Customer Reviews

The Sims Livin' Large Expansion Pack

5 star:		(160)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Doing game reviews for BellaOnline.com, I tend to buy a new game every 3 days to play. There are few that really grab a tight hold of me ... but this was definitely one. As soon as it came out, I bought one copy for me and another as a present for a relative. That night I was up until 5am playing my couple - a criminal and a psychic - and building them up in career. Blearily I trudged to bed, dreaming of my Sims.

The next night I promised myself I'd show a little more self control. I created a musician sim - in a fit of amusement I chose Britney Spears - and her partner Prince William. I wanted to have a little fun - I put him into a Robin Hood outfit. She started playing on her electric guitar, and the Sim-friends that came by booed their fool heads off. A few hours later, she was ripping amazing riffs on her tiny instrument, and the Sim-buddies were now dancing around the living room. It was amazing.

The wealth of new outfits for your sims, and objects to buy them, is just fantastic. Pets. Giant lights. Interesting, pretty doodads. The gorgeous new 60s windows and wallpaper, plus the gothic candelabras, arrow-slit windows, and even a robot make this an incredible enhancement.

They've got fun jobs available, too. Want to be a Shooting Star in musical fame and glory? How about a slacker (think golf caddy) or hacker, or psychic or more? They're all there, each with their own outfits and career ladders. But wait, it even gets better.

You can have MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS. Now, since a given Sim family often needs 15 or more friends to get to the higher levels, the original game was pretty much one-person-only. You couldn't have multiple people use your computer, because there were a limited number of house lots to go around. The houses were simply needed for the Sim-Pals to live in (in groups of 8 of course). With the new system, each person who wants to play can have their very own neighborhood, where they grow and live to their heart's content.

Sure, there are still a few bugs. Probably the most glaring one is the annoying lack of pathfinding ability. My psychic lost her job when she'd already gotten to Medium status because she was trapped in the bathroom. The maid and an unruly guest blocked both entrances, and I didn't blast a hole in the wall fast enough. In another scenario, a guest came into my kitchen, faced the fall, and refused to move. She in fact fell asleep against the wall. Once again, I had to make a hole in my house for her to escape.

Pathfinding aside, though, the game is enormously addictive and I haven't been to bed before 3am since it has entered the house. The person to whom I gave it as a gift is experiencing the exact same problem. Sure, you can argue, is a high-school-band-teacher *really* a step up from being a lounge singer? By the time you're a Rock Star, with a huge pool and a bar in your back yard, you don't really care. It's just amazingly fun.

Being an avid gamer and walkthrough writer, I tend to buy a new game every 3 days to play. There are few that really grab a tight hold of me ... but this was definitely one. As soon as it came out, I bought one copy for me and another as a present for a relative.

That night I was up until 5am playing my couple - a criminal and a psychic - and building them up in career. Blearily I trudged to bed, dreaming of my Sims.

The next night I promised myself I'd show a little more self control. I created a musician sim - in a fit of amusement I chose Britney Spears - and a partner in a Robin Hood outfit. She started playing on her electric guitar, and the Sim-friends that came by booed their fool heads off. A few hours later, she was ripping amazing riffs on her tiny instrument, and the Sim-buddies were now dancing around the living room. It was amazing.

The wealth of new outfits for your sims, and objects to buy them, is just fantastic. Pets. Giant lights. Interesting, pretty doodads. The gorgeous new 60s windows and wallpaper, plus the gothic candelabras, arrow-slit windows, and even a robot make this an incredible enhancement.

They've got fun jobs available, too. Want to be a Shooting Star in musical fame and glory? How about a slacker (think golf caddy) or hacker, or psychic or more? They're all there, each with their own outfits and career ladders. But wait, it even gets better.

You can have MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS. Now, since a given Sim family often needs 15 or more friends to get to the higher levels, the original game was pretty much one-person-only. You couldn't have multiple people use your computer, because there were a limited number of house lots to go around. The houses were simply needed for the Sim-Pals to live in (in groups of 8 of course). With the new system, each person who wants to play can have their very own neighborhood, where they grow and live to their heart's content.

