Urbz: Sims In The City

by Electronic Arts

Product Features

• PS2 exclusive feature: EyeToy support.
• Build your reputation within the world, outside your hood, and through characters you'll hang with
• You now control your Urbz 24/7 in the city that never sleeps
• Featuring all-new graphics with real-time lighting and weather effects
• New audio and music reflects the sounds of the city and the beat of urban life

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0002IQD3I
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: August 12, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,991 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #1 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Simulation > Life

Product Description

Platform: PlayStation2

The Sims have moved to the City where action is 24/7 and reputation means everything. Sims who live in the City are known as Urbz, and they have a bold new look and attitude. Go to work and be challenged by bosses at locations like the Sushi Bar, Chop Shop, or Bootleg Fireworks, Inc. Success at work brings promotions, access to new power socials and gear to influence your new lifestyle. Flaunt your attitude by styling your Urbz using the detailed new character engine; then cross the velvet ropes of an uptown night club or explore the subway to earn new skills and items for your high-rise crib. It's up to you whether your Urbz become big-time players on the street or are lost in the crowd. It's all about reputation as The Urbz are living the dream in a City that never sleeps.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 127 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite what I thought it was going to be be...., November 18, 2004

By 

J. Weiss (Flushing, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Urbz: Sims In The City (Video Game)

Although the Urbz is a good game, speaking as a fan of the Sims, this is not what I had expected. In the Sims Bustin' Out, the creators added the element of achieving goals through different environments and people to obtain social skill and items to buy, but there was still an option for free play where you could just develop your Sim. In the Urbz, you pretty much move from city to city, buy different clothes to fit with the style of the other Sims there, and work jobs to obtain money.

Some of the major criticisms I have about the Urbz are:

* Like another reviewer stated, the instruction booklet is totally useless. Don't even bother with it.

* You get an apartment, but you don't really need it. I used mine mostly for building up skills, but sleeping, eating, and going to the bathroom could all be done in the different cities.

* The game is too easy! I am more than 3/4 of the way done and I have had it for 2 days! And honestly, once you have gotten the goals and the challenges, I don't really see myself coming back to this game and playing it for hours like the other Sims.

Some of the good things about the Urbz:

* The cities and clothes and people in the game are visually awesome. The creators definitely boosted the look of the Sims game, and the soundtrack is good also. Gotta love the Black Eyed Peas.

* Working at the different jobs is pretty cool. Instead of just having to wait for your Sim to get back home, you can now help them complete their job, and you get way more money than you did in the other Sims games.

* The new interations with Sims and objects are pretty cool. You can impress your friends with stunts like smoke rings, skate tricks, and my personal favorite, bustin' a move. Objects wise, you can play in fire hydrants, grind fountains, swallow swords, and fight in a cage match.

All in all, a good game and worth buying.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My opinion on this game, November 30, 2004

By 

Crystal T. Blake (FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Urbz: Sims In The City (Video Game)

First off, let me say, if you are looking for a TRADITIONAL Sims game, this isn't it. Now, with that said, the game is actually my favorte of the Sims PS2 games.

Good points:
1) Sleeping, eating etc take a lot less time, so you aren't spending all your time fixing your sims needs.

2) You actually get to WORK, rather than staying at home waiting for your sim to get home.

3) Skill building is a bit easier, perhaps a little too easy, but again you aren't spending hours and hours trying to up your sim.

4) You don't have to have X amount of friends to advance, you instead have reputation... so you don't have to worry about socializing with the SAME people all the time to keep friendship alive.

5) The clothing options, facial options etc are really cool... the graphics are rather good and the interactions give a lot more options.

Bad points:

1) The game loads rather slowly on my PS2.

2) Furniture is a bit large and you get several apartments, but need none of them for the most part.

3) The janitor IMO is useless.

4) It is a bit too easy... but still very fun... though I would like more options in customizing my sims personality.

5) You have to jump around from city to city, which wouldn't be as big a problem, except the slow loading.


All in all, I like this game, I rented it to try it out ... but I intend to buy it now. I would suggest for those that are uncertain, rent before you buy.

48 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Loading, Please Wait..., November 22, 2004

By 

Mark Brockman (Hazel Green, AL USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Urbz: Sims In The City (Video Game)

Rather than call this Urbz: Sims in the City, they could have called it Sims: Loading, Please Wait. Literally, if you change clothes or locations often, you will be looking at that screen for at least ten minutes out of every hour. And you will change locations quite often since you can't install a shower in your crash pad at many locations and will have to go back to your apartment.

That said, this game is very fun and very addictive. I'd say it's more addictive than fun though. This, however, is not the Sims, but a variation which has elements which may or may not work for everyone.

I personally like the concept of buying clothes. Though this game again suffers from having crappy clothes for the guys. I don't like having a pet that I didn't ask for peeing on the floor of my apartment and getting in the way when I want to go through a door. Also, at first all the genre changing rubbed me wrong as my character just seemed so phony. But, after a while, you realize that character isn't "of" these groups, but some infiltrator who's working the masses.

There is the ability to have more than one Sim under your control by having them join your posse, or whatever they call it, but there really is no reason for it.

I'd recommend to anyone who liked the Sims versions on the PS2 earlier, but bear in mind, this isn't the same. You won't build a house, but you will furnish an apartment. The character models are better, though the morph function is pretty useless unless you want to make a freak of nature.

It seemed quite easy to me. I'm about 1/2 through. I started in the Skateboard area, and my favorite places are there, Neon East, and Diamond Heights. I'm still not sure exactly why my Xam rings at me when there is no new message, and when someone tells you, say, who to Stink Bomb, jot it down on some paper as there is no way to see that info later.

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