The Sims 2: Pets [PS2]

For Sims players, both the novice and the most experienced, a question inevitably arises: do I really need another expansion? The answer, of course, for anyone who wants to retain some semblance of a connection to the outside world, is no. But when the content affects the game as fundamentally as the new Sims 2: Pets, it might be time to make an exception.

As the title implies, Pets adds all sorts of furry companionship to the formerly human-centric software. Cats and dogs are the primary focus of the expansion, though it's also possible to give your Sims smaller animals like birds and womrats, which any child would call a hamster.

The chief benefit of pet ownership is just the same as it is in real life: happiness. Adding a pet to your home offers all sorts of options to increase Sim satisfaction, from simple playing to teaching a dog new tricks or even sending it out to get a job.

It's a double-edged sword, however, as dogs can dig holes in a manicured yard and cats can shred that expensive couch. Disciplning and training are both as easy to manage as every other social interaction in the game, but both take time, which any player understands as the game's real currency. Every moment you have to spend scolding the dog is one not dedicated to getting ahead in the neighborhood.

There are multiple ways to acquire a new pet. Pet shops and rescue centers can be placed in the neighborhood, and each is an easy way to pick up a dog or cat. But the best way is to use the same creation system that opens when you build a new family. There, dozens of breeds can be browsed or you can create a mixed breed, morphing body style, facial features and even fur color and pattern. The results vary from eerily lifelike to completely outlandish, in classic Sims style.