I purchased The Sims from a garage sale after hearing about how much fun it was to play. I wasn't to keen at first as I don't like to clutter up my computer with games but I thought what the heck, for five bucks if I didn't like it, I could donate it to the GoodWill.

Well, I am writing a positive review here so it is evidence I adore the game. (In fact, so much so that I have all the expansion packs except one that I haven't found yet...okay, I didn't know Living Large came with the Deluxe Edition until recently and of course it is all sold out at the stores right.)

The Sims is a fun "people simulator" game from the creators of Sim City. It is also one of the most addicting games I have had the pleasure of discovering.

With the "main game" of Sims, the player has approx. 150 different items to start decorating the homes with. Items are the same as within your own home; beds, dressers, toilets, sinks, toilets, stoves ect.

Each item has a different price tag on it, so in the beginning of your game, the player starts out with the basic items. (Unless of course you know the cheat code to add money to your Sims account...cheat will be given at end of review if your interested)

But before we begin on the how to play, let's begin with what you do after you installed your game.

You can play the "review family" to get a basic understanding of the game, or go into create character and start your own family.

To create a character you first start with a last name, I like to do strange obscure names. After picking your last name, you go onto the next page where you pick either male/female or child (male/female). You get to pick a first name for your new Sims, create a zodiac sign for them by going either up or down on: neatness, outgoing, nice ect.

In the basic game, there is not many Sims to pick from, but you choose what fancy you, pick an outfit from the small range of clothing provided for this game. Do a small character description (personality) and off you go to start creating a home for your Sim.

You do only have 20,000 to start with, so after carefully picking your lot (there is nine to begin with, a couple have houses already build on them, but don't pick them when you begin, learn from creating your own...plus more fun)

There is a couple lots for only 3500, so grab one of them and when you little Sim is standing there go to build mode
From build mode you will find walls, wallpapers, floors, plants, roofs, windows and doors. Pick the basics, and usually since you only have a few bucks to start with, forgo wallpapering your home for now. Build small. Leave a wide open space for kitchen and living area and close in walls only for bedroom and bathroom.

Now that you have your home build you can go into house mode. Within the house mode you will find all your furniture and decorations. Again keep small, keep the basics (and don't forget the alarm to go over your microwave as your Sim begins as a fire hazard dude/dudette until they build on their cooking skills)

Now you have a home, your furnished it and your ready to play. Go into live mode and watch your Sim go to different items in the house and either clap, or sign (watch the little bubble above the head, if X'd they dont care much for item....oh well, get over it Sim)

Now the fun starts:

Get a job. (different jobs are available for your Sim: examples are Hacker, science field, journalism, police, crime)

Learn new skills which will advance your Sim in his job. (skills are: cooking, mechanical, creativity, logic. body) For each job there is a different skill building to do.

Make friends. Within the first couple minutes of playing a couple will come over, ring the doorbell...expect food and entertainment. (since your cooking skill isn't up to par yet, go to the telephone and pick pizza delivery)

Keep your Sim happy. Make sure they eat, go to the bathroom, take bathes/showers, clean the house, water the garden, sleep and watch tv or read a book. You will be able to see which is needed by the green slide rule on the right bottom of your screen.

After playing with different families for awhile on The Sims, your heart will want to reach out to new Sim characters, new jobs and more things for the house...and that is where the horror idea of going out and purchasing the expansion packs come in...but which I would dwell on here as I do plan to go into detail with them with their own private reviews.

One cheat code here for those who want that extra money to really build on: press ctrl/shift and C at same time, a little grey screen will be on above left side, type in Rosebud. Hit enter. You now have an extra 1000. Want more? Hit your cheat keys again and type in !;!;!; (as high as you want to go) than press enter again...wow, look at that cashola!)

Want to add more stuff to your game? Go online and downline directly from EaSims. They have some extra stuff for you, they also have links to great resources throughout the internet. I highly recommend, Sims Resources. They have free downloads and member only downloads. But watch what you download as for the beginning Sims game there isn't as many extras as there is for the expansion packs. I also recommend getting Sims FileCop to check your files you download plus also get Sims Maid to have help putting your files where they belong. I use SimsPlus SimZip myself to put my files directly to the game. You can find these programs using google.

Other fun cheats and secrets coming soon to other Sim game reviews....as I downloaded and use for each game, I will give to you the reader.


Recommended:
Yes