The Sims 2

Those nutty simulated humans are back, with all-new console-exclusive toys.

The follow-up to one of the best-selling franchises in history has been out on the PC for over a year now. Console jockeys, rejoice: not only has The Sims 2 finally arrived, it's also a lot more than a simple port.

Lots of Work and Plenty of Play
The premise is simple: create a Sim, defining it's basic personality and appearance attributes, and help it achieve its hopes and dreams while keeping its worst fears from being realized. Succeed at this and you'll be rewarded with new environments to explore, loftier ambitions to pursue, and more Sims to manage. You can indirectly queue actions for your virtual human to take on, like practicing a skill or cleaning up the place, or control a Sim directly, walking it around in real-time, directing each conversation. Meters help you track the current state of any Sim, from overall well-being on down to cleaning prowess. If you've got an obsessive bone in your body, The Sims 2 will sink its teeth into it and not let go, such that you'll find real world hours ticking by with unnerving alacrity. Even playing on the PC isn't an innoculation, as the console version is packed with tons of exclusive new toys, furnishings, recipes, and experiences, all animated with inventive style. The soundscape of Sim-speak, complete with a gibberish soundtrack, is just as pleasurable.

Different Strokes for Different Folks
As with the predecessor and its innumerable add-ons, many will find themselves drawn into a web of social interactions and daily micro-managing, while others will look on with disbelief, unable to fathom the appeal. Whatever side of the fence you find yourself on, The Sims 2 is unlikely to change your mind; but if playing the divine hand to a house full of simulated people appeals to you, this is as good as it gets.

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