Customer Reviews

Sims 2

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I finished "Sims Bustin' Out" (twice) and couldn't wait to try "Sims 2." In many ways this game is a lot different. Some elements are still there, including a few familiar characters like Dusty Hogg, Misty Waters and Giuseppi Mezzoalto and picking up stuff off the ground for recycling, but a lot has changed.

The point of this game is that you are hired by Daddy Bigbucks (remember him?) to star in a reality show called Strangetown. Actually, your character and a band of aliens are the only ones who know about the reality program. All the other characters are living their normal lives running organized crime, operating a nuclear power plant, etc. Ratings is your goal. Basically, you have to keep the four Goths watching your show happy by: completing the mission, running an errand, discovering and carrying out the hidden want, and succeeding in five conversations that fulfill your character's aspiration (friendly, intimidating, or romantic). There are 10 episodes of varying difficulty ratings (actually, the ones with higher ratings seem easier to me) and an 11th episode that requires a second game boy. Here is how this game compares to "Sims Bustin' Out" with pros and cons so, even if you haven't played the first game, this review will be useful.

PROS:
1. Awesome graphics!! Aluminum cans actually LOOK like aluminum cans instead of D-batteries. Your character is better looking too. Only in the facial expressions of the other characters and the extras you can buy for your place do I prefer Bustin' Out.
2. Time is not a factor in this game. Places like the saloon, pawn shop, recycling center are opened 24/7. The only limitations are that some of the side games cannot be played between 11:pm to 1:am for some reason. That is not much of an inconvenience. Also, characters stay put. Many times in "Bustin' Out," I'd need to find someone to carry out an errand and call him, he'd say where he was at, I'd rush to meet him and, as soon as I got there, he was already gone. I'd call him again and he'd not answer or be on the other side of town! Not a problem here.
3. A walkthrough is not needed. Once you figure this game out, you will not need to keep referring to a walkthrough because each episode is self explanatory. The missions are easy to follow and, as far as the other stuff, just talk to everyone you see. The errand is easy to find as it will prompt you to "Ask for errand." The hidden want might take a little thought, but that's the fun of the game.
4. Increasing your skill levels is a breeze (kind of). It doesn't take 10 minutes in a library like in "Bustin' Out," it just takes a lot of Simoleons. You buy a book and select it and you increase your level instantly. Actually, you do not need to increase your skill levels to complete the episodes. It is not really necessary unless you want to make a killing in the side games (especially "Bigfoot Loves Chickens"). To reach the highest levels in the easiest games ("Bigfoot"--if you keep playing, quitting, and replaying and not save until you win, "Kheelhaulin' Cards," and "Chop Shop") you need Intellect 4, Strength 5, Personality 4, Mechanical 3.
5. Side games are fun! They might get a little tedious because you play all five games from the first episode on. Games aren't added as you progress like in "Bustin' Out," but I still enjoy playing them, especially the card game and "Chop Shop." The hardest one to reach the top level is "Cattle Cleanup." It is similar to the lawn mowing game in "Bustin' Out" but the 10 canister goal is very difficult to achieve. I only reached level 3. The commercials (one per episode, usually the car one) are kind of annoying, though. The King Chug Chug commercial is tiring and very difficult to reach the goal for the next level. The car commercial is kind of fun once you get the hang of it but, if you crash all the time, it can be very frustrating.
6. Emperor Xizzle! This guy is the funniest character! He is an alien who flies around and speaks in strange, mixed-up sentences. When his nephew Burple interprets for him in the episode "Brand New Scent" (my favorite) it is hilarious!
7. There are two ways to end the series finale.

