The Sims 2
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Sims is definitely for more mature teens. Sex, language, free-for-all behavior is easy to have, speak, or do. And these Sims now have driving aspirations, such as romance or fortune -- and corresponding wants and fears. As soon as a want is achieved, another one appears. It's pretty relentless and materialistic. Anything is possible from wanting a little "wooHoo" roll in the hay to being cool or cruel to fellow Sims. It's a bit of 'garbage-in, garbage-out.' If you want naughty, you get naughty. But once that thrill of acting out wears off, there are cool things to do, too.
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User Reviews
A lesson to be learned
Perfect for just about anyone!
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What's it about?
In THE SIMS 2, a graphically detailed version of Sims, you can create characters that look just like you and other members of your family or circle of friends. And you can give them aspirations, such as romance, fortune or family -- each with its corresponding wants and fears: A Sim with family aspiration might want to have a baby, while his partner, who has romance aspiration, might just want some \"WooHoo.\" Or your Sim might want to buy a bar -- or a crib for the new baby. Sims who fulfill their wants (and avoid their fears) are happier -- and earn points to buy special products that can make their lives better.
Is it any good?
Sims do much more stuff, now. They can interact with each other in more specific ways, telling dirty jokes, giving a tender kiss, or reading to a kid. They let out gassy burps, can be messy eaters -- and if they've got a baby in the house, you'll see the stink coming off those dirty diapers.
This is definitely not a game for younger players. Characters can have sex with limbs poking out under the covers -- and even their make-out sessions get pretty steamy. And the characters can be cruel or materialistic, too. Mature players, though, will surely spend many hours developing cleaning and cooking skills, attempting to win over the headmaster -- or luring a lover under the covers.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about whether this game is an accurate portrayal of people's aspirations and fears. Do people tend to continue wanting more and more? What can we do about that? This may be a good jumping off point for you to ask your kids about their own dreams for their lives: What do they hope to achieve? What does their dream future look like? What do they consider personal success: family, fortune, even popularity?
Game details
- Platforms: Windows
- Price: $49.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: Electronic Arts
- Release date: September 30, 2004
- Genre: Simulation
- ESRB rating: T
For kids who love simulation games
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.