There's just something missing...
User Rating: 6 | The Sims 2: Pets PS2
... alot actually. I started playing The Sims back when it made it's 2000 debut and was hooked. There isn't a single PC expansion that I haven't owned. When it made it's console debut, being a hardcore Sims fan I bought it right away. Though other than the Sim creation it lacked the detail and possibilities of the PC version, the story mode (Get A Life) was a fair new twist and was suiting for a console Sims game. Other than the latest Castaway installment, i've played all the console versions and the story mode is pretty much the only thing that makes the console versions worthwhile in my opinion. Pets are definetly a big new thing for the console, but why doesn't this game have a story mode!? It provides the ability to earn pet points, or convert simoleons (sim money) into pet points, which can be used at the shops in the game's Town Square to purchase clothes, toys, food, and other items for your pets, and you can purchase new pets with pet points. These shop buildings get taller and have more inventory to choose from as you gradually spend more and more pet points at these shops. I'm not sure if there are other ways at this point, but spending pet points can also reward you with new fur colors/patterns and pet clothing. And you can get the unlocked items' codes and let you friend input them on their game to use for themselves. That may sound like alot, but it isn't, it's really not too satisfying. The unlockable pet clothes don't satisfy me at all, I don't even like to dress my pets. There really isn't anything to accomplish or achieve in this game. Other than unlocking new stuff for your pets, it's honestly pointless. But overall, it is a fair game. The pet creation is very deep, and you can even breed your cats or dogs to make unique mix breeds, and the pets are quite detailed. As far as pet creation or breeding goes, the possibilities are endless. If you have the PC Sims 2 series, I wouldn't recommend this game. If you're only a console Sims game player you'd probably enjoy it, unless you're all about the story modes in the console games, then you probably wouldn't like this game (it has no story mode!). And lastly, if you've never played The Sims before, then this game would be a great introduction to the series.
P.S. If you have some of the PS2 Sims games but haven't played The Sims 2 for PC, you should definetly get the PC version, i'm confident you'd never go back to the PS2 versions of The Sims again, but you've gotta have a decent PC to play The Sims 2 smoothly, at least 1G of RAM and a 256MB video card or higher is required to actually enjoy PC play.
