Playing Sims 2 has put me in a philosophical mood. On the one hand, the game is certainly charming, funny, deep and immersive; but, on the other hand, I couldn’t tell if I was having fun while playing it.

Sims 2 has everything a Sims lover could want. You can start from scratch, create a living breathing family, and continue for as long as you wish. Their interactions are engaging, and the environments are nothing short of fantastic. The happiness of your Sims can ensure your happiness as a gamer. Sort of.

Sims 2 will attract you from the beginning. It has a light, peppy style with music that’s so bubblegummy it puts J-Pop to shame. The game provides you two options from the get-go: story mode and free mode. That may seem limited, but considering the depth within the game, it’s really a way of allowing you to play the same game two different ways. Not to mention it also allows for a two-player mode so you can share your experience with a friend or significant other (I recommend significant other).

The significant difference between both modes is in story mode you’re only allowed to create one character. You then live to fulfill the character’s aspirations. It’s actually just guided gameplay, but a great way to break-in a Sims novice. You can gain control of another character through marriage and subsequently having children, but the gist of this mode is to achieve your character’s goals.

Free mode plays like a typical Sims game. Sims 2 simply allows you more options and aspirations. To unlock certain items, you must reach specific goals for your character besides just getting a promotion. You get points for mundane things such as speaking to another character, or crazier objectives such as riding a surf simulator or being abducted by aliens. There’s never a shortage of anything to do in the game because as soon as you accomplish one goal, several more have opened up.

The game itself is a wonder of design. It’s just so enjoyable to look at. No, the graphics won’t push your GameCube to its limit, but it’s bright, cheerful, smooth, and rich. You’ll be delighted by little things like rancid food causing bright green fumes to foul the air, or the little hearts flying around your Sim as he or she falls in love with another Sim. Sims 2 really is a joy to watch.

So where do I take issue with the game? Well, I’m tired of going to the bathroom; I’m sick of having to eat so much and so often, and having to take so long doing it. I feel badly missing a day of work, and I have to go every day. There are no weekends, no holidays. If you really want to enjoy what you have, make a worker Sim and a stay-at-home Sim who can enjoy all the neat toys you purchase throughout the game.

I know that all these issues I have with the game are simply part of the challenge, but seriously, must I constantly tell my Sim to pick up his/her plate before guiding him/her to the dishwasher? And when will they finally understand that “put plate in dishwasher” does not mean, “put plate on floor?” Like an action game, you can never be complacent; you must constantly work on your physique, make friends, maintain, old friends, build up skills, etc. It’s rough during those times that I just want to sit back and admire my work.

These gripes, I understand, are my own. They’re the same issues I had with the original Sims game, and dealing with them is the core of the game. Sims 2 does exactly what it sets out to accomplish without compromising anything.

No, wait. Control is a bit of an issue with me. There are two modes: direct control or mouse style. In the default direct mode, you have nominal control over your Sim. The Sim moves where you guide it, but interaction with the environment is often left up to trial and error. For example, if you want to grab your plate from a table that has empty plates on it, you face the table and press the A button. A small menu will pop up giving you these options: Plate, Plate, and Plate. Using the mouse control, this isn’t an issue; you don’t have direct control over your character’s movement, but you can simply click on whatever you want to interact with and your Sim will do your bidding. The only problem with that is when your Sim is caught behind some obstacle, and then the default control setup is preferable.

Overall, though, I recommend this game. If you’re a Sims fan for consoles, stop reading and get this game. If you’ve never played them, go rent this game. This is the perfect date game on two-player mode, and if you have a soft spot for the wonders of domestic tranquility, you’ll have a great time playing this game. Then again, if all you want to do is make enemies and watch people suffer... Well, you too will have a great time playing this game.

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