house, doors, windows, wallpaper, carpeting. After you have finished building your new dream home, you need to put things in it. In buy mode, you will be able to buy furnishings for your home. You will buy your kitchen appliances and beds and sofas. This is one of the things that makes this game so unlike anything else. The ability to customize your house the way that you think it should look. You don't have to just stay in a given house. In this mode you will need to fin a job and keep your person as happy as possible. Have them eat and take frequent potty breaks. They need to keep in touch with other Sims that live in your neighborhood. Like I mentioned before, there just like us. There's just one tiny little problem that I have. Like the original Sims, you cant leave your property. The only time you can leave the property is when you go to work. Just a tiny problem that can make the game slow down.

The third mode of gameplay is the extra mini games that you unlock in get a life mode. You are given little mini games that you game play with your friends where you compete to achieve a certain objective before the other. This is just a neat little extra that wasn't on the computer version.

Beside these modes of play some features on this game are just so noteworthy that they deserve to be stated by themselves. Like I mentioned, you are actually able to design what your homes will look like. 100's of features are available to design your home with. 100's of appliances are also available for your house, inside and out. You also have the ability to control time, stopping it or speeding it up as you like. But unlike the PC version, it is missing the supper fast mode. You will only access it when you are sleeping or at work. Another slight downside is that you can only build 1-story houses.

Inside your homes you are also able to throw big parties. Guests will flock to your home and drive up your bills but it will also make your social skyrocket. You will make more friends this was than you can imagine. Biggest thing you need to remember for parties though, people got to eat. You don't want em' burning your house down so make sure you cook something for them.

Throwing parties is just one way to build up your social feelings with others. Another excellent way is to go hot tubin. You can unlock hot tubs that you and 3 friends can take a dip in, relax, and chat about events. That's just one of those neat little features I was talking about.

Controls 10/10
The controls for the Sims on PS2 are truly advanced compared to that of the PC version. Advanced might not exactly be the right word but lets just say that they were done the best possible way. Like in almost every new game for the PS2, you will be using the 2 analog sticks for most of your actions. You will notice when first starting up the game, that there is a little circle on the ground with a line sticking up in the air. This is your action selector, as I like to call it. You will control this with the left analog stick to scroll over the objects that you would like to access. Like most games, you will use your x button to select the objects that you have highlighted. To cancel your scheduled actions, you press triangle. If you want to cancel on action in the middle of your actions you can press select and then swap through your actions. Your right analog stick will control the camera. You can zoom in and out and circle the house, unlike the PC version where you were required to press buttons. I think the best way to sum up this category is by say this: The Sims were made to be on the PS2.

Audio 6/10
Unfortunately the soundtrack doesn't back up the game. There is always boring music playing in your buy and build modes that makes you want to shoot your TV. Luckily the in-game sounds are friendlier on the ears and will remind you more of real life. The burning out of light bulbs, dishwashers running, toilets flushing, everything sounds like its real life counterpart. Your Sims talk in the own language too. There is no speaking of English in the game. Their language is almost understandable, in a very awkward way. Just listen to it.

Visuals 9/10
For me, this is one of the better aspects that the PS2 Sims had over the PC Sims, at least that's how it was for me on my computer. I feel that in the PS2 version everything is more 3D over the PC version. A good example of that in the camera attributes. You have a free moving camera. You can move this camera in anyway that you want. The people in the PS2 version also have more of a build to them, in my opinion. There is more to the people in their character developments.

Objects in and around the home are also completely 3D and usable. Visually, they are above average. They could have been bumped up a little bit, everything been sharpened around the edges, but its not bad at all. Your Sims will also fully interact with the environment. Meaning, they won't just randomly pass through a table. The only time that this will occur is when your Sims get in bed and their covers are magically on them. One thing to note on is the realness of the plants in the game, trees especially. When there's a wind and the tress start moving, they look just like real, it scary.

One thing I have to comment on that's a negative though is how the day passes by. Instead of being a continuous day, once it reaches 7 PM, the screen will turn black and a little moon will pop up and bam, it's dark out. It's the same way in the morning. Unlike the gradual darkness and lightness effects in the PC version, the PS2 version is missing it. But it really shouldn't be all that bothersome to you.

Story 0/0
This is the best part to the Sims, there is no story. You get to create your own story, make a name for your self, live your live the way that you want to. There are no story lines to fallow, except maybe in get a life mode, but that's all. The rest of your time will be spent making and keeping friends.

Replay : Extremely High
I'll confess something to you. I used to enjoy the Sims for the PC, but then I got extremely tired of it. After my friend brought over his PS2 version, I was totally hooked on it again and went out and rented it that night. This game is one of the most addicting games that you will ever play in your life. I guarantee it. One hour into it, and you'll be hooked. What makes the replay on the game so high, you might ask? The fact that the game will never end, no matter how hard you try, it won't end.

In the end, The Sims, the best selling computer game, ever, has never looked so good before. I highly recommend a rent at least on this game. If you liked the PC version, you will most likely like this version as well. If you have never tried out The Sims, you will most likely like this game. It is a great way to pass the time on a rainy day but just keep in mind that it will cost you almost 3,000 KB of your memory card when you save. Overall, this game gets an 8 from me.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/17/03, Updated 06/17/03