The Sims Review

Overall Rating

Excellent 3D graphics, easier to see as on TV not PC.

Gets a bit boring if already played The Sims on PC.

The Sims - Overview

The Sims is a simulation game which was first brought out on the PC along with a lot of expansion packs. It was one of the top-selling games and most addictive on the PC. I think for those reasons it was brought on the Xbox.

Controls

The Sims is very easy to play using the Xbox controller. I personally think it is just as easy to play as it is on the PC. It highlights on screen what buttons do what.

Starting out

The Sims is like a real life simulation. You first create a gender for your sim whether it be male or female, then you create whether you want it to be a child or an adult. Also you can choose their skin colour.

Personalisation

First you choose their personality: how messy they are, how playful or active they are, depending on how many points you give each one it gives them a starsign which they will be.
Next is the real fun bit: how you want your sim to look. The options you have are as follows.

FACE STYLE
HAIR COLOUR
HAT STYLE AND COLOUR
EYE COLOUR
TOP /T-SHIRT STYLE AND COLOUR
TROUSERS/ SKIRT/ SHORTS STYLE AND COLOUR
FOOTWEAR STYLE AND COLOUR
MAKEUP /TATOOS
SPECTACLES

Once you have personalised how you want your sim to look then you save it for future use. You then can use that sim to begin the game or you can create more sims to live in the same household, although you have to control any extra sims as well as your main sim which can be difficult if you are a new user. Most people would be best starting with one sim and seeing how they get on.

Games

You have a choice of freeplay and get a life mode. Once you have played get a life mode then it unlocks 2 player mode.

GENERAL

Whether you play freeplay or get a life mode you need to get a job from the local newspaper that is delivered daily to earn cash. There are seven different careers to choose from whether you want to be a model or an artist the choice is yours.
In both modes if you earn skills by reading, cooking or fixing you advance up the career ladder which earns you more money which you can spend on takeaway pizza by using the phone if you buy one or some new objects.

In freeplay mode, as it says, you are free to do what you like. You have a choice of buying a house or you can build your own.

Get a life mode is a goal-based mode you have to complete goals such as "make dinner" to unlock new objects in which you can then buy for your house. You also can unlock clothes and actions such as use sign language. Also, when you have completed a lot of goals of that level you get moved to a new house in which they are new goals to complete.
You begin at mom's house and must progress from there. Your aim is to get to the last house being Malcom's mansion. In get a life mode you will need to control more sims than just your own.

2-player mode is where you compete against friends or family. It could be to make 10 friends before them. There is not a great deal of levels on this mode, I think it has about 3-4 levels.

All modes

In all modes you must make sure your sims are happy and there is a lot to keep an eye on. These are the things you must keep an eye on and how to solve them. You will need to keep the bars underneath the categories green mostly, but here's what to do if they go too red.

HUNGER? Eating
HYGIENE? Taking bath/ shower / wash hands
COMFORT? Sitting down/ bath / bed
SOCIAL? Talking to friends
ROOM? Make sure room is well-lit and not cramped
BLADDER? Use toilet
FUN? Read book, play ball, anything exciting

Game options

When you are playing the game you can go to play options in which you can turn shadowing off, lower the sfx or volume. There is also the free will on/off option.

Free will on/off

When free will is on it means they have their own free will they may go and eat dinner without you telling them or go to bed or whatever they feel like doing.

When free will is off you have sole control of your sim and you have to do everything for him/her otherwise they just stand there doing nothing until you tell them to do so.

My opinion on the game

I really did enjoy The Sims on the PC, so naturally I was eager to try it on the Xbox.
The graphics are great and it is much better graphics-wise than on the PC.
It has a lot more to offer for personalising your sim on the Xbox.
The different play modes are different and addictive. I think get a life mode from level 3 is quite difficult as you have to control more sims than just your own.
I am very addicted to the sims anyway so anyone that loves the sims would enjoy this game.

You can buy The Sims for the Xbox at Game, Amazon, Woolworth's and online at many game retailers just as Play and Chipsworld. It is priced at £39.99.