The Sims
System: PS2   Publisher: EA Games   Developer: Edge of Reality   Genre: Strategy   Release Date: 01/12/03

Sims can also have romantic relationships, even more than one at a time, but be careful because most sims are not going to appreciate being cheated on. Once the relationship reaches a certain level and you have an optimal living situation a sim can ask another sim to marry them. When this happens they will move in together. Sims must maintain all relationships, especially romantic ones. Every sim has a specific personality and every sim has different needs. Some sims need more attention than others and they do not like to be neglected by their spouse. The sims converse in many different ways, they tell jokes, brag, nag, gossip, chit chat, argue, or talk romantically. If left to their own devises sims will interact with each other and their surroundings, although this can be hazardous to the household when a sim is in a bad mood. Sims have mood swings just like real people. When a sims needs are not being fulfilled they will act out and blatantly disobey your orders. There is a menu that tells you what your sims needs are, consult it from time to time to make sure that those needs are being met. There is a meter for how hungry they are, when they need to use the bathroom and shower, when they need to sleep, relax, or have some fun. When the bars are green the sim is happy, but if they are red those needs need to be looked after. Some sims will do things for themselves and others will not. Sometimes even when a sim needs to pee they will not go into the bathroom on their own; they will cry and then pee on themselves. If you do not let a sim eat they will starve to death, yes sims die too. When a sim dies the grim reaper comes and a tomb stone takes the place of the sim. The other sims will grieve by the tomb stone.

While you are working and living your little sim life you will probably want to upgrade your home. At any point in time you can go to the build mode and refurbish your home, this is where most of the fun is. You can add on rooms, destroy rooms, change the floors and walls or buy new furniture. When you upgrade your home the happiness of your sims goes up as well. You might even want to make room for a little baby sim because if two sims are happy in the relationship you will have the option to have a baby.

When you go into the mission mode you will be given a life to live. First you will be in a tiny house living with your mother that constantly nags at you. While living with her you will have to complete some goals that will allow you to move out on your own. When you finish a goal you will also unlock a new item to use in the game; this is why the mission mode is important. The missions continue on and on to different houses.