My Rating: Cafe Latte (4)
A Reality Show Gone Wild!
Back in the year 2011, I picked up "The Sims 2" for Game Boy Advance. Having previously played "The Sims 2: DS" 5 years prior, I was expecting the same story of your Sims being stranded in Strangetown.
This time around, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new story line, the same retro graphics from the two other sims GBA installments (Bustin' Out and Urbz: Sims in the City), and honestly a much better and more fulfilling game experience than the DS version ever was.
Below is my Amazon review of The Sims 2:
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Lights, Cameras, Action!,
In 2003, The Sims Bustin' Out hit the market for all console systems. All the platform consoles got counterparts of the PC version, while the portable version of the GBA got a new and more refreshing type of game. The game was different in its console and PC counterparts since it involved direct control of the sim, a direct storyline that involved completing goals in a free and open world, and a variety of other changes that completely revamped the series. With its creative plot devices, non-linear gameplay, and just the idea of on the go Sims, the game received a high reception among gamers of all ages. This game just couldn't be topped.
In 2004, EA blessed gamers with the game sequel that one thought couldn't be topped: The Urbz: Sims in the City for all consoles, including GBA and the just released Nintendo DS. The game included all the same features of Bustin' Out for GBA, most of them redesigned and a lot better. The story was really in depth and humorous, the graphics were really good for the GBA's capabilities, and the gameplay simply rocked the world's of GBA players on the go. This game just couldn't be topped...Ever.
In 2005, EA had released the final game of this epic trilogy of a series. Did it live up to its potential? Find out now...
Imagine being on the set of a reality TV series and being the star of your own show. That in a nutshell, is the Sims 2 for the GBA. The game centers on where the Urbz for the GBA and DS left off at, bringing over all the favorite characters from the previous games, and even introducing new and wacky characters mentioned but never actually shown in past games. The game does in fact have a change in setting as well. No more are you at the leisure of Minipolis, now it's the mysterious and erie desert of StrangeTown. Daddy Bigbucks, the evil enemy from the Urbz, is back and has hired you to star in his new television reality series. Apparently, you're the only one in town that has been given this knowledge and it's up to you to make sure that no one gets wind of the show.
As the game intertwines the player into this crazy plot, one of the first changes is that the game no longer has this open non-linear world. Although this may come across as a negative, it's actually somewhat a positive as well. Whenever you finish an episode of the series, you are taken to your studio where you can see the ratings of your show and choose the next episode to play. For each episode that you film, you get reviewed by the Goth family and based off how good you did at plot devices, hidden wants, and aspirations, you achieve rating points to spend on all kinds of cool features like social options, new items, or even additional episodes to add to your season queue. There really isn't a limit for as to how many times you can play an episode so, in reality, the game does have that open ended factor to it. Each episode is very intriguing featuring all kinds of wacky plot twists, mysteries, and humorous moments.
A lot of the gameplay throughout these episodes hasn't changed much compared to Urbz or Bustin Out. The social system has been redesigned again to fit the PC version, and I actually thought it was refreshing. Basically, you engage into this "minigame" where you can choose between several social options. Depending on what option you choose gives the person a positive or negative reaction. Once you get a set amount of positive reactions from the sim, your relation levels up. Relationship leveling is crucial to the game's plot since it helps you to achieve higher ratings, and it interconnects with your aspiration wants which unlocks you all kinds of new rewards.
Another major change was the implication of a green sanity meter instead of a needs tab. The green meter basically measures your health and sanity and allows you to keep conversations going with people as well as interacting with the environment. Although it does make a big change from the 2 other games, I really liked it. It gives the player less time to worry about needs, and more time to focus on the intricate and ingeniously created plot.
The game in a nutshell has a variety of changes, and for the most part, I think they are for the better. Jobs no longer have to be "unlocked", all the locations are open from the start of the game, players have the ability to use items like a water gun...just to name a few.
So the question remains: Does this game live up to the potential of it's predecessors? In my opinion, I think the game is awesome. Although the Sims 2 doesn't follow the same formula of it's past counterparts, the game is built so intricately vast and filled with so many features that they soon become noticeably different, to expected. This game, in my opinion, is probably the BEST portable sims game of all the portable "sims 2" games. This game should've been ported to the DS instead of the trashy hotel version, and don't even get me started with the PSP version. This game truly lived to the potential of the theme of sims games, and it deserves more praise than it received. I highly, highly, highly, recommend this game and all the games in this GBA series to all sims fans.