CONS:
1. There is no way to monitor your needs. You have to eat, drink, sleep, etc., like in "Bustin' Out" but there are no individual meters for each need. There is also no way to prevent a need from arising. If you decide to take a nap to speed up the time, as soon as you get up you might find you need sleep. You have plenty of time to rush to wherever you need to go to fulfill a need but it is frustrating that you can't take care of everything beforehand before you leave on your mission.
2. Conversations are odd and impersonal. Instead of choosing sentences to say, you try different moves (i.e. chat, entertain, brag, etc.) and see if you get a reaction. If you get the diamond meter to max out, you get a level (up to three) with that character based on the aspiration your using. If you are rejected too many times, you pass out. Sometimes you can find things that work best with certain characters, sometimes the reactions seem to be random. It can be very frustrating, especially if your character is romantic. There are only certain members of the opposite sex you can have romantic conversations with and it is very difficult to get points. It's best to save right before the conversation and keep reloading until you get the point.
3. You can make tons of Simoleons but there is nothing to really buy aside from food and drinks and occasional errands. The stuff you can buy is uninteresting and boring. Only the house makeovers you buy with ratings points (friendly, intimidating and romantic themes) is worth it. The graphics for the extras are lousy which is puzzling considering how excellent the graphics are throughout the game. All you really need to buy is a shower and (for convenience) a bed, fridge, and maybe a stove to save money but, if you play all the games everyday, money will not be an object. The scooter you can get for ratings points is a total waste. Unlike in "Bustin' Out" where the scooter was essential for getting around quickly, here it is slow and bulky. Running is much quicker and you have more control.
4. Although the graphics are great, Strangetown is a rather ugly place. As opposed to "Bustin' Out," it is very industrial to the point of being a trash heap. Some places like the Dance Club (which looks like a hideout for a militia) seem pointless. Even the zoo looks strange (hence the name, I guess).

Despite these cons, I really enjoyed this game, in some ways more so than "Bustin' Out." I was genuinely bummed after I finished the final episode for the third time (I finished the game for three characters to try each aspiration). I will soon be getting Urbz and any other Sims game that comes out for Game Boy Advance!

In the Trinity that is The Sims for GBA, I would rate The Sims 2 as just that, #2, the first being The Urbz and the last being Bustin' Out. The Urbz had the right amount of fun, challenge, and humor, while Bustin' Out was repetitive and irritating. The Sims 2 is a little bit of it all rolled into one - repetitive, irritating, fun, challenging, and funny... but not on the same level as The Urbz. In TS2, you are the latest addition to a reality series called Strangetown, which is controlled by none other than Daddy Bigbucks himself. Some of the other "canon" characters are there: Dusty, Luther, Pepper Pete; while there are other new Sims: Kayleigh, Mama Hogg, Jebediah, etc. There's also aliens, Bigfoot, and a Yeti! Your goal is to complete every episode of the 3 seasons (with the exception of the special reunion; you can't complete that unless you link up your GBA with a friend's - stupid rule if you ask me) with the highest points. One of the main differences between TS2 and the other Sims is that you no longer have your urgencies meter; you can't eat whenever you want to eat - you have to wait until your little cartoon bubble alerts you. Plus there's no Cheat Ninja, but that's a minor point.

The overall strategy was different, the plot kind of weird, and the dialogue lame. But it's a pretty good addition to The Sims series. I'd still recommend it for a play or two.

...they would probably create something like the GBA version of The Sims 2. I've played the original, first version of the Sims for PC, the GBA Sims Bustin' Out and The Urbz, so I have had experience with other Sim games, including ones where there is a "forced" storyline (all the GBA Sims games are like this as far as I can tell).

My complaints:
- WHAT HAPPENED to all the meters? Instead of toilet/hunger/exhaustion/etc. meters, you just have one long bar. You have no sense of your sim's needs, and it seems that randomly they will complain about being tired/hungry/etc. You can't preemptively take care of their needs-- you just have to fulfill them as they pop up. (And actually I've had instances where I have my sim go to the bathroom...only to have them complain about having to use the bathroom a short while later)
- Conversation/character interaction is tiresome and also random. Instead of choosing conversation topics, you choose conversation "actions" (for a friendly conversation, you choose from "Chit-chat," "Entertain," "Hug," etc.). And if the other character doesn't respond well to your selection, your health bar drops, sometimes significantly. If a conversation goes poorly, you risk your sim passing out. And you can't really get a sense of how the other character will react to what you say!
- Shopping is limited! Only one store, and the catalog of things to buy isn't impressive at all. What happened to all the bizarre and funky items you could buy (like the skydiving machine in the Urbz?)???
- Storyline seems way way way too forced and uninteresting. By "forced," I mean that it felt like I was just running one errand after another. There wasn't a sense of "open-endedness" (perhaps because the world is so uninteresting that there's nothing really to explore/do other than the objectives?).
- You're stuck in ONE house. The major changes that you can do to it is change it's "theme" (from friendly, romantic, or intimidating).

I bought this and The Urbz at the same time. Since then, I've finished The Urbz *twice*, and I still have yet to wrap up this one. Slogging through it, but it's definitely one that I have no problem putting down if I have to attend to other things...

