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Get a Simulated Life!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 69 / 75
Date: May 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

A downfall of all the "Sims" games out for the PC is that they require TONS and tons of memory. Running out of memory on my PC and laptop, I had to do some "spring cleaning" and get rid of a few programs. I love all of the "Sims" games, but they just take up too much space. Well, there is a solution to that problem.

"The Sims: Bustin' Out" is now available for PS2, and I admit that I was a little doubtful at first. Nine out of ten times the graphics will never be better than the PC. Well, this is the rare instance where the PS2 version has better graphics than the PC. You get incredible zoom in functions that were very limited to merely clicking on the PC version while on the PS2 you can smoothly zoom in and out with the analog stick. The load time is ten times quicker than it ever was on the PC and the controls are more than adequate, although I must warn you that it does take some time to get used to. The longer you play, the quicker you will get used to the controls.

For those who aren't familiar with the "Sims" games, the premise is pretty simple to follow. It's like living a computerized life. You create people and have them live their lives while making sure all of their needs are met. You can have them live successful and filling lives, or you can be the reason for their torment and suffering. It's up to you. You call the shots and make the decisions. You can either play "Bust Out Mode" or "Free Play" ("Free Play" becomes available once you start "Bust Out Mode" and save). Also, if you have the ability to play games online, this game comes with an online mode that you can play as well.

As I've said, the graphics on the PS2 version are far more superior to that of the PC version. And what's great is that now you can enjoy the wonderful world of "The Sims" without wasting all of that computer memory. It does, however, eat through your Memory Cards (which you need in order to play), so make sure you have one or two that are only for this game and for nothing else. If you only want to create one Sim, then you'll be fine with only one Memory Card that has nothing else saved on it, but if you want to make more, you will need at least another one to go along with that one. That is really the only downfall of the game, but it is something that can be worked around.

Be warned. This game WILL eat up your time without you even being aware of it. What you think will be a simple fifteen minute game can easily turn into a three hour game and you wouldn't even notice. That's how addicting this game is. If you don't have the time to be addicted to a game, then you may want to pass this one up.

"The Sims: Bustin' Out" for the PS2 is a remarkable game that surprisingly outdoes the PC version. The graphics are great, the controls are very workable, and the replay value is off the charts. This is one of the few games that can show you that PC doesn't always mean "better." Save that memory on the PC and pick up the PS2 copy of "Bustin' Out," and let the fun begin. -Michael Crane

the last game was great i hope this one is even better!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 66
Date: October 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

the last game was great if youve got the sims on pc dont get this get the sims 2 but if you have the sims the ps2 buy this its bound to be great.

Your very own interactive soap opera

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 15
Date: March 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

As most people familiar with the Sims phenomenon are aware, Sims Bustin' Out allows you to create characters who interact with other "Sims" in various everyday--and not so everyday--situations. In Bustin' Out, your character starts out living with Mom, who sports a pink bathrobe and bunny slippers and nags you about getting a job while you figure out the basics of operating the game controls. Your Sim can select from several careers: movie star, fashion victim, jock, mad scientist, counter culture, gangster, and paramilitary. If you climb the ladder of success all the way to the top, you get to move into Malcolm's Mansion. At this point, I'm a few promotions short of the 10 required to get to the mansion so I can't describe what it's like. What I CAN say, is that Bustin' Out is incredibly addictive! The challenge of getting the next promotion, or accomplishing some other goal, really hooks you in.

Bustin' Out has some fascinating and odd places where your character can live including a haunted house, an art gallery, a disco, a gym, a military outpost, and a beach-side love shack. Each location features various goals to accomplish, which will unlock new items and new outfits. Making friends with other Sims unlocks interesting social options ranging from the elegant (air kissing or kissing the hand) to the crude (burping in face and give noogie). One of the more amusing interactions is watching Mom laugh when you ask her to pull your finger. Despite the goofy robe, she definitely wasn't based on MY mom!

The Good:
* Aside from the androgynous scientists, each Sim character is quite unique. The Sims who you encounter as roommates and party guests each have their own reactions to the different social options you use. Hand kissing may score happy points with Mortimer, the elegant Vincent Price-like resident of Goth Manor, but seems a real turnoff to Dudley, the perpetually sloppy owner of a white-trash trailer.

* The stuff you unlock as you progress gets pretty cool: robots, aromatherapy mood enhancers, musical instruments, mooseheads, bookcases disguising a door, etc.

* Keeping your mood sufficiently elevated by taking care of basic needs (rest, fun, comfort, food, hygiene, potty breaks, a clean house), maintaining relationships with friends (necessary for promotions) and getting to work on time grows challenging.

