The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well, after two days of owning Sims 2 I think that I have gotten enough play time in to write a comprehensive review.(...)

Alright, on to the review.I have both positive and negative things to say about Sims 2.Sorry, this is probably going to be a long review.

POSITIVE:

*Maxis has thrown a bit of Sim City into the mix.You can either play one of the pre-created neighborhoods or you can start from scratch.This option is fantastic!You can choose the layout, build houses or place houses already built onto the lots.No more wondering if you already have a house at lot #5 before downlaoding because you can place the house ANYWHERE you want!

*While playing the game you can connect to Maxis (if you have internet connection) and dowload new Maxis created items directly into the game.

*The Wants and Fears addition to Sims 2 is alot of fun.Even if they tend to get repetitive.

*It's alot easier for your Sims to Socialize in Sims 2.Now they will receive telephone calls from people who just want to talk, they can chat online and send and receive e-mails.Plus your Sims will sometimes bring people home with them from work or school.AND you can now socialize with (and even marry) what were previously non-interactive character like cashiers, the maid, and the paper deliverer.

*The Sims now have days off from work and vacation days.Needless to say, this creates alot more free time for your Sims to concentrate on other things.

*You can distinguish between family members and roommates.So no more awkward "Flowers in the Attic" moments.

*I haven't actually built a house but I love having the option of building more than 2 floors.Plus you can now shape the roof for more realistic and more luxurious houses.

*You can choose from a whole outfit or you can mix and match tops and bottoms.And with a mirror you can change the color and cut of your Sims hair and add and remove make-up and facial hair.

*Some reviewers were discussing the load time of Sims 2.I am running it on a Compaq Presario X1000 Notebook computer and so far the game has not crashed on me once.Furthermore, I haven't had any problems (crosses fingers) with the load times.I suppose the true test will be after I begin adding more objects, clothing, and genetics to the game.

*I was happy to see that you can still create community lots.Right now it's limited to basically parks, grocery stores, and clothing botiques but I'm sure restaurants and such will be coming with an expansion pack.

*Having your Sims age is a great addition to the game.Plus children now have alot more functions.They won't just stand around all day with their stupid "Ha-ha Who-who" and annoy the crap out of you (experienced Simmers know what I'm talking about).Ah yes, and teenagers can now get jobs!No free rides for for anyone anymore!

*The Sims act alot more natural in Sims 2.Like if one Sims is reading a book, they will look up if someone sits next to them, sometimes even talk to them.Their actions are much more fluid and natural and less robotic.In general, the Sims act alot more like real people than in the original Sims (it's especially noticable with the children).

*There are now little multiple choice scenarios that your Sims will experience.Your Sim will be given two or three choices and depending on which option you choose the outcome can be positive or negative.You could, for instance, be promoted for the choice you make or lose an entire day's worth of pay (These are just a couple I have personally experienced).

NEGATIVE:

*Creating family relationships isn't as liberal as I was expecting it to be.For instance, if you have an Adult Sim and a Teenage Sim living in a household, the Teenage Sim HAS to be the child of the Adult Sim.This was a problem for a family I was trying to create where a Teenage Sim lived with her Aunt.I haven't tested it yet, but it might be possible to do this the long way (create two sisters and a teenage child and whack the mother).I suppose it would just be easier if you could create them from the start.Same thing I noticed with an elderly couple whom I wanted to have an adult son and a teenage son.The only way to make the family possible was to make the teenager the son of the adult son :(But still, I'm thankful you can distinguish whether your Sims are roomies or siblings.It spares those awkward moments when your Sibling Sims start flirting withor making out with each other (Eww)

*The Sims age really fast!Luckily there's a cheat code you can use to turn off the aging process.

*Furnishings available in the game seem really limited and eventhough you can pick and choose from a variety of colors, nothing seems to match.Same thing with clothing.It seems like there's just like 10 outfits in 10 different colors.I'm sure Maxis is leaving this open for downloadables and expansion packs.