I'd say try the other GBA sims games instead of this one. I'm curious to know if they even used the same design/writing team for this game...because it definitely doesn't have the same entertainment value.

somebody sneezed over at EA and this is what came out. i adored Bustin' Out and the Urbz immensely, enough that every 4-6 months i pick them up and play them again. i've had this game for a little over a year now and i'm not even sure of where it is...

here, we'll start with the pros:
-it's a Sims game

now on to the cons:
-horrific story line
-tasks are too easy to figure out and extremely predictable
-hard to read/manage Sims character (meters, wants, desires, needs, personality, relationships, etc...)
-despite what other reviews might say, graphics are not that great
-not much opportunity to decorate the house, or items to decorate with
-overall premise of interaction with other sims characters a failure, they tried too hard to change it from past games, but there was nothing wrong with the way they interacted before, if it ain't broke guys...
-can't even complete all the levels of the game w/o having a gameboy link, or whatever that is, one gameboy is all i've got, one gameboy is all i need...

this is definitey a result of EA trying to put a game out too quickly and not taking enough time to develop it. seemed to be a grab at making a quick buck...unfortunately i fell for it! shame on you EA!

I was really excited to get the game...until a began playing it. The forced story line is not what I expected. I got through the game only because I wanted to see what was next in hopes that it got better (which it didn't). The side games are pretty lame. The only one I continued to play was kheel haulin cards. It was a decent game except when the computer takes YOUR cards at random! That was really frustrating. The game has no instruction on how to really play it, and why it is ok for the computer to take your cards and you can not take theirs. I wanted to throw the game against the wall a couple of times for sure.
Don't waste your time. Get the computer version if you want to play The Sims.

The Sims 2 for GBA is not very fun. It's not even okay, what I hate the most is the new sanity meter. It doesn't show your needs separately, and when you have a need it goes down like crazy until you fulfill it but you don't know what you need until it pops up over your head. There are a decent amount of places to go to, but there's nothing really there or anything cool or interesting to explore. It's also very cramped and it sometimes feels like you're running around in a maze. There is not very much interactivity between people. You could make out with someone you just met, it's not realistic like the past sim games were. There aren't cool objects like in the Sims for computer and for The Urbz. If you want a fun sims game, I'd suggest Sims Bustin Out for GBA or The Urbz for GBA or DS. This game was a waste of money, and It isn't fun.

i love the sims for gba.. or the other ones at least... you can skip episodes and it just doesn't make any sence.. get the urbz or bustin out cause this stinks....

In 2003, The Sims Bustin' Out hit the market for all console systems. All the platform consoles got counterparts of the PC version, while the portable version of the GBA got a new and more refreshing type of game. The game was different in its console and PC counterparts since it involved direct control of the sim, a direct storyline that involved completing goals in a free and open world, and a variety of other changes that completely revamped the series. With its creative plot devices, non-linear gameplay, and just the idea of on the go Sims, the game received a high reception among gamers of all ages. This game just couldn't be topped.
In 2004, EA blessed gamers with the game sequel that one thought couldn't be topped: The Urbz: Sims in the City for all consoles, including GBA and the just released Nintendo DS. The game included all the same features of Bustin' Out for GBA, most of them redesigned and a lot better. The story was really in depth and humorous, the graphics were really good for the GBA's capabilities, and the gameplay simply rocked the world's of GBA players on the go. This game just couldn't be topped...Ever.
In 2005, EA had released the final game of this epic trilogy of a series. Did it live up to its potential? Find out now...
Imagine being on the set of a reality TV series and being the star of your own show. That in a nutshell, is the Sims 2 for the GBA. The game centers on where the Urbz for the GBA and DS left off at, bringing over all the favorite characters from the previous games, and even introducing new and wacky characters mentioned but never actually shown in past games. The game does in fact have a change in setting as well. No more are you at the leisure of Minipolis, now it's the mysterious and erie desert of StrangeTown. Daddy Bigbucks, the evil enemy from the Urbz, is back and has hired you to star in his new television reality series. Apparently, you're the only one in town that has been given this knowledge and it's up to you to make sure that no one gets wind of the show.
As the game intertwines the player into this crazy plot, one of the first changes is that the game no longer has this open non-linear world. Although this may come across as a negative, it's actually somewhat a positive as well. Whenever you finish an episode of the series, you are taken to your studio where you can see the ratings of your show and choose the next episode to play. For each episode that you film, you get reviewed by the Goth family and based off how good you did at plot devices, hidden wants, and aspirations, you achieve rating points to spend on all kinds of cool features like social options, new items, or even additional episodes to add to your season que. There really isn't a limit for as to how many times you can play an episode so, in reality, the game does have that open ended factor to it. Each episode is very intriguing featuring all kinds of wacky plot twists, mysteries, and humorous moments.
A lot of the gameplay throughout these episodes hasn't changed much compared to Urbz or Bustin Out. The social system has been redesigned again to fit the PC version, and I actually thought it was refreshing. Basically, you engage into this "minigame" where you can choose between several social options. Depending on what option you choose gives the person a positive or negative reaction. Once you get a set amount of positive reactions from the sim, your relation levels up. Relationship leveling is crucial to the game's plot since it helps you to achieve higher ratings, and it interconnects with your aspiration wants which unlocks you all kinds of new rewards.
Another major change was the implication of a green sanity meter instead of a needs tab. The green meter basically measures your health and sanity and allows you to keep conversations going with people as well as interacting with the environment. Although it does make a big change from the 2 other games, I really liked it. It gives the player less time to worry about needs, and more time to focus on the intricate and ingeniously created plot.
The game in a nutshell has a variety of changes, and for the most part, I think they are for the better. Jobs no longer have to be "unlocked", all the locations are open from the start of the game, players have the ability to use items like a water gun...just to name a few.
So the question remains: Does this game live up to the potential of it's predecessors? In my opinion, I think the game is awesome. Although the Sims 2 doesn't follow the same formula of it's past counterparts, the game is built so intricately vast and filled with so many features that they soon become noticeably different, to expected. This game, in my opinion, is probably the BEST portable sims game of all the portable "sims 2" games. This game should've been ported to the DS instead of the trashy hotel version, and don't even get me started with the PSP version. This game truly lived to the potential of the theme of sims games, and it deserves more praise than it received. I highly, highly, highly, recommend this game and all the games in this GBA series to all sims fans.