* You aren't locked into one career, and don't lose ground if you switch careers in the middle of the game. Strategic career switching is one way to avoid going to work without getting fired so that you can concentrate on developing friendships necessary for promotions.

* You can start right in, without spending much time reading the manual. Other Sims will tell you how to operate the controls as you go along. At initial levels, you will get broad hints, such as roommate Dudley commenting on how badly you stink, if you need a shower.

* You can move back to earlier homes, which helps save money if you want to mooch off Mom, or if living with someone rebuilds a friendship faster.

* The Sims wardrobe contains pretty hip clothes, and each time you restart the game from after saving and closing, you can have your Sim change clothes. Your Sim will automatically change clothes for other activities: working out, swimming, heading to bed, heading to work, and bathing. (Intimate areas are blurred out for this last activity.)

The Frustrating and Disappointing:

* Maybe it's just my system, but Studio 8 contains glitches. For some reason, only at Studio 8, the system will not let me purchase all the items currently available for sale, even though I have plenty of "simoleons" (Sim money). Discovering this after selling the futons to replace them with more comfortable beds was a real pain. The roommate who gets stuck sleeping on the couch instead of a comfy bed stays in a pretty bad mood.

* When your Sim is at work, you don't get to see what they do. They're just away from the house. At higher levels for some careers, you at least get to see them head off to work in interesting outfits. For instance, while working as a virus breeder and other careers in the mad scientist track, your Sim will don protective clothing and a breathing apparatus before heading to work, military Sims will change into camouflauge, and those working up the gangster ladder will slip into a black "cat burglar" outfit. But when the movie star as a lowly kid show sidekick and the jock is starting out as a mascot, I would really like to see them wear silly outfits to work--and they don't.

* You can only save one Sim per memory card. If you want to have multiple Sims progressing through life, you will need to ante up for extra memory cards. I haven't tried the "free play" feature yet to see whether you can save both a "Bustin' Out" Sim and a "free play" Sim on the same card.

* The "Bustin' Out" versus "free play" brings me to another aspect that some players have found disappointing. In "free play," you apparently can build your own house and create a family of up to four people, including having a same-sex domestic partnership if you choose. According to what I've read on Bustin' Out websites, "free play" does not give you the opportunity of visiting other locations. Since getting a chance to hang out at places where my Sim wouldn't necessarily want to live is part of the fun, I hope that this feature gets added when the next version comes along.

Since I haven't played any computer versions of Sims or the original PS version, I can't compare Bustin' Outs features. What I did notice is that compared with Sim City and Sim Earth, Bustin' Out really holds my attention by having achievable goals to work for, and by not being too impossible to maintain everything in balance.

BusTiN Out!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: July 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have a gamecube, and ever since I've had it, I wanted the Sims. First I started out on the regular, The Sims. When Bustin Out came out, I was ready to "bust out" of my house and get it! Ever since I got this game I've been adicted to it!! Its awesome because you can play against a friend! They have many new items, and the people are looking better than ever!! Their faces are actually quite nice! There's new clothes, new faces, and new accessories! Zoom features make this game so much more easy to control and see. If you want to see the whole house, you can! If u want to zoom in to see your sims have a nice conversation, you can! Speaking of conversation, there are so many new social options! There are 2 great modes, Bust Out and Free Play mode. Bust out has gotten soooo much better you have to see for yourself! Free play mode is awesome too! I like it soo much, you really have to go out and buy it and see for yourself! Your love!! I PROMISE!!

Superb

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 11
Date: November 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

These games have developed and exceptional amount since the first 'The Sims'; this one is no exception. The quality of this game is extroordinary and has a very good value. I recomend everyone try this nifty game as soon as possible, before stores run out of stock!

Better then before

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: December 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game with much more action. You can move in and out whenever you like and it plays much faster then the first Sims for PS2. I highly recommend this.

sweet game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is awesome.There are 16 new locations that you can visit or move to. There is also some new sweet rides in this game like a limo with a hot tub in the back.You should really get this game

Fun, Addictive, Recommended!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: August 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Fun game and this time you get to travel around the various neighborhoods as you unlock them. Addictive gameplay, and lots of fun! Be prepared to use a memory card dedicated to this one game, though. Requires lots of memory!

This Game is SOOOOOOOO awsome!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

When I got this game,I was sooooooo not disappointed.After playing for like 5 hours,I knew I fell in love with this game.You get to do more thing in this game than the older Sim games.There are alot of cool graphics and new things to do.You can even have kids.I am a "SIM COLLECTER",as my friends would say it.If you ever get this game,you will become adictted to it like I am.

The Sims Busin Out Baby!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 10
Date: December 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I loved the first Simes for PS2! I think I completed all the career tracks! I hope I get this one for Christmas!

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