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very disappointed

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 23
Date: October 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

When The Sims first came out to rave reviews a few years ago, I promised myself I'd buy the thing if it was ever released in a cut-rate deluxe-box format. Well, this fits the bill, so I finally broke down and bought the thing.

And this turned out to be the most overrated game I've ever played. I'm sure you all know the theme and basics of the game, so I won't bother rehearsing them, but I will point out several absurdities that make this game an artificial exercise in finding different ways to accomplish whatever the computer forces you to accomplish.

1. You have to do the same thing over and over, and it gets boring. Relieving your Sim's "Bladder" bar by going to the toilet is an obvious example, but there is so much other routine nonsense to handle that you find yourself clicking the same commands day after day: taking a shower, cooking food, calling friends over to your house, talking to them, talking to them, talking to them, now and then watching TV with them, but then having to stop watching TV so you can talk to them yet again in order to raise your "Relationship" score with them. I'm amazed that so many reviewers called this game "engrossing." There are maybe ten things you do in this game, and you do them over and over and over.

2. If you DON'T do these commands, your various mood bars will rapidly start to suffer; this will harm your overall "Mood," and that in turn will cause your "Job Performance" to deteriorate and your interactions with other Sims to fail as well. Since when is your job performance determined by your mood? That's an example of what's wrong with this game: it's not really about directing a simulated human being's life; it's about figuring out the best combination of commands to keep your Sim's mood bars high. That's very artificial.

3. These commands themselves are also unnatural. You can't sit and talk with someone; if you're sitting on a couch (thus raising your "Comfort" bar) and want to interact with your friend (and thus raise your "Social" bar and your "Relationship" score), you have to stand up first. But this immediately causes your "Comfort" bar to drop. (For that matter, your friend can't even sit on the same couch right next to you, because the couches aren't "group activities." Your friend has to be sitting on a DIFFERENT couch.) Also, anytime you leave your house, your "Room" bar drops precipitously, so if you're doing anything outdoors, you're not likely to be in the best mood while you're doing it. That's absurd. In real life, my mood doesn't deteriorate when I'm outside playing basketball, and it doesn't improve afterwards just because I walk inside my house.

4. You can't ever visit anyone else's house. Now and then neighbors drop by to visit (often helping themselves to your food and amenities), and you can always call someone up and invite him or her over. But no one ever invites YOU over. So your whole life is spent inside your little sim-house.

5. Some of the random events are annoying. I got hit with a miserable clown who wouldn't leave my house and made me miserable too; he wouldn't stop bothering me until I called the "Clown Catchers" (who look like Men in Black) to remove him. The first time, it was kind of creative and cute. But then it happened again--almost immediately afterwards. That's just annoying. Same thing with the burglar who breaks into your house at night and steals your furniture: the first time he stole some stuff, I thought it was clever. The second time, it was only a sign of how impoverished this game really is. Couldn't they think of other random things to happen to me before hitting me with a crazy clown and a burglar TWICE?

6. Acquiring "skills" is no less artificial. Don't even think about cooking anything on a stove unless you've read some cookbooks first, because you're virtually guaranteed to start a fire. (I've never read a single cookbook in my life and don't consider myself a gourmet, but I'm able to make a simple and nutritious meal without burning the house down.) Need to improve your "charisma" skill? Talk to a mirror. And talk some more. And talk some more.

No thanks. I'd rather play something else instead.

Rock on Sims!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: August 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The Sims is an awesome game once you get the money cheat (ctrl, shift, c, rosebud;:, and hold down enter. It will say that's no such cheat but watch the $$) . I also have vacation, and it's sooo cool. Before you buy this, I reccomend checking your memory space on the computer. I can't believe how fun this game is! There are many different areas to build the houses in. (Neighborhood 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and maybe more!) You won't regret buying this game!