This was my first "Sims" game ever. I got this even before I bought the PC version. When I got it, I loved it, but now that I can compare it to other "Sims" games, I realize that it really shouldn't be called a "Sims" game.

Story-A millionare named Daddy Bigbucks is directing and producing a reality TV show that features a desert town called Strangetown. The catch is that nobody in the town knows about the show. You are an actor/actress that Daddy Bigbucks has hired to make things run smoothly in town.

Graphics-The graphics are much better than the previous "Sims" games for the GBA. The characters are bigger, and there are noticable differences in height, weight, etc. in the characters (but you can't choose your height/weight). The graphics aren't perfect, but they are really pretty good.

Sound-The music is not bad. I personally liked it. The voice acting (what little there is) is nice.

Gameplay-This is why I took off one star. Although the gameplay is extremely fun, it is not the gameplay of a "Sims" game. You have 3 seasons of the reality show, and in each season, there are about 4 episodes. Each episode has different tasks for you to do. For instance "Aliens Arrived" features tasks in which you try to prevent an alien invasion where in "Blackout" you try to find out who or what caused the mysterious blackout all over Strangetown. It is not freeplay at all, it is very specific in what you have to do. You can, however, decorate your house to your liking, but the game only allows about 20 items in the house before it says you can't place any more. Character intereaction is strange. First of all, only certain characters are in each episode, and the way you interact with them is just luck. You have 2-5 social options, and you just pick one hoping that they will react positively to it. For instance, for a friendly conversation you might be able to Chat, Entertain, or Hug, but they might reject your hug and accept your chat. It's all very random. There are 5 jobs in this game, and like all other GBA games, the jobs are minigames. There is everything from a casino minigame of Go Fish to a flying game at the mountain. There are various locations to explore from the zoo to the farm to downtown. It's really a wide variety of locations.

Fun-I thought (and I still do think) that this is a really fun game. It isn't a "Sims" game, but it is a really fun game anyway. By the way, you can play the episodes as many times as you want, so there is a tad bit of freeplay.

Length-Playing all episodes probably takes 12 hours, but I play them over and over again, so I got my money's worth. However, if you just want to play them once and get it over with, pay no more than $15.

Overall, I am really glad that I got this game, and I love playing it. Die-hard "Sims" fans will probably be disappointed, but I think it's a great game with a fun story.

It's got a lot of scenarios to complete so you'll find yourself playing it for hours at a time. But eventually, it will get tiring, and you'll stop. I find myself playing for days at a time, but about once a year.