So-So
User Rating: 6.5 | The Urbz: Sims in the City PS2
All of the prior Sims PC games have been a huge hit, and this has been a bigger success than other transitions to PS2 (bustin' out, Sims 2 etc) but there are still many glitches to be found within the game. Firstly, the load screens, including those to simply chane clothes, can be very cumbersome. Also your rep level can plummet spectacularly if you perform a social no-no, such as by kissing another popular character who is loved by many. It is also practically impossible to befriend some of the characters, particularly those in the subway and the artsy area, and so rep can be difficult to build after a certain point in the game. It seems that the most friendly people are those in diamond heights, the last area that you reach. Another cumbersome project within the game is the buying and refurbishing of apartments and areas, again which can take a while with the loading and be a bit difficult with the PS2 controller. However, other than the aforementioned factors, the game is highly enjoyable. Once you get into it, you can spend hours on end trying to complete it (which doesn't actually take very long) and then some just exploring the areas and boosting your rep as highly as possible. Money is earned from jobs, which are easy to complete, and can be used o spend on furniture and clothes, which are necessary to be accepted in each area. There is also a good two player mode, with each player being able to control and build the reputation of two seperate characters as you would in the single player game. There is also good character interaction, with more social moves than in other Sims games, which all adds to the fun of it really. However, you do (as in all other Sims games) need to make sure the character's mood remains elevated, which can slow down gameplay. Overall, a good game which can get quite a lot of gameplay out of it, but not without its bad points.