*Not all the modifying options available in Sims 2 Body Shop are actually available in the game when creating families.So I would suggest creating the faces for your families in Body Shop before playing the game and then they will be automatically added as a head choice in the game.

*For the most part, I am enjoying the 3D graphics.It took me awhile to get adjusted to the zoom, but now it's alot easier.The only problem I have is that some household items (like refridgerators and windows) don't go invisible while zooming past them and they can sometimes block your view.It's not really a big issue though.

So these are a few of my first impressions of The Sims 2.Perhaps I will write another review when I have gotten more play time in, but so far I am not disappointed one bit with my purchase.So, if you are a fan of the Sims or have just been wanting to check out what the buzz was all about, I would highly recommend adding Sims 2 to your collection.

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Product Description:
The Sims 2 is an incredible sequel to the best-selling PC game of all-time! You'll get todirect an entire Sims' lifetime, and try to get them to reach their goals in life. Will theyhave a long, successful and happy life - or will they end up poor and heartbroken?Special DVD with bonus content -Interview with the game designers(where they offer game tips), tips on making your own films with Sims 2, screenshots, deleted scenes and more!

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The Sims 2 Bon Voyage Review

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(More customer reviews)This is truly the most fun expansion pack that I have bought.

However, issues that I had with Seasons and video card compatibility were not solved with this expansion pack as promised.

So, if you have a new Intel iMac with ATI Radeon HD 2600, do not buy this expansion pack until a patch comes out.Aspyr has been extremely slow in solving these issues and doesn't seem to care a great deal.

The EA game issues have not been solved either, such as the NPC overload issue.However, EA has come out with a PC patch that fixes many of the issues.I'm still waiting on Aspyr to come out with a Mac patch.

Otherwise, this is a fantastic game with great new clothes, objects, neighborhoods and game play.I strongly recommend the Bon Voyage EP to anyone with a Power PC Mac.

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Product Description:
Whisk your Sims away from their everyday routines and take them on exciting trips to three exotic locations! Whether relaxing on a lush tropical island in a luxury suite, camping with the family on a pristine mountaintop, or exploring the culture of the Far East, your Sims will enjoy new activities to relax and rejuvenate them. Transform them from bumbling tourists to savvy international travelers as they learn new customs including local greetings, dances, and more to take home and teach to their friends. Send your Sims packing for the trip of a lifetime!

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The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been playing Sims 2 on the PC since it was introduced and own all 3 upgrades. Now, I've bought everything available for the Mac to play when I travel. Frankly, I wouldn't want to play Sims 2 without Nightlife.

Dating is the most important capability Nightlife brings to the game. I find it tedious to build and maintain relationships with the base game. Dating lets you monitor both sides of a social relationship, and also tends to focus the participating sims on each other. This makes it easier to build strong relationships and to fulfill high-value wants and earn aspiration points. If you have lots of aspiration points, you don't have to resort to cheats to maintain needs or to keep sims from aging before you want them to. The first thing you'll want to do for any sim you play is to give them at least one strong dating relationship so they can top off their aspirations when they need to. Let's face it, it's easier to face going to work when you had a little hot romance the previous night.

The essential dating tool is a car. Now you can go out or drive to work in your own car. Picking up your date in a hot car immediately improves the date score. But the real reason for owning a car is that if two sims are seeking initimate reactions and a car is on the lot, chances are they'll want both WooHoo and WooHoo in Car, which nets you double rewards for a single interaction. If you have a car, a little time on a date can quickly make the sims' aspirations go platinum while building up lots of aspiration rewards that let you buy Energizers, Elixer of Love dispensers, and Thinking Caps. With those, you can make your sims accomplish almost anything you want.

Chemistry is a new Nightlife feature that can be a lot of fun. By defining Turn-Ons and Turn-Offs for sims, chemistry simulates what we all feel, greater attraction for some people, less for others. NPCs have their own Turn-On's and Turn-Offs, but can specify them for sims you play and change them when you want. When you let sims function autonomously, chemistry works with memories and other attributes to make their interactions more complex. When you control the sims, it's easier or more difficult to establish friendships and romances, depending on the chemistry they sims feel for each other.

