Name:  - The Sims
Electronic Arts Description:
From the creator of SimCity comes The Sims, a game that puts
you in control of the lives of people you create. First, give your Sims a unique appearance
and personality. Then move them into a pre-built home or build your own.
Requirements:
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The Sims CD
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Windows 95 or 98
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233 MHz Pentium
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32 MB RAM
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300 MB hard drive space
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4x CD-ROM Drive
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2 MB video card
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12/7/2000 - 1st Impression? Skeptical. How is it possible that a game can simulate the everyday activities of people like, well…me! Not just any activities. No, we're talking about the most basic of our daily functions like going to the bathroom, making the bed, and taking out the trash. This is supposed to be a game? People are supposed to pay good money to do activities on their computers that they are otherwise escaping by sitting at their PC to begin with? Well, The Sims is not just a game. This is a simulation of life and you are in total control.
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ZWORM Review Breakdown
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90.5
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| First Impression and Game Installation |
The packaging looked good, so I thought I better
give it a try. The instructions were easy to follow. I selected the
maximum install option (306 meg). Considering how large the installations are on so many
new games, maximum is not bad considering the detail you get in the game. A great introduction with real video really gets you going
(you have to wait for the end to get the whole effect). When I
first started the game, I went directly into Quick Start. Did a couple
of keyboard laps, and was totally pumped.
Installation: Put the CD in and go. No hassles. No patches. In fact, my AOL lovin' grandma
would bake a fruitcake and send it over to the guys at Maxis for making this installation
so simple, if only she had a copy. It is refreshing nowadays to buy a game, install it
and not have to worry about downloading a patch or updated driver just to make the thing work.
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9.5
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| Configurable Options and Ease of Use |
Basic. Real Basic. That's one of the beauties of this game. Within the game there are a handful of graphic options like anti-alias, shadows, etc. - All tweaks to milk the most out of your slow system, if applicable. I didn't notice any hiccups with everything cranked up to the max (default) on my system, but those of you running a 233 MHz or so processor might find a little tweaking necessary. |
10.0
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| Graphics |
The graphics won't tax your system. The Sims are of a polygonal sort and their surroundings are crisp and well detailed. The game includes a building mode, which allows for some highly customizable decors and landscapes. My Sims' funky, hippy wallpaper looks better in his house than a similar pattern does in mine! |
9.0
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| Video at Minimum and Maximum |
The game offers two choices of screen resolutions: 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768. I chose to run at the higher resolution, because with all of the activity from my Sim, it was easier to keep tabs on him. The camera, when in zoom mode, seemed to be a little slow in following all of the action and often got me (and my little Sim) into a bunch of trouble. I soon found a comfortable zoom level that enabled for weeks of hassle free gameplay. |
9.0
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| Sound |
Wow! This is an area that the game really shines. Although you can't actually make out what they're saying, the Sims have a special way of communicating. They talk to one another in a form of jibberish, but their tones very distinguishable. They make a lot of 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' and after awhile you find yourself knowing exactly what they're talking about. The bathroom sounds are cute, but the TV and music pieces are downright funny. |
10.0
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| Beginner thru Advanced Use |
I felt the most beneficial aid came in the form of the tutorial. Here was I where got my feet wet while the game was very forgiving. I played the basic character, turned him into a loser, and BAM I was ready for the game. The game had a strange difficulty curve. The further you progressed in the game , the more it would want to exploit your personality weaknesses. For instance, my character tried for a long time to befriend someone so that he could get a promotion. Once the goal was reached, I soon discovered that the next step up required two more friends. Quite a lofty task for a Sim that was inherently unsocial. |
9.0
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| Multi-player |
None. Like many games of this type, it's strictly one-player. My wife and I were able to have separate games going on but just not at the same time. The computer would take my saved character, for instance, and would allow my wife to interact with him as if I was playing all along. Strange. |
6.0
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| Help Instructions |
The manual was more than adequate. It gave me a brief overview of the game and also provided a bit of humor, as well. The Maxis crew must be commended for their ability to make a manual non-reader (me) into a believer of the power of print. There is also quite an online community Sims players (fanatics) can lean on if you need a little extra support. |
8.0
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| Value (price for what you get) |
The game offers endless character possibilities and no matter how long you play, there is always that desire to go back and try to improve in some way. In addition, Maxis posts one new item a week on their website which is available as a free download. There are a variety of skins to choose from if you find yourself bored with the original group. With all things considered, I feel that The Sims is an excellent value. |
10.0
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| Recommend to Others |
The Sims offers each of its players a unique opportunity to mold and cast a character of their own design. An alter ego if you will. A person to live out life's choices that we, at some point, might have felt to be too risky and see what possibilities might present themselves as a result. The Sims, like life, has proven to be very challenging, rewarding, and entertaining. Don't worry Grandma, there's going to be a copy of The Sims underneath the Christmas tree for you this year. |
10.0
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RECOMMENDATIONS to the Vendor
ZWORM
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Slow the game clock down. It shouldn't take 45 minutes to take a shower.
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You should make it a little easier to locate your save game file.
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In today's day and age of having multiple systems in a household it would be nice to play your Sims game anywhere.
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