In 2004, EA blessed gamers with the game sequel that one thought couldn't be topped: The Urbz: Sims in the City for all consoles, including GBA and the just released Nintendo DS. The game included all the same features of Bustin' Out for GBA, most of them redesigned and a lot better. The story was really in depth and humorous, the graphics were really good for the GBA's capabilities, and the gameplay simply rocked the world's of GBA players on the go. This game just couldn't be topped...Ever.
In 2005, EA had released the final game of this epic trilogy of a series. Did it live up to its potential? Find out now...
Imagine being on the set of a reality TV series and being the star of your own show. That in a nutshell, is the Sims 2 for the GBA. The game centers on where the Urbz for the GBA and DS left off at, bringing over all the favorite characters from the previous games, and even introducing new and wacky characters mentioned but never actually shown in past games. The game does in fact have a change in setting as well. No more are you at the leisure of Minipolis, now it's the mysterious and erie desert of StrangeTown. Daddy Bigbucks, the evil enemy from the Urbz, is back and has hired you to star in his new television reality series. Apparently, you're the only one in town that has been given this knowledge and it's up to you to make sure that no one gets wind of the show.
As the game intertwines the player into this crazy plot, one of the first changes is that the game no longer has this open non-linear world. Although this may come across as a negative, it's actually somewhat a positive as well. Whenever you finish an episode of the series, you are taken to your studio where you can see the ratings of your show and choose the next episode to play. For each episode that you film, you get reviewed by the Goth family and based off how good you did at plot devices, hidden wants, and aspirations, you achieve rating points to spend on all kinds of cool features like social options, new items, or even additional episodes to add to your season queue. There really isn't a limit for as to how many times you can play an episode so, in reality, the game does have that open ended factor to it. Each episode is very intriguing featuring all kinds of wacky plot twists, mysteries, and humorous moments.
A lot of the gameplay throughout these episodes hasn't changed much compared to Urbz or Bustin Out. The social system has been redesigned again to fit the PC version, and I actually thought it was refreshing. Basically, you engage into this "minigame" where you can choose between several social options. Depending on what option you choose gives the person a positive or negative reaction. Once you get a set amount of positive reactions from the sim, your relation levels up. Relationship leveling is crucial to the game's plot since it helps you to achieve higher ratings, and it interconnects with your aspiration wants which unlocks you all kinds of new rewards.
Another major change was the implication of a green sanity meter instead of a needs tab. The green meter basically measures your health and sanity and allows you to keep conversations going with people as well as interacting with the environment. Although it does make a big change from the 2 other games, I really liked it. It gives the player less time to worry about needs, and more time to focus on the intricate and ingeniously created plot.
The game in a nutshell has a variety of changes, and for the most part, I think they are for the better. Jobs no longer have to be "unlocked", all the locations are open from the start of the game, players have the ability to use items like a water gun...just to name a few.
So the question remains: Does this game live up to the potential of it's predecessors? In my opinion, I think the game is awesome. Although the Sims 2 doesn't follow the same formula of it's past counterparts, the game is built so intricately vast and filled with so many features that they soon become noticeably different, to expected. This game, in my opinion, is probably the BEST portable sims game of all the portable "sims 2" games. This game should've been ported to the DS instead of the trashy hotel version, and don't even get me started with the PSP version. This game truly lived to the potential of the theme of sims games, and it deserves more praise than it received. I highly, highly, highly, recommend this game and all the games in this GBA series to all sims fans.
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So there you have it. The Sims 2 for GBA! Like I said before, this game definitely surprised me. I found it to be a fitting end to a great 3 game Sims GBA series. If you've never played the Sims games for the Gameboy Advance before, I highly recommend picking them up and starting with "The Sims Bustin' Out" and make your way up to this game. I really wish EA or Maxis could go back to their roots, check out these games again, and remaster them. They would be appealing to a lot of fans.
Thanks for reading my review!
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