Sure, there are still a few bugs. Probably the most glaring one is the annoying lack of pathfinding ability. My psychic lost her job when she'd already gotten to Medium status because she was trapped in the bathroom. The maid and an unruly guest blocked both entrances, and I didn't blast a hole in the wall fast enough. In another scenario, a guest came into my kitchen, faced the fall, and refused to move. She in fact fell asleep against the wall. Once again, I had to make a hole in my house for her to escape.

Pathfinding aside, though, the game is enormously addictive and I haven't been to bed before 3am since it has entered the house. The person to whom I gave it as a gift is experiencing the exact same problem. Sure, you can argue, is a high-school-band-teacher *really* a step up from being a lounge singer? By the time you're a Rock Star, with a huge pool and a bar in your back yard, you don't really care. It's just amazingly fun.

If you own the original "the Sims" game you will love and cherish it for a long time. Eventually though, you'll become a little bit bored with it and then you'll start downloading some things from the net. Still not satisified? then you NEED Livin' Large. To add to your gameplay there are 5 new careers, Journalist, Computers, Musician, Paranormal and Slacker. Building up points for these careers is now easier with new skill-building objects like a chemistry set and telescope for logic, or a gnome making kit for mechanical skills.

Not only are there these great objects and careers there are other brand new objects, including stairs, windows, and doors. there are some distinct themes within this, including creepy stone castle style, with dungeon stairs, stained glass and a stunning bed. or try the tacky vegas stuff out, like the vibrating "love bed", tiki bar, and laugh out loud artwork. Also go modern and bright with funky furniture, lamps and walls.

NPC's like the "Tragic Clown Catcher" download, the Tragic Clown himself, Grim Reaper, Genie, Servo and others add to the game as well. With so many objects, reactions and gameplay its no wonder that I'm and I"m sure u will be addicted to The Sims once again!

If you're a fan of The Sims - the finest and most enjoyable example of a time-waster I've ever run across - you'll want the Livin' Large expansion pack. It adds a lot of humor and variety to the game. The chemistry set and the work bench are especially useful, and the crystal ball can be used to improve your Sims personality, if you follow the hints it gives. Some of the additions are tasteful and some tacky, and some just for fun. Watch out for the Vibromatic bed, my Sims wound up with a baby and I have no idea how that happened. Er...that baby definitely wasn't planned, not by me anyway, I mean. Like every other fan I can think of a zillion things I'd like to see added to the game, and as well I agree there are some irritating aspects I'd like to see removed, so I hope Maxis comes out with more expansion packs in the future, and I'm hoping it'll be before my interest in the game wanes. We'll all just buy bigger and faster computers, right?

this is an expansion that will give us a lot of interesting new things some of us expected from the original game More neighborhoods,from original 1 comes additionals, which will not look like the first neighborhood, hopefully. .New skins, make your sim look different. New objects like crystal ball, magic lamp weird statues and paintins, also including the new objects available on thesims.com New npc's- admit, the ghost npc was cool, but how about a genie, grim reaper, and a zombie? All new styles-from weird world to medieval castle life, there's new sets for any need your sim might have New jobs like musician, paranormal(man in black),journalist,slacker,plus all new ways to expand your skills... New accidents including ufo abduction,and all new actions like playing in bed(yeh i know how it sounds) Here's the list of all new objects i found out about, note that i only know about a very small percent of the real number of new things... tiger and bear rugs, torches, new statues and paintings, new piano, a music machine that looks like jukebox for desktop,new bar thingy,new bookshelves,new coach(es),an electronic guitar with a giant speaker connected to it, new bathtub(s), a chemical set to make different portions which will have weird effect on your sims,new friges,i'm not sure but i think a boxing thingy,wall rugs,genie lamp, crystall ball, an all new old kind stove,a barrel(i don't know why), a toy rocket,a telescope,all new drawers,voodoo dooll,christmas tree with presents under it(how sweet), plus all new sets of walpapers, floor tiles,doors, windows, tables, chairs, couches, and decorations... Overall-if you like sims, this expansion is a must!

