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The Sims 2 (PSP)

(2005, Video Games - Simulation, Rated T, Play it on: PSP)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Bad behavior, long loads -- patient teens only.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–16

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Players can use social tactics ranging from flirting to intimidation to extract secrets from other characters.
  • Violence:

    While intimidating other Sims, you may punch or kick them to get your point across.
  • Sex:

    Naked, bathing bodies are obscured with blurry pixels, and the Sims kiss passionately or engage in implied sex in an off-screen "love cloud."
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Another entry in the expansive Sims empire. Tons of consumer items help players design and furnish their homes.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Sims 2 (PSP) was written by Aaron Lazenby

Parents need to know that this portable installment features much of the same subject matter as its PC and console cousins. Players have to balance short-term needs with long-term goals to advance the story. Sims make barely obscured visits to the bathroom, which feature pixilated naked bathing bodies and toilet sounds. Flirting results in suggestive kissing and even a passionate cloud of love dust.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how a successful franchise is leveraged from one system to another. Is the success of The Sims 2 on the PC being used to motivate fans to buy a PSP? Families can also analyze the social tools at their disposal and discuss situations when chatting, flirting, and intimidation come into play. Do people use these tactics in real life to get what they want from others?
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More on The Sims 2 (PSP)

What’s the Story?

THE SIMS 2 FOR PSP strands you in Strangetown, a desert city populated with ghosts, aliens, psychics, and mad scientists. When your car (and the auto shop it was in) suddenly disappears, you're forced to wander Strangetown's five neighborhoods in search of secrets and clues about what's really going on in this curious city -- and then get back on the road. Players customize their avatar, designing his or her face, hair, clothing, and aspirations before setting them loose to interact with Strangetown's bizarre residents. This version of The Sims 2 changes the social game: You build your relationship with other Sims -- and increase your influence over them -- by quickly matching an icon with one that represents your counterpart's conversation, maybe even getting them to share a secret. Close

Is It Any Good?

What the portable Sims trades in freedom (there are no jobs or families, no ability to write your own back story or let your Sim wander on its own) it makes up for in story. Strangetown is built on an amalgam of paranormal myths and feels like a lighthearted X-Files. Settings and graphics are nice enough, and the sound does an excellent job of setting the mood -- something along the lines of a campy 1950s B-movie.

The Sims 2 loads game features on an ongoing basis -- players spend as much time waiting for something to happen as they do playing. On top of that, success in the social game -- and in various Mini games -- comes down to well-timed button pushing. When the game hangs for several seconds as data loads, timing gets thrown off, Mini games are lost, and frustration ensues.

Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 11/16/2005, price $49.95, not online enabled
ESRB rating: T (for Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence)

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See all 11 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in South Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    bad

    not good terible the pc game is better

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    ATTENTION PARENTS

    Hi. I was very concerned about this game at first. After looking into it and its other games I have found that it isn't very bad. It lets you take on a role of responsiblity for your Sim and lets you do almost anything. I know most parents are concerned about the sexual themes but they are nothing to worry about. Take that from a parent who hardly lets their kids play or see anything too bad. If your kids get tired of the PSP version check out PC there are even more possibilities. I would say PC version is about the same(rating wise) without Night Life expansion pack. That one expansion pack is why I believe Sims gets a bad reputation. That is all i need to say so.. in all I give all Sims(excluding Night Life) an ON for ages 11 and up!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    OK GAME FOR KIDS

    I did some research because my child is big on Sims and found out that this particular version on the PSP system was released before the E10+ rating. It along with the pets version should probably be E10+. There are some very mild sexual themes but no more than some TV shows. The violence is nothing to worry about unless your child can't handle their Sims dying. I give it an ON for ages 10+.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    OK GAME FOR KIDS

    I did some research because my child is big on Sims and found out that this particular version on the PSP system was released before the E10+ rating. It along with the pets version should probably be E10+. There are some very mild sexual themes but no more than some TV shows. The violence is nothing to worry about unless your child can't handle their Sims dying. I give it an ON for ages 10+.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    OK GAME FOR KIDS

    I did some research because my child is big on Sims and found out that this particular version on the PSP system was released before the E10+ rating. It along with the pets version should probably be E10+. There are some very mild sexual themes but no more than some TV shows. The violence is nothing to worry about unless your child can't handle their Sims dying. I give it an ON for ages 10+.

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