New with Nightlife is the ReNuYuSenso Orb, which lets you change sims' Aspirations as well as their Turn-Ons and Turn-Offs. With the Orb, a sim can start out with a Family aspiration and change to a Knowledge aspiration when the kids are in school. In other words, your sims deepest desires can change as they mature. I use the Orb a lot.

Nightlife includes Downtown, which provides a many more destinations the sims can travel to, including restaurants, clubs, and bowling alleys. Sims 2, even with University, is a bit dull in terms of social destinations. You'll find dating a lot more interesting in Nightlife. You can also send sims on friendly outings. Outings are more challenging than dates since you're managing interactions between more than two sims, but they enable your sims to meet strangers and start building relationships with large numbers of people. When your sim is invited out on an outing, they'll arrive at a destination with several friends, some of which are likelyk to be strangers. If your sim is on a career path that requires lots of friends, outings can make it much easier to get the friendships started. (I still miss some of the things you could do in Sims 1 parks, such as sailing boats. In Sims 2, parks are pretty dull places by comparison.)

In summary, the emphasis of Nightlife is on sim's social lives. Relationships are richer and the range of social interactions is much more extensive. I'd hate to play The Sims 2 without Nightlife.

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Product Description:
Sims 2: Nightlife takes your Sim into the night. Explore all of your favorite after-dark activities as you discover your Sims' love lives or have a crazy night out with friends. With the new dating gameplay, players will see if their Sims have chemistry with others, which will determine their romantic fate. Make your Sims nightlife fantasy a reality with over 125 new objects including a DJ booth, poker table and all you need to design the ultimate nightclub and VIP lounge.

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The Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been playing Sims for about six years now, both Sims 1 and 2. For the past six years I have alway wanted a weather capability and now I finally have it. Having it be able to snow or rain or any other weather phenomena brings even more realism to Sims.

The game brings new items such as: roller rinks, ice rinks, an entire race car bedroom set, rugs (they're back again!), new kitchen decorations, new plants,a curved pool side, a diagonal pool and a pool slide. You can now also fish and keep the fish to either cook or hang on a wall.

There are tons of new aspirations to have and 6 new jobs; educations, gamer, law and journalism are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

There are a few downsides to the game: it does slow down, which is to be expected I suppose, but I just had my computer updated so it's three times faster... but the game is still slow. It's only slow while it's loading though, it doesn't jam up during game play for the most part (there was a snow storm when a car and a bus were coming to the house, so it was kinda overloaded...)

Also the fun isn't instant, like with Pets (based on my experience from the first one) you have pets and can play with them, but with Seasons you can have a garden but otherwise you have to wait for the seasons to change.

You also have to buy new items for your current Sims, like snow gear.

Overall I like the game, I would suggest buying the handbook with it because otherwise it's rather time consuming to figure the new icons out... and it could help with when to plant plants or what to do when they are sick.

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Product Description:
The Sims 2 Seasons builds on the celebrated The Sims 2 experience that allows players to create and control virtual characters throughout their lives while determining the outcome of their relationships and choosing their destiny. And because each season unfolds differently, players are guaranteed a fresh experience year after year!Whether your Sims are ice skating on a crisp winter day or jumping into leaf piles during a warm autumn afternoon, the variety of seasonal activities is guaranteed to add a fresh, new layer of fun into your Sims life. Whether your Sims are experiencing winter, spring, summer or fall, the enhanced visual experience and seasonal activities will affect the entire The Sims 2 world! From snowstorms and thundershowers to lightning bolts and more, not only will your Sims neighborhood be affected by these seasonal changes, but so will your Sims, as weather events and changes can impact your Sims relationships, moods, skills, wants and fears. Are your Sims happiest while fishing and playing Marco Polo in the summertime? Beat those wintertime blues by building snowmen, creating snow angels, and more!