If you have the Sims and are 13 or older, I believe you must check out the Livin Large Expansion. There are lots of new things that add to the already popular The Sims game.

Newly added items worth mentioning are a vibratory love bed where you players can have a baby, a wooden bench to gain mechanical points, a crystal ball to alter their personality, a chemistry set to gain logical points and drink different potions, an electric guitar to gain creativity points, and just too many to mention here in this review. There are also more chairs, light fixtures, works of art that are really nice looking, wallpaper, windows that are cool and wacky, and textiles that would leave you creating wacky and wild rooms in your weird house.

That's one thing that should also be mentioned is that a lot of the added things to Livin Large are weird, wacky, and wild. It's not as conservative as some of the things in the Original The Sims game.

The new career tracks of Slacker, Journalist, Hacker, Paranormal, and Musician are probably the most conservative addition to the game. There are also new skins, new outfits, new movements that your Sims encounter like after drinking a potion, or launching fireworks.

Another great aspect of the Expansion Pack is that it adds 4 Sim neighborhoods which are created for different family members that want all their Sim characters interacting with their own Sim families, so that you don't have one member's Sims creating conflicts in members Sim family, you can have your own Sim neighborhood because the Sims from one neighborhood can't visit other Sims in another neighborhood. If you have the game you know what I speak of.

If you are a fan of the Sims and find the game strangely addictive, this Expansion may shock you at first but will only add to your enjoyment in playing this game.

This might be the best expansion pack in the history of the gaming world. This pack takes the original Sims and tacks on tons of useful/unusual/freaky features and objects. Useful features include 4 new neighborhoods and a robot that takes the place of the maid, gardener AND repairman. He'll also cook, but his meals suck. Unusual features? Well, there's geanies, fortune telling balls, and castle decor. Freaky? Well, there's alien abductions, voodoo dolls, and a Vibromatic Heart Bed. Yes, you're sims will finally be able to get it on. If you own The Sims, this expansion pack is well worth your money. Just make sure you have the original game, because this is an EXPANSION PACK and not a new game (duh).

I didn't think that the Sims could ever be improved. But when I got this I realized how wrong I was. There's new jobs, outfits, and things to buy. You can even plead with the Grim Reaper to let one of your dieing sims live. This game is fantastic and I would recommend this game to everyone.

This is probably the most promising looking expansion pack I have ever seen for a game...EVER. I think it will be better than Corkscrew Follies for RCT. Here are some new features:

New Skins. I believe that there will be different races besides black and white.

New Items. Over 100 new items will make there way into the game, and that's alot compared to the 150 that were in The Sims alone. Some include: guitar, voodoo doll, genie, lamp, new stoves, new dressers, new seats, new couch's, a telescope, etc.

New Career Paths: Hacker (Beta tester, programmer, etc)Slacker (conveince store clerk, gold caddy, etc)Journalist (game reviewer, etc) Paranormalist (tarot card reader, cult leader, etc)and Musician (subway performer, I think coffee shop performer, rock star,etc)

New Scenarios: Alein Abduction, chemistry sets to alter personality, the grim reaper, etc.

New Neighborhoods: 4 new neighborhoods means 40 more homes and families.

New Design: Now comes with mod/retro (50's and 60's modernist), love shack decor, and castle architecture.

Plus, plenty of new wallpaper, windows, floor, etc.

This looks to be very good.

There are some things that I liked about this expansion pack, and then there are many things that I did not care for. I DID like being able to have the new jobs, more lots, and some of the objects. The things I did NOT like are the weird objects, wallpaper, floors, and the list goes on. I actualy ended up selling this expansion pack to one of my friends, and he kinda likes it. If you want an awsome expansion pack, then you should get House Party. House Party has some things from Livin' Large that I liked, such as the the jobs and lots. I think that Livin' Large is an expansion pack for the Sim player that likes to make weird families, but if you want normal families like I do get House Party.