Life ain’t easy…you got bills, work, annoying neighbors, burglars, faulty appliances, and aggravating visits from parents…well suck it up ya pussy! One of the most addictive games since Kickle Cubicle has made it’s way to the PS2. The Sims is a small portion of the grand tapestry that is the Sim series, which usually consists of building and managing something, and by-guv do you ever! You manage your life…period…make a house, get a job, blah-blah-blah, you know…life stuff. This game was (and still is) a phenomenon on the PC, so let’s see how it sizes up on the PS2!
Look Ma Spiked Hair!
This game is heavily gameplay oriented, therefore there wasn’t much of an emphasis on the graphics, yet they still look great. Household gadgets and other little ditties look good, from appliances to zebra print wallpaper, they look damn near realistic, but a little unpolished. Lighting effects look good, and character sprites still look the same, simple and slightly unpolished yet profound and detailed…and if you didn’t understand what I just said, well…neither did I but that’s how it came out, sue me…Sound is crisp and realistic, need I say more? From the ding of a microwave, the TV blaring with an action show, the hot tub bubbling, toilet flushes, whatever, it sounds groovy. The music in the main menu is the same groovy shopping tune that I like to listen to by itself, and really puts you into the shopping mood (No, I’m not inferring that I have a thing for shopping, I’m just saying!). Also, if you’ve ever played The Sims before…oh yeah…you know what I’m talking about…the Sim language is back…for those of you who missed out, it’s basically this form of gibberish that almost seem to make sense, and that’s about it. Graphics need a quick scrub, and the sound is great…
Get A Life!!
What can I say….really? The basic deal with The Sims is living life! You have to take care of your Sims by feeding them, letting them rest, letting them bathe, establishing social contact, ect. You just have to keep him/her happy and healthy (And if anyone cracks a Digimon joke, I’ll kill you…) All other aspects include: getting a job, finding a mate (optional yet fun), making friends, even building up some skills to get you better jobs, promotions, and overall better functionality around the house. But there is some new stuff! In the console version, you have more character creation options, (change face, eyes, cool junk like that) two new modes of play. One is versus mode where you use your skills do fulfill a certain task before the other player does. Then there’s Get a Life mode which basically is where you fulfill certain tasks (where have I heard that before?) before you move on, stuff like: getting a promotion, refurnish your house, even throw a wild party! Another groovy thing is unlocking furnishings, even character development items like faces, clothes, the works. There are a few new items in the shopping list, and some are missing, so it’s a fair trade. The Sims is life…and life is good…
The Pressures Of Life…
The Sims is what you make of it…there is an infinite amount of replay to this game, yet it can get tedious to some players. But don’t think this game is as easy as it seems, it can get really challenging at some points, especially at first (like real life), and you will get frustrated from time to time. This game really depends on the gamer, and if you’re that kind of gamer, the “I like to plant a seed and help it grow” type, get this game now! But it’s definitely worth a try to any gamer. Now, get outta my review area and get on with life!