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The Sims 2: Apartment Life Limited Collection Review

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(More customer reviews)My daughter loves it but since I was the one that had to install it, I was surprised to find that in order to play the game I had to temporarily give her administrator rights.It would have been nice if they would have mentioned this in the installation instructions so I wouldn't have thought I did something wrong when the game wouldn't work.

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Product Description:
SIMS 2 APARTMENT LIFE LIMITED EDITION: PC

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The Sims 2: Open for Business Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)i thought that this was a good game to play, it was fairly inexpensive and you get to make a living off your own store, that you either get to run, or work at, instead of sending your sim away for the day then to come back with a pay check... you actually earned the money that you recieve. I think that some things are really annoying though, because you end up spending much more on your employees and such, and barly make any money at all cause no one will buy your items if they are too expensive, so you have to have another job inorder to make enough to live. And the days go by so fast, you barely have any time to run the store, in between your sims other needs such as hunger and hygene etc.. Also, the customers get mad at really stupid things and end up never coming back and give your store a bad reputation. When i was playing, one of my lawn decorations (a flamingo) was tipped over, and they kept going into histerics about that, or if your trash is full they get really annoyed.
this also is very entertaining though because you are able to run a restaurant, a salon/hair dresser place, an entertainment spot, and pretty much any type of store you want. you can sell anything that is available in the buy mode. this expantion pack also comes with a lot of new objects, clothing, and hair styles, which are fun to use, such as costumes they can wear, a lot of shelving to put goods on, etc.
over all i think that this game was fun, being able to run your own business, but there were a few things that could be better.

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Product Description:
Get Down to Business with your Sims!Set your Sims up in their own businesses. Create a variety of new, unique businesses, such as bakeries, boutiques, salons, and countless other thriving shops. Hire a staff to stock the shop and sell the goods. Will they build the neighborhood's favorite shop or the next entrepreneurial empire?

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The Urbz: Sims in the City Review

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(More customer reviews)This game at first was great...but started to get boring.
The Urbz was the first game i bought for my Gamecube. I was satisfied...for 2 days.
I got to Darius's penthouse really fast, and after that theres nothing to do. the goals are the same...in every district!

Pros:
Fun
Cool Clothes
Nice houses
cool furniture
cool people

Cons:
easy
repetitive goals
pets (they peed everywhere)
socials (to confusing)
gets boring
no money (you only buy clothes!)
daruis's "money machine" it didnt even work
rep (deterorates fast)

then..i bought the Sims for gamecube. it was sooooooooooo much better. and so overall the urbz was to much of a strech for the sims creators

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Product Description:
The Sims have moved to the City!Sims who Live in the City are known as Urbz and they have a adventuous new look and attitude.Walk your Urbz through 9 different jobs including a Tatoo Parlor and a Sushi bar.Change your look from punk to rap and experience diverse lifestyles in 9 different districts.It's up to you if your character becomes a big-time player on the street or gets lost in the crowd.It's all about prestige and popularity and The Urbz are living the dream in a City that never sleeps.

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Sims 2 Holiday Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)....since the Holiday Stuff pack came out, which includes the same plus even more holiday items, you'd be better off buying the regular Sims 2 base game and the Holiday Stuff pack rather than this.

However, if you don't want to spend the extra cash for the Holiday stuff pack and would be happy with only two-thirds the amount of holiday objects, then this would be the way to go to save some money.

Either way, the Sims 2 is SIMply awesome and well worth the money!!Just be sure your computer meets the game's system requirements before buying it, as it is highly 3-D graphics and memory intensive.

