The Sims 2 [PS2]

Sims-fanatics will likely mutter some kind of derisive comment (probably in Simlish gibberish) when faced with the idea of playing a mere port on their console. Consoles aren't supposed to be good at these kinds of "god games." But the good news is that this game is no mere port; The Sims 2 is different enough to appeal to new and old players alike.

Like the PC version, the Sims 2's console version is essentially a balancing act. Each sim is imbued with a basic personality, attributes, wants, needs, and fears. Various meters display needs like hunger, entertainment, social interaction, and the need to go to the bathroom (among other things). Fulfilling those needs in the limited timeframe (and finding time to make money, party with the neighbors, date, marry, and maybe have kids) is what makes this a game -- and the console version is no slouch in this department. The core gameplay is intact.

Added are new environments to explore, extra ambitions and jobs, and a whole new perspective -- literally. The default option is now to play the game in third-person close perspective (the PC game has always been an isometric viewpoint). This means players can control their sim like a third-person action game and explore their world with more immediacy. It works when controlling one sim, but later when you want to control a family, players will need to switch into the more strategic view.

Starting the game gives you two basic options: story mode and freeplay. Both modes give players the option to customize and create their own sim, and doing so offers a daunting range of options. Players who like to tinker can choose from what appears to be thousands of different looks.

The game kick starts your character by randomly selecting parents to create your character's "digital DNA" (this DNA is actually used when your character finds a mate and has a baby -- sim lineages are now possible). Players can accept these changes and move on or spend hours experimenting and tinkering with different looks, personality traits, aspirations, goals, and more. It's quite overwhelming and, admittedly, is much harder to control using a gamepad.

Story mode also differs from the PC version in that players will control their sim at all times. Directing conversations, fulfilling wants and needs, and moving through their sim life is what it's all about. It's an entertaining diversion, but the real control is reserved for freeplay.

Freeplay mode plays more like the Sims we're used to. Create your sim (or family), buy a house, and furnish it with your meager savings. Get a job, meet the neighbors, save up, and buy better stuff. Party all the time or settle down to raise a family... and now it all happens using well animated characters in a closer perspective while sitting on your living room couch.

There's a splitscreen multiplayer option, which is nice, but sadly conversations are purely one-sided. Only the player initiating contact can choose the options available. This writer's wife, who's not a gamer per se, chose to simply have her sim attempt to make out with me as much as possible. I was powerless to refuse. I'm not complaining about that, but I don't see why they couldn't have made it more of an exchange.

The graphics aren't state-of-the-art, but they're very nice and the animations are often hilarious. The sims have always had a cheeky sense of humor and that's present in this game. Parents, be warned! Sims can make out and they have sex (called "Woohoo") -- it's tasteful but present. The music and sound effects are high quality and the game seems stable, which is important given the amount of work and time that dedicated players put into this kind of software.

If the idea of slouching on your couch while playing a character on the TV -- who is sitting on his couch watching TV or playing video games -- appeals to you, you'll find these little computer people a splendid diversion. It's the ultimate in meta-gaming. Playing yourself playing yourself and it's worth the purchase, because it's different enough, even if you just spent the past year sitting in a computer chair playing a character sitting in his computer chair.