The Sims 2: Pets for consoles brings animal companions into Sims neighborhoods and households.
Sim pets have needs similar to those of Sim people. Food and friendship are the most immediate, but pets also need toys for play and a place to go when nature calls. Just as in real life, it falls on Sim pet owners to keep their pets happy by feeding and watering them, playing with them, showing them affection, taking them to the park or pet store, and teaching them new tricks such as sit, stay, and fetch.
Animals also need to be disciplined from time to time, for actions such as chewing a favorite shoe or scratching up the couch, but firm training (and a toy the pet can chew or scratch without doing damage) will help keep valuables safe from kitty claws and puppy teeth. The console versions of Sims 2: Pets offer an abundance of role-playing-styled objectives, and allow players to collect hats, shirts, booties, and other garments and accessories to help them personalize their favorite animal companions. Sim characters can visit the expansive Town Center retail area to purchase toys and treats, and to unlock more animals and items by completing objectives.
While there are more than 70 dog breeds and 30 cat breeds in the game, there are a number of key omissions. Once you have adopted and raised one pet, there's little incentive to repeat the process.
The Sims 2 has gone to the dogs, cats, and birds in this fourth expansion to the EA's best-selling "life" simulation series. Pets promises to fill that void in your Sims family, offering virtual companionship for your virtual alter egos. Isn't technology grand? As Sims expansion packs go, Pets offers few genuine surprises and will disappoint those expecting to create a menagerie to rival Neverland Ranch. Yet dog and cat lovers, in particular, will appreciate the variety of tricks, behaviors, and even careers to teach their created companions.
Those yearning to model a kitten or puppy after a real-life pet can do so with the robust editor, allowing players to customize their animal's appearance and personality from an array of colorful choices. Each pet also ages with your Sims, allowing you a limited opportunity to shape its personality by praising or scolding certain behaviors while giving the animal the attention it craves. Tricks, such as rolling over or playing fetch, can be taught over time, but raising a pet is not all fun and games. Like the genuine article, if you don't spend time training Mr. Fluffy or Poochy McSnookums, expect "presents" on the floor and some creative yard or furniture "makeovers."
One of the game's strengths is how attached you get to your critter as you go about your Sims life, watching it interact with family members, play with other animals, and more. There are even career options for your well-mannered sidekick in security, showbiz, and services, but if you don't have a dog or cat, you're out of luck in this regard. Bird believers and guinea pig patrons will squawk and screech at the lack of meaningful options for their pets. More elaborate play items are available in real life than what's offered here, and where are the rabbits or exotic creatures such as snakes and ferrets?
While those with a mischievous streak can't raise a pack of pit bulls and tear the community apart, there is an opportunity to turn one of your Sim characters into a werewolf, so it's not a complete loss. Yet the developers overlooked some rather obvious features that would have made the expansion more interesting once the novelty of breeding or raising a pet wears off. Jobs such as veterinarians, groomers, trainers, and so forth are conspicuously absent from the computer version, as are new places to visit. Owning a pet shop is a possibility, but it requires the Open for Business add-on. Pets' limited scope prevents it from being the cat's meow of expansions, but both canine and feline owners alike will find enough enjoyment and endearing moments to justify a purchase.
Breeds are clearly identifiable and you can make each pet your own by altering its size, changing its coat, and more. Above average animation helps bring each pet to life.
A few new songs have been added to the mix, and each animal has the appropriate bark, meow, or chirp sound effects.
There are no new wardrobe choices or hairstyles for Sims characters, and the other additions to Sims 2 are slight. The breeding aspect of the game helps increase its replay value.
The manual explains the basics and little else, but players will have no trouble with the interface.