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Platform: GameBoy
Advance
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The Sims 2Score: 5.0 / 10 |
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Pros: - Easy for fans to get into the action - Streamlined "needs" management |
Cons: - Boring - Not a lot of direction provided |
Related Links: Review: The Sims Bustin' Out (GBA)
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"...the overall mediocrity will quickly relegate the Sims 2 to shelf warmer status." |
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If you've played the previous GBA Sims game Bustin' Out you'll be instantly comfortable and familiar with the Sims 2, including a myriad of mini-games. While most of the gameplay mechanics are similar to previous installments, there is one important change, no longer having to track your Sims basic needs.
The Sims 2 boils the various needs down to one stat bar along the bottom of the screen. When that falls to empty, then there's trouble but it's very easy to get it stocked up again. Instead you deal with one need at a time. If your Sim gets tired (as indicated on-screen) the green bar starts depleting and until you hit the hay it continues to drop. This allows you to finish Plot Points (more on that later) before attending to basic needs. The system is not without its flaws though. Often a need will present itself very soon after I took care of it. This happened to me a lot -- I would go to the bathroom to boost my green bar and a minute later my Sim would perform the Pee Dance, indicating a necessary trip to the bathroom.
Sims 2 concentrates mainly on telling a story of a weird TV soap opera land, populated by aliens, crazy characters, and "concentrated" environments. You're in the employ of a raving Colonel Sanders type, and as part of a massive "reality TV" setup in the town of Strangetown it's your job to score big ratings and complete Plot Points to drive the game forward. It's a setup that works; however, because you can go anywhere there's a distinct lack of direction or even very many clues as to where to go to complete the next Plot Point there's a lot of aimless wandering.
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The hallmarks of the Sims games are included, like making friends/enemies and buying cool stuff to decorate your house. Creating relationships plays out in a familiar manner by attempting conversations. This time you'll unlock new "moves" or "topics" of conversation by leveling up your Sim.
But it's the conglomeration of all these aspects that confuses the experience. Is The Sims 2 an RPG, adventure game, or simulation? I can't rightly say which genre it should be placed in. It doesn't fall in any of the categories but that doesn't necessarily mean it succeeds either. While the emphasis |
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on meeting your Sims needs has been lessened it's not without its problems (even if it's a much welcome change over the original) the overall mediocrity will quickly relegate the Sims 2 to shelf warmer status.
- D.D. Nunavut (March 1, 2006)
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