The Sims 2

The Sims 2

Released: September 14, 2004
Type: Main Game

Platforms:

PC (Microsoft Windows) Mac

Genres:

Role-playing (RPG) Simulator Strategy

Game Modes:

Single player

Themes:

Fantasy Comedy Sandbox Romance

Player Perspectives:

Bird view / Isometric

Ratings

User Rating

79.1
Based on 483 ratings

Critics Rating

71.0
Based on 7 ratings

Total Rating

75.0
Based on 490 ratings

Summary

In The Sims 2, your Sims will be more lifelike, more responsive, and more complex than ever before. You'll be able to control your Sims over their entire lifetimes, taking them from their first steps to their golden years. Guide them through "Life's Big Moments" and build their "Life Score" with every decision you make. And since every Sim will have its own DNA, their appearance and personality will be passed down through the generations. Life in The Sims 2 will take on a whole different dimension with an entirely new 3-D engine.

Storyline

The game starts at the neighborhood level. Here you can create a housing development from scratch or start with one of three pre-made neighborhoods, each with its own theme. From there, you'll settle on a house and a family of Sims to control. Sims now have aspirations, wants, and fears. The wants and fears are the day-to-day things that occupy their minds, like wanting to see friends or get married and fearing death or being rejected for a kiss. Satisfy their wants, and they become more efficient at completing tasks you assign them. Realize their fears, and Sims become lethargic, cranky, and unresponsive to your commands. Aspirations are the big-picture things, like raising a family, becoming wealthy, and gaining knowledge. Succeed here and you'll be able to buy odd gifts for your Sim to improve his or her life, like a money tree that pays dividends or a "fountain of youth" water cooler.

Of course, you wouldn't be able to juggle all that if it weren't for the improved "Free Will" option, which makes it easier for Sims to fulfill their basic needs. The artificial intelligence of the game is noticeably improved; they won't turn on radios just as a family member is going to bed but, strangely, they do occasionally put their dishes on the floor.

Another big change in the series is the concept of the lifespan. Now Sims are born with the traits of their parents, families grow, and Sims grow old. Not only does this go hand in hand with aspirations (growing up is the first aspiration that a baby Sim will have), it provides a limited time with which your Sims can achieve their goals.

The pre-made households all have backstories that are smart spoofs of soap-opera plots--lots of scheming, romance, ghosts, and family fighting.

Involved Companies

Aspyr Media

Role:
Publisher

Maxis

Role:
Developer

Electronic Arts

Role:
Publisher

Game Engines

The Sims 2 Engine

Keywords

life simulation dating construction death exercise management micromanagement building slice of life artificial intelligence snow day/night cycle game critics awards customizable characters mind control polygonal 3d color customization shopping eyetoy support unlockables non-player character pregnancy character creation pick your gender downloadable content pack-in game playstation tv support video game characters that play video games invisible wall sleeping content editor never-ending world building psychotherapy age progression sports cars fictional currencies greatest hits machinima dead multiplayer gibberish pc to console port external character creation yoga e3 2006 e3 2005 e3 2004 e3 2003 xbox 360 backwards compatibility interactive achievement awards 2005 lgbtq+ interior design

Alternative Names

TS2 Les Sims 2 Sims 2 Los Sims 2 The Sims 2: Dr. Dominic no Inbou

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