The Sims 2 Pets review: Virtually barking mad
Virtually barking mad
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Virtually barking mad
27/07/07
Reviewer: Wii Spark If you've played The Sims 2 before and mastered the art of housebuilding, then you'll be able to jump right in and carry on where you left off. If on the other hand this is your first Sims, then don't worry as a tutorial has been included to get you started. The tutorial also comes in handy for learning how to look after your pet, whether it's ready made as in some of the scenarios or your creative bent comes to the front and you create your own dog or cat. You can create canines and felines from a great number of different breeds, including the good old mongrel.
by thelocaluk
There are tons of customization options to choose from including size, age, different ear types, and fur colour patterns. And if your that way inclined you can dress up your pets with an entire wardrobe, including hats, sunglasses, ties, shirts, and tiny little shoes. That's in addition to your pet's personality, such as whether your pet is friendly or aloof; neat or messy; or quick to learn new tricks or a bit slow on the uptake.
Next up, is where abouts in the neighbourhood you want to live. From the neighbourhood select screen you can choose to move into an occupied or unoccupied house, even evicting the current owners if desired. Or start from scratch with a plot of land, or even bulldozing existing properties.
The primary new play method on the Wii is a nice refinement. The game makes extensive and very good use of the remote as a wireless pointer, essentially as a surrogate mouse. Instead of using a joystick to guide the game's primary cursor to select Sims, their pets and interactive objects, you'll point with the remote, use the A button to select the item and choose whatever option is available for your Sim to interact with. In this mode you use the Nunchuck joystick to move your camera angle around the screen as well as using it to zoom in and out. If you prefer to move your Sim using the Nunchuck joystick to interact with other Sims, pets or objects, then by pressing the 1 button you can toggle between both control modes.
As in earlier Sims games your players and pets this time have wants, motives and moods
The display bottom left accessed by pressing the direction pad down, shows your Sims current wants. For a short description of the meaning of each want press left on the direction pad and a list appears at the side. You also use the direction pad to access the current motives and moods of your Sims and when selected each of your pets. Yes, you have to keep your pets happy, otherwise they will leave you.
To keep your pets happy you will be making regular trips to the Town Square. In the early stages of the game the stores available are the Toy Store, Pet Purveyors, Pet Emporium, Pet Salon, Kennels and Bakery. There's also a few shops and toilet for yor Sims to take a break with a coffee or smoothie.
This is where you can buy and sell pets, wash your pets, buy toys for your pets and treat them to tasty snacks, it's also where you leave your pets while you go a well deserved holiday. One problem though when you arrive at the Town Square, you may have loads of Simolians, but here you can't use them (well,sort of). To buy anything from here for your pets, or even a new pet, you're going to need Pet Points. What are Pet Points? I hear from the back. Well you can obtain Pet Points by two methods. Firstly, the easy way, by exchanging 5 Simolians for 1 Pet Point at the nearest ATM
Secondly, and you'll have to work hard for this method, make it a priority for your Sims to fulfill their pets wants whenever possible. Whenever a pets wants has been fulfilled you are rewarded with Pet Points. These Pet Points are used to buy everything your pet requires for a happy life, provided those items are unlocked first. As you earn more and more Pet Points you are rewarded with codes to unlock new accessories, markings, marking colours and fur colours.
So in conclusion, a good game to get immersed into and now with the added bonus of pets to look after, you won't be sat staring at the screen wondering what can I make my Sim do next. Those wants lists are never empty.
Score 8/10