I've been playing Sims 2 for almost a year now and this is one game that you can really never tire of.Maxis is always coming out with new stuff add-ons and expansions to keep it interesting.I have all of the expansions and add-ons out so far and plan on getting all future releases, too.It's that fun!!!

~~~~Remember:This is a BASE GAME EDITION, exactly the same as the regular Sims 2 BASE GAME except with some extra holiday objects, and NOT an expansion!!~~~~

Later note: This review was written *prior* to the holiday 50% price cut.

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Product Description:
Sims 2 Holiday Edition is a limited release version of The Sims 2 with special holiday items! Take your Sims from cradle to grave thru life's biggest moments. Will they strive for popularity, fortune, romance, family or knowledge? Mix their genes, fulfill their dreams, and push them to extremes. Decorate the house, serve a festive dinner, experience Santa's arrival, and throw a rockin' New Year's Eve Bash! Serve a holiday feast for the whole family, see Santa or Mrs. Claus' arrival on Christmas Eve, or throw a happening New Year's Eve party and set off some fireworks!

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The Sims 2: Castaway Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the first Sims that I have bought for the Play Station 2. Our PC's can't hold anymore Sim expansions without over loading our computers. We are avid Sims players in our house and have loved the game since it first came out in the first format. We love Sims 2. The game play for the Play Station Platform is Fabulous. You can't go and create a new game for someone once you start though - you need separate memory cards. If someone comes a long and wants to play and create a new Sim, your old game will be erased - so make sure you get a card or two to go with it.

Game play is very cool. It's fun to explore the different areas of the island.You can build up your talents and inventory to be able to make rafts, shelters, and find new foods to cook over your fire. There are lots of things to unlock and lots of treasures to find. I love finding the message in a bottle.

If you create a crew, eventually you start to find your crew mates and that's cool too.

We got this for an early Christmas present to be able to play through the holidays and don't regret it! Super Fun - be prepared to loose a few hours with this enchanting game.

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Product Description:
The Sims 2: Castaway PS2

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The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)This was a fun extension to the Sims 2 games. I cannot be overly effusive as it merely gave a few more choices to furniture selection and decorating concepts. This was just a stop-gap while waiting to obtain Seasons. The Holiday pack is better. If your looking for more clothes for sims in the family fun pack- look at Glamour Life before this one. It is worth it for a few extras to enhance the other games, though!

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Product Description:
Add excitement to your Sims' family with this all-new collection offurniture, clothing, and decor. Decorate the home with an assortment of coolnew furnishings, including upscale living room items and adventurous bedroomsets. Dress your Sims in matching attire for an amusing day out with thefamily. With 60 new items from castle beds to cruise ship replicas, yourSims now have more stuff for family fun.*Requires The Sims˙ 2 to play.

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Sims 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)To make it short and sweet, for those of us who don't meet the requirments for the computer version of The Sims, this version (which is also on PS2) is the best one for consoles. I've played all three of the console Sim games and this (or Bustin' Out!) is my favorite. It's really solid, the worst part is not being able to have a kid. Other than that, all the regular stuff is still there (along with some neat things like learning/cooking recipes). However, the computer version is better because there is so much more. Hope you found this helpful.

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Product Description:
The Sims 2 lets you create, customize, and control different neighborhoods as you delve into the mysteries of Strangetown and strive to uncover its secrets. Mind your Sim?s Sanity Meter to save them from a nervous breakdown and connect with other players to trade secrets and play head-to-head mini-games.

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The Sims 2 University Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this game last night and played it for two hours.I must say it's quite good. The gameplay is fairly easy; it's really less complicated than I imagined it would be.

What's New

* New "Young Adult" Stage - Once your Sims have gone through adolescence, they're ready to enter this stage in their lives and go to college. You do so by moving them first into the "Family Bin" and then move them to a dormitory (as you would normally move a family into a house). You can also choose from the Young Adult Sims already available in the Family Bin, or you can custom-create your own collegiate Sims (create up to eight per household).

