The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (PC) > Reviews (1)

Yes I know it's been out for quite some time but it was all completely brand new to me when I got it as a christmas present this year. It wasn't completely random, I have had the old Sims PC games somewhere in the back of a drawer somewhere, collecting dust because I had more important things to do than spend hours controlling a little person. And now I find out that they'll be bringing out a Sims 3 soon, which is just all very typical. But at least maybe the price of other expansion packs might decrease.

It is very simple to set up with only 2 discs. One of them is something you can watch so in fact it's just the one that you have to contend with. Just stick it into your drive and away you go with the usual 'next', 'yes' and 'finish.'

On some computers it will not work properly, despite having a Windows XP my gamecard could not take the pace, making it incredibly slow and all the walls decided to flash red. Thankfully that's when an older brother who's got a computer comes in handy. However if you're 'unlucky' in not having one it's best to check out the system requirements otherwise you could be left feeling very downhearted!

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS :~

T&L CAPABLE VIDEO CARD WITH 32MB OR RAM, YOU WILL NEED

800 MHz processor or better
256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000
At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space

IF YOU DON'T HAVE T&L...., YOU WILL NEED

2.0 GHz processor or better
256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows 2000
At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space

BELOW IS THE SUPPORTED VIDEO CARDS!!

ATI RadeonTM series (7000 or better)
Radeon 7000/VE series (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
7200, 7500
8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
X300, X600, X800

Nvidia� QuadroTM series
Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4

Nvidia� Geforce series (GeForce2 and better)
GeForce2
GeForce3, 3 Ti
GeForce4, 4Ti, MX 420, 440
GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
GeForce 6600, 6800

Intel� Extreme Graphics (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
82845, 82865, 82915

To quite a few of us that means absolout gobbildy goop, but I figure it's a necessary point and there's always google if you need extra help!

Onto the actual game, the graphics are incredibly good! It's a lame way of describing them I know but you can get up close and still see their faces without them getting pixelated.

There are 3 neighbourhoods-Pleasantville, Strange Town and Veronaville, plus downtown when you install it into a neighbour hood. If you want your little sim to be able to go and play a game of ten pin bowling, or eat out or dance the night away, in each of the three towns you have to connect it up, which is all very simple.

By clicking on the image of the family you get a row of boxes showing 2 families which haven't been put into a house but also the facility which gets you to design your own! As this has the celebration pack installed with it you can give your sim a wedding style hairdo and dresses to go with it! You can also pick out their pjs, underwear, and swimming clothes!

How much make up they wear, glasses, facial hair. You can give them aspirations-whether you want your sim to be looking for romance, family, popularity, knowledge, fortune and a few extra. Their personality and their turn ons & turn offs.

When you've finished making your few sims, they'll be placed in front of a red curtain with a camera taking pictures, on the bottom left it'll have a mini logo of a family tree, click on it and you can decide whether your sim creations are siblings, spouses or roomies.

Moving in is simple enough, just drag your little family onto a house which is in your price range. A tip though is, even if you have 6 sims created you will still only get 20,000 simoleons! So more sims doesn't mean more money!

You can design your little house, with extra items, a wider variety and if you are bored of your sims hair, just get a mirror and change it that way!

Your sims can get pregnant but it is always the way, their mood always drops, she is always hungry and sometimes if you're not careful she might even die! If you can't cope when the baby is born, pick up the phone, dial services and you can get it put up for adoption.

There is also the chance to have twins...although it may be difficult to cope with! All you have to do is press ctrl,shift and c a little box will appear at the top of the screen and if you type force twins it shoud work. To get rid of the box, type exit.

Careers aren't difficult to come by, pick up the newspaper and find a job and you'll get a few options. And if you've had enough of living with somebody, in the paper it gives you a chance of finding your own place!

By calling a taxi, or if you own your own car you can drive to the community lot, which then gives you the chance to go to downtown. A place of trendy shops, clubs, spa and even a museum or another town (can't remember the name!) which invites you to a few parks or maybe the grocery store.

If you've got a child you can get them into a private school by inviting the headmaster round. It's best if you have learnt how to cook a decent meal, he's never really impressed if you give him a ham sandwich. 90 points is what you need to get your child in, with 30 points for each section-food, shmoozing and a tour of the house.

You can also hold birthday, wedding and house partys. This also gives you a time limit to make it as good as possible. Unfortunetly it only lets you invite 2 other sims, dates are also good for a sims mood. Get lots of kissing action in and it'll go to a platinum colour. Be warned though, sims do get jealous and if they find you kissing another sim they might stalk you. I had that problem with Cassandra Goth who just would not get over the fact that Andy was with Brandi. Stealing my newspaper and knocking over my bins. I had to get rid of her.

Overally I am spending far too long on this game than is necessary. I spent 2 1/2 hours the other day playing on it and didn't even realise until I got off. Yes you are thinking correctly, maybe I do need to get out more!!

But still, at least for the time being, I'm able to control somebody elses life for a change!