Answer: Every Penny!
Elaboration: I have played many a computer game in my life: ranging from extremely dynamite to ultra poor. The Sims 2 as well as the Sims 2 University Expansion Pack rate on the extremely dynamite end of that scale.
This game is very engaging and quite addictive. Don’t buy this game if you don’t want to be tempted of the devil to play it all day long. If you are okay with that type of addiction, feel very good about making the investment to buy this game.
The original Sims game is very good; it kept me hooked for about a month or so. However, the Sims 2 is 20 times better, and I’ll tell you why: The added sense of realism.
In the original Sims game, you would control your characters seeing them prosper with a successful carrer. You would accumulate wealth, buy the house on the hill, have several children, and then you would enter a world like unto Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day–everyday is the same, your Sim and his children stay the exact same age, and the only entertainment you get out of the game is having your Sim play the piano so that you could hear “The Flight of the Bumble Bee”.
With the Sims 2, you can now follow your Sim through his life. You can see him grow up from a baby to a teenager, to an adult, all the way to an old fogey. You can then follow their children through their lives, and so on (the game never ends, it’s like looking into mirror that is infront of another mirror…mindnumbingly cool).
Also, each Sim has a life-goal/ambition. If your Sim’s ambition is to have a family, he will enjoy spending time with his wife and children. If your Sim’s ambition is Fortune, he will enjoy success in his career and earning money, etc.. You also have the option to persue knowledge, popularity, or romance. Also, you have the option to change your Sim’s life-ambition at different points in your Sim’s life (for example, once you’ve matured a bit, you may not be quite as girl crazy as you were in highschool and college; you may now be after $$$, but the choice is up to you).
The additions to this game are astounding. You can build wonderfully elaborate stores for your Sims to shop in: they can try on their clothes in clothing stores, buy groceries in grocery stores, or buy video games in video game stores. You can learn how to cook different types of meals–salmon, hamburgers, turkey, mac n’ cheese–and watch your Sim prepare the meal as they would in real life (just at a faster pace).
The University Expansion pack allows your Sims to go to college. As college is one of the funnest parts of your life, it is also the funnest part of this game. My pappy always said, “don’t let going to class get in the way of your education,” and if you are playing this game you should let that line be your mantra: throw some parties, get to “know” some girls, join a Greek house, and if you can get your Sim to get up by 9:00 am, send him to class as well.
To sum up, the game is extrodinarily fun. It is better than the old Sims because it more realistic and the game never gets boring. You almost develop a relationship with your Sims; each Sim grows on you and has his own personality. It is a great game, and very addictive.
Popularity: 2% [?]