* New Buy and Build Objects - Although I haven't completely explored the expansion pack, there are some new objects that add more fun to the game, like additional exercise machines, decorations, arcade games, communal showers, bonfires, etc.

* Influence - When you interact with other Sims or fulfill certain Wants, you gain Influence points. This feature allows you to "influence" other Sims into doing favors for you, like writing your term paper.

* Three University Lots - Sims State University, Academie Le Tour, La Fiesta College.

* Majors - Choose from a variety of courses which will help shape your Sim's future career path.

How the Game Works:

As I mentioned earlier, the gameplay is fairly simple. You can choose to play your former teen-aged Sims, pick the ready-made ones from the Family Bin, or custom-create new Young Adults.

Young Adults have four stages representing each year: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. Each stage or "school year" has two semesters, which has an X number of hours to complete. At the end of each semester, there is a final exam that your Sim has to take.

Complete all the academic work required (by going to class, doing term papers, studying, etc.), and your Sim will do well in school. The "Academic Panel," which normally shows career/skill path, displays your Sim's GPA, major, and minimum grade level to be attained. If your Sim fails, he/she goes into "Academic Probation" and has to repeat the previous term. If he/she fails a second time, he/she gets kicked out of school and into the "real world" where they transform into normal adults.

As a Freshman, your Sims start out living in a dorm. But as they gain more simoleons, they may choose to live in a private residence. As they meet more people, they can join a frat or sorority house by making a telephone call.

After your Sims have successfully completed all four years, they graduate and move on.

When my Sim goes to class, it's not shown what's going on in class. It's similar to when an Adult Sim goes to work. You only see/play your Sim when he/she is actually home. Partying and interacting with other Sims is the whole point of the game.

:)

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Product Description:
The Sims 2 University PC

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The Sims Castaway Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, I am a huge fan of the Sims 2 Games, and own almost all the expansion packs.

When I first played the game, I didn't stop until I finished the Castaway Story completely through. I couldn't get enough. I then created my own characters to play the game through, hoping (maybe) that something may be different or that I would be faced with a different challenge... Although this game is incredibly fun and creative, I do with there were more story variations, or different characters to chose from who would then bring their own stories to the game.

Overall, a fun game, but I don't know how long it was meant to last...

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The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had the game since the day it came out. Where to start? First, the basics. The box says there are over 125 new items. There are new floors, windows, wallpapers, doors, trees, lights, tables and counters. There's even a lighted ceiling fan.
When Sims are ready to go downtown, they simply call a cab. They can invite other Sims with them or just look for their friends once downtown.
The Sims really seem to enjoy the new fish pond. They can buy fish food to feed the fish or rent sailboats to play with in the water. There's a rental shack where you get these items and it also has a picnic basket you can get.
When your Sims get a picnic basket, they spread out a blanket and then lay on it, eating and talking. If the date's going well, he might just go for a romantic kiss and then again, his date might completely reject him!
Each one of your neighborhoods has its own downtown area. When you go to the beach, you actually hear waves crashing! They can't swim in the water but, of course, you can always put a swimming pool on the beach. There are even changing rooms where your Sims can change into their swimsuits.
Another great feature of Hot Date is the "Townies." When you're downtown, you see all sorts of Sims, not only the ones from your neighborhood. You can talk to them and make friends. If all goes well, you can ask them to "Hang Out" with you and they'll follow you around doing what you do.
Let's talk food. There are all sorts of places your Sims can eat. There's an ice cream counter, hot dog stand, a place to get hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza, a diner and also a really fancy restaurant. You can create the restaurants yourself too or you can use the downtown buildings that come with the game.
There's a new grill for the park areas so your Sims can cookout. There's a new stove and when you place it downtown, you automatically hire a chef for your restaurant. When you put a dishwasher in the restaurant, you automatically get busboys that clean off the tables.
