The Sims 2

"A Sims game with some negative effects included."

Interesting to know how great The Sims 2 was on the PC and PlayStation 2 for me but for the PlayStation Portable, it's a bit of a letdown. The game features some stuff from The Sims 2 on consoles but with the added load times. The game doesn't take too long to load up but it's during gameplay you can get frustrated. Main reasons are the loading times just for trying to use the toilet or socialise. It pauses every time you do this and will be sure to keep wasting your time every time you play this game. You usually keep an eye on your needs by press the d-pad buttons but on this version you have to press SELECT which will launch a pop-up with your needs. Guess what? This takes time to load up too!

There are some exclusive features just for the PSP version. A new story (although not better in my opinion) and new minigames. You can play a social minigame by pressing the right buttons at the right time. It's quite easy to adapt too but if you aren't good at reacting then you shall probably get frustrated on this feature too.

Walking around is like the console versions. You are in third person and move your Sim using the analog nub. L and R buttons rotate the camera around you. It's easy to move around and enter places but I don't think there is a classic mode in this one.

This is more like a RPG than a simulation game because you basically have to take instructions from one person and go to another. Good if you like these sorts of games, bad if you have played previous Sims games. Overall, gameplay lasts a fair amount of time and you can always do the optional things to fill up time on that bus journey home.

Now, the loading screens (you'll see plenty of them) are nicely done and have scrolling text like in the PC version. They stand out pretty well. When you create a Sim you'll see you can change many parts of the Sim. The stuff isn't too impressive and some clothes/hair styles can be quite rough round the edges at times. You shouldn't notice this too much when you put your Sim into play. Walking around, doing your goals in gameplay can be quite fun and it's backed up by the “OK” graphics. I've seen better been done on the PSP but these aren't too bad.

The theme tune is clear and every other sound is clear. Having a shower, using the toilet, eating and talking in Simlish sound very well and there are no distortions. The only negative point I have to say about sound is that it can be unsynchronised with the actions. For example, when your Sim goes to the toilet the sound may not arrive for a little while.

Is this game really worth it? Well, yes for any Sims fan as you can easily adapt to the slight change in gameplay. I don't recommend you having this on the tops of your “must buy” lists but it's worth putting on somewhere when you have no other game to buy.

The game is good and time will soon pass (of course some of it taken by load times) when waiting for the bus or waiting for whatever you are waiting for. Hours of gameplay means less boredom.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 02/09/06, Updated 10/06/06