Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sims game is short on class time, but addictive.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
What's It About?
The Sims are out of the house and off to college! Choose one of three institutions, say goodbye to the folks, and get ready for a new life of hanging out in the halls, drinking coffee, and attempting to pledge a sorority or fraternity. Oh yeah, and studying, going to class, and writing term papers, too. You've got to declare a major, and good grades do earn you Simoleans, but the academics just provide a theme here.
You don't see your Sims when they are in class, and you can still make the grade without doing your term paper. Really, the game is about balance: Whether you're living in a dorm, frat, or your own pad, you've got to keep your Sim bathed and fed and still try to find time to study, make friends, hit the gym, and work toward meeting your personal aspiration.
Is It Any Good?
As always, it's the amount of options that make this game so fascinating -- and addictive. Players may get frustrated by how long it takes to make friends, or have enough energy to hit the town. There is fun stuff to do outside of your dorm -- you can run on the treadmill at the gym, buy new outfits at the shopping center, or study at the library -- but you have to make sure your energy and hunger levels are high enough before heading out and this can take several Sim days.
Other familiar glitches still exist here: If you're eating and go to answer the phone, you may leave the food on the floor. If you are talking to a friend, but go to get something to eat, there is no guarantee that your friend will sit at the table with you. In the end, this game is probably best enjoyed by college students or alums, who will get the joke when student Sims play hacky sack, do the school cheer, or try to impress the Greeks. This expansion pack requires THE SIMS 2 to play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this game matches their expectations (or experiences) of college. This game, like so many movies, presents college as a wild, adolescent time -- do you think that's accurate? Why do you think most people go to college? Do you think it's more about the academics, growing up into a mature individual -- or the last free time of your life?
Game Details
- Platform : Windows
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Electronic Arts
- Release date : March 1, 2005
- Genre : Simulation
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 26, 2024
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