You can also put cash registers in the stores and restaurants. This automatically hires store clerks, hostesses and waiters/waitresses.
Another great thing about this game is that the people change. For example, you can go to a diner once and you'll have a male waiter taking orders. You can go again and it will be a woman. It's as if they have shift changes just like in the real world.
It's fun to watch the hostess seat your Sims and hand them menus. Your Sims will read the menus and talk about what they want to order. Then the waiter will come, take their order and take the menus.
They can also go to the bar and order drinks. You can have your Sim sit at a table and call the "barmaid" over.
Sims can shop for clothes, jewelry, candy, flowers and magazines. When they shop for clothes, they can buy outfits for themselves or for the Sims their with. One of my Sims bought a new pair of pajamas and now that's what she wears when she goes to sleep instead of the default pajamas. Everyone else in the house is still wearing default pj's because they haven't been shopping yet. Nice feature!
Also, you can put changing rooms in the clothing boutiques so they can try on outfits, swimsuits and pajamas. They'll go in the changing room and come out with the other clothes on. Then they'll prance up to the mirror and check themself out.
Sims now have an "inventory" that allows you to buy things like teddy bears, The Sims game, lollipops, chocolates, a yellow rose, a bouquet of red roses and even jewelry. One of my Sims bought his date a bouquet of red roses. The date was going well so when he gave the roses to her, she threw them on the ground and stomped on them!
In Hot Date, they also have new personality traits. Your Sims can now talk movies, parties, fitness, fashion and more with each other.
If there's a topic they don't know too much about, they can buy a magazine at the magazine stand. They'll take it home and read about it there. There are about six different types of magazines, I believe. The magazines have funny titles like MAXSIMUM and WhooNoo.
You can place speakers anywhere downtown and your Sims can listen to jazz-like music while they shop. And most everything you do downtown costs money. For instance, playing pool costs money. Turning on the jukebox costs money. Even the bubble blowing machine costs money.
Sims can also interact with over 40 new actions. They can cuddle, play footsie, kiss, make out, embrace, insult each other by shaking their fists, gossip, admire, entertain with puppets, nag about the house or their friends.
One of my favorites is the hug feature. Sims can now hug friendly, romantic, intimate or even leap into each other's arms. And they're all so funny to watch.
They can even kiss suave, peck on the cheek, fiery and more. And if your Sim is feeling frisky, he/she can "check out" another Sim or "growl" at them.
Another funny interaction is "Brag." Sims can flex their muscles. They can also primp. One of my female Sims primped by pulling out a compact and checking herself out in the mirror.
When your Sims are back at home, they now have four new beds (all singles). Really nice. And there's also the Niagara Love Tub that allows two Sims in at once. They can wash each other, play and embrace. It's really funny to hear them "playing" under the water.
I've gone into a lot of detail here but it's still not enough. There's just way too much to discover. Happy Simming!

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Product Description:
The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack represents an entirely new experience for your Sims--dating! With exciting new characters, interests, romance objects, and an all-new downtown area filled with restaurants, shops, and parks, Hot Date will get your Sims off the couch and into the singles scene. Play matchmaker for your Sims and watch them become Casanovas or Casa-nevers.
Players can have their Sims ask each other out on a date, or they can try their luck with an in-game dating service. Arrange to meet another Sim downtown at exciting and romantic locations that the player can create. Everything from a candlelit dinner, a drink at the bar, or a rendezvous in the park is possible as your Sim attempts to orchestrate an evening to remember.
Once your Sim is out with that special someone, additional interests and new interactions keep the conversation flowing and chemistry clicking. Sims can now flirt, play footsie, engage in a little tonsil hockey, or converse in Simlish about new and diverse interests. Being a fun and fascinating date gets your Sim one step closer to a goodnight kiss, or more!
Players can watch sparks fly or fizzle as their Sims meet and date a host of new characters. Sims can spurn the advances of the Jock, welcome the overtures of the Femme Fatale, find true lust with Mr. Medallion, or strike out with the Blonde Bombshell. More than 100 new objects, including the Picnic Basket, Cuddle Couch, and Love Tub, allow players to set the mood for their Sims. Find your Sim a soul mate... or just have fun looking with The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack.

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The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I feel this is THE BEST Sims 2 Expansion Packs! I liked Nightlife, but I felt
