So how do the games differ? The PSP version adds a storyline to the game. Instead of just free roaming around doing whatever you please there is actually a plot. At the very beginning of the game you're driving down a road when your car suddenly breaks down. Conveniently you actually break down next to a petrol station and a convenience store and your Sim leaves the car at the gas station for repairs. When you return to pick the car up the gas station has disappeared, as has your vehicle. Naturally the police come and they take you to the nearest town, known as Strangetown. From there you have to try and fit into the town and make new friends. The storyline is rather basic, but it does feel different playing The Sims with a narrative.
So, do you come here often?
Developing the game for the PSP has meant that some things have had to be cut back to make the game a little more approachable and portable. For instance there is no DNA, the Sims don't have any memories and there is no aging or death in the game. Rather than control your character with a cursor, you actually take control of your character from a third person perspective as you navigate around Strangetown, this definitely puts you a little closer to the action.
EA have added a few things to compensate for the omissions though. There are exclusive PSP items to furnish your house with, which is something that is sure to appeal to the diehard Sims fans. There are also unique mini games scattered throughout the storyline and thankfully they are actually rather entertaining. The mini game you will play the most though is during communication. Instead of just watching your Sims talk in their own language, you actually now need to match the symbol that appears in the thought bubble of your Sim. If you match the symbol then your Sims will be successful as they talk, if you don't match the symbol then the conversation could turn your neighbour or fellow Sim against you. Perks are also introduced into the game as well. As you fulfil certain skill requirements you will unlock perks, which are little bonuses that make your stay in Strangetown a little better. We don't want to give away what some of these perks are, but there are some very cool little perks towards the end of the game.
A multiplayer mode has been tacked onto the game as well. Multiplayer Sims sounds very appealing, but unfortunately all this mode lets you do is connect with another PSP and trade secrets with your friends. There is no option to play the game with a friend, which is severely disappointing. We don't really know why a multiplayer mode was included in the first place, because the mode is really nothing but a novelty and it's relatively useless unless you're just starting off and need some help from a friend.
Looking Good
There are problems with the game though. Just about every aspect of the game suffers from poor loading. Rather than just be subjected to a slow loading title screen just about everything you do in the game will be accompanied with loading. This means that during the conversation mini games the loading actually puts you off, which can affect your Sims social skills. The loading interrupts the flow of the game, and it makes simple tasks seem like a chore, rather than fun. Sometimes just decorating or furnishing your house doesn't really seem worth the effort; simply because it takes so long to complete it. The loading isn't necessarily very long, but it happens to frequently that it quickly becomes one of the major annoyances of the game.
Graphically the game looks very much like a Sims game. The textures are basic and there is a wide range of animations. The Sims has always had a colourful and bright look and this game is no different. We did encounter a few graphical issues at certain points of the game, but they happen very rarely. Generally the game retains a great frame-rate throughout, although when you go into town the action will sometimes slowdown when there is a lot happening on screen.
The PSP game has an entirely new soundtrack, and even though it is different from the PC version of The Sims, it sounds relatively similar. There isn’t a huge variety of speech in the game, which means that some of the gibberish starts to become repetitive after awhile.
Never has a conversation required so much waiting
The Sims has always been a game that can last forever and this still remains relatively true with this game. However, most people are likely to play through the story mode and then not return to the game again. The story mode has given the game a lot more direction, but The Sims is the kind of game that works better when you’re just left to do what you want, whether it be burning down the kitchen or having a relationship with the girl next door. It would have been good to have seen a more scoped out multiplayer mode as well, because what we're given is barely worth mentioning.
The Sims 2 is affected severely by poor loading that seems to have when you want to do anything in the game. There are a few new additions to the game that work well, like the mini games and perks, but there have had to be some things cut, such as the DNA and memories. Whilst the game is still enjoyable, it doesn't do anything really evolutionary, and it is hard to recommend the game, simply because the loading takes away from the overall experience. If you have a lot of patience then there is a bit of fun to be had with the game, but we would have liked a game that felt a little more complete.
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