Good But Get Double Deluxe Instead

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: August 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is a good game (see my other ratings for each individual EP except Unleashed), but if I were you, I'd buy the Sims Double Deluxe instead. It's the same thing but with a few different objects and an extra expansion pack. There may be a few extra items that you get with Deluxe that you don't get with Double Deluxe, I'm not sure, but probably nothing worth the price difference and that you couldn't download online.
Always consider your alternative options!

A-D-D-I-C-T-I-V-E!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: March 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Played this game the first nite from 4pm to 5am! Time just flew. I could have played even longer but I made myself get some sleep.
Be very careful of what the computer requirements are. I have a laptop that cannot play the game and I am very bummed!
My kids love all the expansions for doing magic, having pets, going uptown, etc. I like the Deluxe Edition by itself. I cannot keep track of all the things going on in the expansion packs.
BE CAREFUL, you WILL become addicted, you WILL lose sleep, and you WILL leave chores until the very last. Adults like myself, will love the games as much as the kids.

A lot of fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: August 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Although the graphics aren't any good, and although the characters you create will consistently start fires, I can see why this is the best selling pc game of all time.

You create your own family with one or more members, you buy or build a house, you paint wallpaper, place floor or carpet, buy furnishings and appliances, then "run or ruin" their lives from there.

Although a single family cannot leave the property of their home, your freinds may come and visit. Either you can call and invite them, or they come as they wish. (You have the option to ask them to leave.) From there, you can make good friends, or even marry!

It's quite a fun game, well worth the money.

T.K., 14

Where's the cash?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: August 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Pros:This game teaches you how to play and control the sims lives. It's a really fun game and I'm going to keep getting the Expansion packs.

Cons:I found that on this game you can loose your money really fast and several times I've had to sell an item so my Sims can eat.Also if you don't do what their needs or wants, they throw a hissy fit. They are really fussy.

A great game for anyone.Play on gamers!!!

Why The Sims Deluxe makes a good game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: July 31, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I think this game is good for many reasons. For instance, if you are stressed for some reason, it allows you to free yourself from the real world, and take on the role of someone else for a while. It is also very fun to watch how each individual behaves when given free will. They may decide to skip work, or sleep on the couch for a change. Also, I find it quite amusing to sometimes mix things up in the household, and watching the (sometimes comical) results. For example, if you remove their toilet, they will get very angry, and then go to the bathroom on the floor. To add to the hysteria, you can remove any furniture in the house that allows them to sleep, thus (sometimes) causing them to go to the bathroom on the floor, and then, fall asleep in the puddle. I recommend this game for anyone.

OMG! THIS GAME IS TEH BEST!!!1

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 14
Date: March 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I love this game! I bought it thinking that it was a bit stupid, but then I created a sim called "BONGO MAN", and I made him get a job, and he got PROMOTED! And then I made him buy a nice bed! And then he got a girlfriend and made BABIES! OMG!

Anyway, this game is a must for everyone out there who cannot face the soul-destroying vaccuum of modern society! If you weep to yourself daily at the futility of it all, why not create your own little world and make them all HAPPY! Then you can gradually destroy them and grind their spirits until they are seething, empty and lifeless automatons. Just like real life.

fun but could be funer!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: May 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Ok well I got thins in christmas 06 and it was great at first! I played non stop. Dont get me wrong its a great game but i would definatly suggest the sims 2 over this. For one thing your sims dont grow up and will always stay the same age but can die though from getting burned from cooking and things like that. And when your sim has a baby butterfly will just spin around and then theres a random crib right there!The sims can get promoted in jobs which is pretty cool and they get different salerys. Your sims are really "under aged" and never seem to take care of themselves. You always have to do it for them. I really do like this game but wouldnt suggest buying it when now there is the sims 2 which is alot more lifelike.

ADDICTING!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: October 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game for my roomate... and he hasn't stopped playing it for 3 weeks straight. Any free time he has is devoted to creating his "world".. Bought the Unleashed expansion pack, and now it's getting worse. You know there is a problem when real folks start speaking like THE SIMS.. This is a GREAT game.

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