Raedon
09-22-2004, 12:01 AM
The sims 2 is what a sequel should be, better then the first but not far from the perverbial tree.
On the new aging feature, a big step in the right direction in the end.
With the aging the game is basically the same as the first in that, no matter what you do Sims die; however, only now they grow to look it before they do. If you played long enough the town could be nothing but your first character's offspring. Or you could have two huge mafia families in town or anything you would want... like a town full of women and one man named Raedon....
This is why The Sims 1 was a big hit with women it's like a big living dollhouse. Well the Sims 2 is that same Dollhouse evolved to the point of near perfection. Every Sims 1 interaction option is there but now it is just a catagory for more interaction on the same theme. One could see the wheels turning now for even a Sims 3 where KISS>KISS UP THE ARM could become KISS>KISS PART>KISS NECK etc. The Sims 2 is a dollhouse with DNA. besides the basic needs of your Sims daily life (food, fun, etc) you also get a slot machine like roll of the dice every day that gives you things you could do to raise their happiness level. These slots can be anything from making a hamburger to raising a skill point. There is also a Negative side as well. Do bad in school, marry or get rejected from sex and you loose. This adds a new dimention to the game besides "get up, eat, shower, shit, got to work." The Sims now have days off allowing for more time micro-managing and less cash flow at first.
Maxis has made the game completely customisable. Unlike The Sims 1 where making a new item wasn't so easy now it is. As well as adding new MP3 songs or downloading new clothes. From the start you can change your Sim's chin, nose, ears and other features. If you make a Sim with a huge nose and elf like ears then there is a chance their sim offspring will have some of those features. The options are a little short in some areas of Sim 2 building hair being one of them as well as there are no seriously obese Sims.
EA has made an obvious effort on customer loyalty support as well. One look at the Sims 2 webpage (http://thesims2.ea.com/) and you are greeted with user friendly exchange system.
The graphics are detailed as well as the sound. The game looks great in motion as the 3D really adds to how expressive a character in this world can be. Though it comes at a large price as it runs slower then DOOM 3 though not even close to as impressive with the speed hit. The Sims 2's 3d engine was not forged from the same steel as many current FPS engines came from. required system, I would say, for this game to get 1024x768 2xAA and 30+ FPS is 1gig of ram or more and at least a 9800 pro+ and at LEAST a 2ghz CPU. I'll bet there are 1000's of husbands out there right now upgrading their family or wives computer because of this.
My biggest complaint is I would have liked an option to make everyone age in town at the same time. It is extremely odd to grow old while your lover stays young just because you don't live under the same roof.
If you liked The Sims 1 then you will love 2. It has the right stuff to be worthy of the name it carries with just enough room for improvement to make a Sims 3 without dissapointing.
On the new aging feature, a big step in the right direction in the end.
With the aging the game is basically the same as the first in that, no matter what you do Sims die; however, only now they grow to look it before they do. If you played long enough the town could be nothing but your first character's offspring. Or you could have two huge mafia families in town or anything you would want... like a town full of women and one man named Raedon....
This is why The Sims 1 was a big hit with women it's like a big living dollhouse. Well the Sims 2 is that same Dollhouse evolved to the point of near perfection. Every Sims 1 interaction option is there but now it is just a catagory for more interaction on the same theme. One could see the wheels turning now for even a Sims 3 where KISS>KISS UP THE ARM could become KISS>KISS PART>KISS NECK etc. The Sims 2 is a dollhouse with DNA. besides the basic needs of your Sims daily life (food, fun, etc) you also get a slot machine like roll of the dice every day that gives you things you could do to raise their happiness level. These slots can be anything from making a hamburger to raising a skill point. There is also a Negative side as well. Do bad in school, marry or get rejected from sex and you loose. This adds a new dimention to the game besides "get up, eat, shower, shit, got to work." The Sims now have days off allowing for more time micro-managing and less cash flow at first.
Maxis has made the game completely customisable. Unlike The Sims 1 where making a new item wasn't so easy now it is. As well as adding new MP3 songs or downloading new clothes. From the start you can change your Sim's chin, nose, ears and other features. If you make a Sim with a huge nose and elf like ears then there is a chance their sim offspring will have some of those features. The options are a little short in some areas of Sim 2 building hair being one of them as well as there are no seriously obese Sims.
EA has made an obvious effort on customer loyalty support as well. One look at the Sims 2 webpage (http://thesims2.ea.com/) and you are greeted with user friendly exchange system.
The graphics are detailed as well as the sound. The game looks great in motion as the 3D really adds to how expressive a character in this world can be. Though it comes at a large price as it runs slower then DOOM 3 though not even close to as impressive with the speed hit. The Sims 2's 3d engine was not forged from the same steel as many current FPS engines came from. required system, I would say, for this game to get 1024x768 2xAA and 30+ FPS is 1gig of ram or more and at least a 9800 pro+ and at LEAST a 2ghz CPU. I'll bet there are 1000's of husbands out there right now upgrading their family or wives computer because of this.
My biggest complaint is I would have liked an option to make everyone age in town at the same time. It is extremely odd to grow old while your lover stays young just because you don't live under the same roof.
If you liked The Sims 1 then you will love 2. It has the right stuff to be worthy of the name it carries with just enough room for improvement to make a Sims 3 without dissapointing.