"A Sims title worth the trouble."

Wow, I've never actually enjoyed a Sims game as much as this one since it was released by EA a long time ago. It was one of those games where you would find yourself in a situation where you just don't know what the point of the whole game is. My opinion on the Sims has always been one which many other people share with me - that it's a game for the ladies. I mean who wants to build up relationships when you can just rush up to enemies and slice them in half with a Katana? Who cares about building a house when you could be shooting missiles at bases? This prolonged opinion on the Sims has somewhat sunk into me throughout the years and I tried to avoid The Sims all costs because I actually thought people would laugh at me for playing it. It's almost like Pokemon nowadays. When you say you play Pokemon they look at you in a strange way and ask "are you serious?". This was a stupid thing to do, because like people say - how do you know you don't like it before trying it properly? By properly I don't mean watching a friend play it or play the game for about an hour and to just say "this game is terrible".The real answer to this question is you don't. Previously I had thought buying my DS was just a total waste of money as well as a mistake I made as since the release barely any half decent games have been produced. But one thing I'm sure of at least... is that this game is good, and good enough to sink the PSP Sims 2 right down the ocean. If one game can do it, then it means the DS has the potential to outweigh the PSP in every angle except graphics. So people, don't trade in your DS just yet!

Storyline: 9/10

I'll admit this at least, this Sims 2 game is somewhat different compared to it's previous counterparts. This time around it actually has a firmly structured storyline, with certain goals to achieve which gives the game a sense of "aim". This makes the game itself more desirable to play as we will play this with an apprehension instead of playing it just because we have nothing better to do with our lives. And just by the by - like I say every time, I always try to review these games without being "too" bias on what I say. So anyway - this game starts off with you being fired by your manager, and you need to find a new source of income. On a personal level I believe this to be a standard plot which has been used and done, but it's not too bad either way since it works well, and people actually love to start with nothing and have to climb to the top themselves. So, everything starts from that point, and you have to pull yourself together and show the world you're more than just a cleaner who mops the floor and bits the dust behind people. The story progresses slowly as you meet your goals, buy more items, raise your character, and improve your relationships with other npcs (none player characters). The storyline itself -believe it or not- is somewhat realistic and actually has some sense in it at times (unlike the PSP version with magical cows and mad scientists... seriously I'm not joking). So to conclude - the story is something most people will definitely enjoy and find amusing at times.

Graphics: 9/10

I can only judge this game by comparing it to the other games on the DS. But for being a DS game itself, the graphics are at least above average. The best part about DS games and the Nintendo theory is that they don't believe in loading time and it doesn't exist at all in this version of The Sims and this is clearly reflected while you play it. Unlike the PSP version, there is no lag time at all. While you're playing you won't notice any choppy game play, or anything alike. Unfortunately the PSP being a superior console in terms of graphics of course in comparison the DS version pales. The colours are bright which is very optimistic at times, and everything falls into place nicely.

Sound: 8/10

It is just how the Sims music should be, most of you should already know how it is. If you're new to the series then you're in for a pleasant surprise as the sound system here are some what different from most games today. Cheerful music which doesn't become repetitive with many special effects at times and unsurprisingly the music truly suits how the graphics are presented -dare I say it- almost perfectly. I don't like to use the word perfect much, but in this case it's a suitable word. The "Sims" language still exists in this game which is a mix between german, french, and spanish making it almost incomprehensible to the ear. It ticks me off at times, but I'm not sure about you guys though.

Gameplay: 9/10

As far as rating goes, nine out of ten suits it well. The way this game works is nicely done, as it lets you control your character in a manner which doesn't afflict with the game itself. Once again I say this - it very much differs from the other Sim games which have been around for a long long time. They added in mini games in this Sims which are pleasant. Basically instead of going to work, you play mini games to earn money. Believe me, these mini games are better than they sound, as they do take some skill, and don't get boring as fast as you would think. Even though I say this, after playing this game for 30 hours or so you will start to get a bit bored of them as mini games still remain as mini games. Fortunately there are other ways of earning money other than JUST playing mini games, so it's not too bad.

Hey, do you remember how when your character needs something in the previous versions they'd make uneeded movements to waste your time? Fear no more, because they have deleted that aspect of the game. Hey, improvement is improvement right? At least it isn't as awkward anymore. So to cut it here, the game play here is well deserved since in the end it's still the Sims. As long as the universal feel and goal of this game reminds there is little EA can do to improve the game play.

Overall/Conclusion: 9/10 (Not an average)

This is a great game even to those who have not enjoyed the previous Sim games as they have edited the way this game works immensely. I don't believe in averages, but in any case, if you own a DS, definitely try out this title. I've completed this game 100% already, and I felt like it wasn't one of those "meh, next please" games.

Pros:
*Nice graphics
*No loading
*Good storyline
*A nice addition to the previous Sim titles

Cons:
*Mini games can get annoying
*Not enough character customisation

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/03/06, Updated 10/12/07

Game Release: The Sims 2 (US, 10/24/05)