Publisher: Electronic Arts
Ages: teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
Mature themes
If videos games can imitate life, no game does it better than Electronic Arts' amazing The Sims 2. This sequel to the number one PC game of all time (Daytrum Review: The Sims) is a fantastic title that takes the premise in new directions and adds in-depth options and possibilities. This immensely entertaining follow-up initially rides coattails but ultimately stands on its own.
As before, players create simulated people called Sims and control them in their daily lives. Sims may now "live" from cradle to grave and actually grow old and die of old age. Sims may now have a purpose in life, hold memories and have their own fears. In the end, players have fun deciding if Sims will be lovers or losers, princes or paupers, or fools or masterminds, and aspire to a life of popularity, fortune, family, knowledge, or romance.
As in life, Sims interact with other Sims, work, go to school and more. Compared to the first game, the Sims are more independent and don't need players to constantly tend to their needs-players no longer have to constantly get them to eat and perform other basic tasks. The new Create-A-Sim feature gives players vast options for building and customizing Sims with a comprehensive collection of facial features, hairstyles and outfits, but it's limited on body types.
Players can also introduce extremes-leaving broken-hearted Sims at the alter and inheriting fortunes and becoming filthy rich. The game now considers genetics by passing DNA down through generations. With this feature, Sims can inherit physical and personality traits and players can build family trees.
After creating a household of Sims, players move them into a house and neighborhood. For this, the game offers solid building, design and home furnishing options to create dream homes and neighborhoods. A fun option, players may import their cities from Maxis' SimCity 4.
A fun, creative option, players may make films using an all-new movie-making feature. Players can create a cast, set the stage, take control of a camera and capture the action.
The cartoon-style 3D graphics are colorful and vivid and a big improvement over the dated graphics in the earlier game. While a life simulator may sound like an ideal activity for kids, be warned that the game features some mature themes and minor violence-basically on the level of a PG or light PG-13 movie.
We have always loved The Sims and have a new favorite in The Sims 2. It's a great game that we recommend.
10/12/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