the Sims 2 Pets has a lot more creativity. You can really achieve a lot in this game.
Not only can your pets get jobs to earn more income for you, you are also making a family very happy
when you create a pet. I love also being able to meet other animals in the neighborhood. You can adopt strays
once you become friendly with them. It's a cool game. A MUST for any animal lovers, and Sims/Sims 2 fan!

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Product Description:
The addition of a new friend is guaranteed to enrich the daily lives of your Sims! Not only will players have the opportunity to choose from a variety of existing breeds, and hot designer mixes, but they'll also be able to personally design their new friend with the Create-a-Pet feature. Choose your Sims' pet's body shape, unique markings, even the pet's personality! With so many different animals to choose from, there's no telling what unpredictable experiences could occur!

Get 41% OFF

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The Sims 2: Mansion & Garden Stuff Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I still believe the stuff packs are overpriced for the amount of stuff they offer. $12-15 would probably be a fairer price. So if you happen to find a sale, definitely go for it.

Mansion & Gardens Stuff is by far the best stuff pack EA has offered. The three decorating styles; Second Empire, Moroccan, & Art Deco, are lovely. The flowers are shrubs are beautiful, a welcome addition to landscaping. I like how the windmill & solar panels will lower the sim's bills. The ceiling fans are a decorative object, but they do actually move so it's a nice realistic touch. I haven't noticed that they affect the temperature of the sims so they are probably merely decorative.

I love the Mansard roof pieces. It makes it so much easier to have attic space that my sims can live in without being affected by the weather. I've had issues in the past of them freezing or getting heat stroke if I had bedrooms in the attic with certain types of roofs.

Knock on wood, I haven't noticed any major glitches with Mansions & Gardens. What a relief. The grand staircases are very nice, but they sure do take up a lot of space. Your sims will autonomously slide down the banister. Usually we do not get any new interactions with stuff packs, so this was a nice surprise. Our sims can smell the flowers too.

The only thing I didn't care for is that some of the new siding is too dark and there's only a few selections. I'm not really fond of the screaming bright yellow. I wish they would have added some of the previous siding colors we've had with the new corner trim. EA could have made this a real expansion pack with more items and options and I would have been over the moon.

I'd consider this stuff pack a must for Sims 2 players.

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Product Description:
Design impressive estates and meticulous gardens for your Sims with three all-new styles. Infuse your Sims' mansion with the intricate beauty of new Moroccan designs, add a touch of retro-modern style with stately and new Art Deco elements, or build in the imposing new Second Empire style. With a host of new architectural and landscaping items to choose from, your Sims homes will look more stunning than ever!

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The Sims Castaway Stories Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is what I've been waiting for.I'm a huge fan of the Sims.I had most of the original Sims and most of Sims2.I liked those games - for a while.After you've done all the new stuff and had a couple of kids, the fun just kind of died.I have always always said that if there were some sort of directed story to the Sims that I had to play out, I'd like that so much more.

When EA came out with the Sims Stories, I was excited because that had finally happened.The first 2 titles just didn't excite me much, so I passed.They announced Castaway and I couldn't wait.It was released first on platforms, but I *hate* Sims platform games.The graphics aren't as nice and the gameplay is always lacking.So, I waited for the PC version.

It's very fun and very *new* as far as Sims go.There are familiar elements, but also great new twists.I highly recommend this title to people who, like me, love the Sims but have lost interest over the years.It's totally renewed my Sims playing.

The *only* drawback, and it's kept me from playing all the way through, is loooooooooooooong load times.At first I thought it was my computer, but since I have a great graphics card and tons of memory and ram, I thought maybe it wasn't me after all.After a bit of searching, it seems that lots of people are frustrated with the long load times between scenes.It plays out basically as follows:Game loads, objective pointed out, load new scene for up to 5 minutes, play 30 seconds, then on to a new scene taking up to another 5 minutes.If I'd have known that before I originally posted my review, it would have gotten less stars.

Anyway, enjoy!

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Product Description:
The Sims Castaway Stories

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