The Sims - GameCube

Also known as: Sims, The

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The Sims (GameCube)
Also for: PC, PS2, Power Mac, Xbox
Viewed: 2.5D Isometric, Scrolling Genre:
Strategy: God game
Arcade origin:No
Developer: Edge of Reality Soft. Co.: Maxis
Publishers: Electronic Arts (GB)
Released: 4 Apr 2003 (GB)
Ratings: 15+
Accessories: Memory Card

Summary

After enjoying huge cult popularity within the PC gaming community for a number of years, The Sims finally made its first venture into the console market in January 2003, with a conversion for the PlayStation 2. This all-new, bigger and better version has since been ported to the other home consoles, so you can now enjoy all the fun of family nurturing via the humble Nintendo GameCube.

The Sims is a god game. Not your ordinary god game though, this is first and foremost about people. You play god, set yourself up a little family and watch them live out their daily lives whilst you tamper with their jobs, property, lifestyles, relationships, and other assorted aspects. Obviously, being a video game, here lies the opportunity to experiment and have a little fun, without having to face the consequences that would occur in real life.

As with the PS2 version, one of the key improvements over the original PC game lies in the visuals, meaning that you can now explore an entirely new 3D world thanks to the added graphical oomph of the GameCube. The gameplay has also taken a slight twist, appearing with a more level-based structure. You start with just one Sim in a shack and move into bigger and better homes as you advance through life's big moments, meeting new neighbours and unlocking objects along the way. You can also create your perfect Sims home in an open-ended game play mode.

Another first for the series is the option of a multiplayer mode, which allows two players to control their own Sims in the same environment. The object in this situation is to play against each other for popularity and money. When you've done, save your house and Sims onto your memory card and take them home.

With the added bonus of exclusive content, such as new characters and objects, The Sims is a real welcome addition to any GameCube owner's collection.