It’s really amazing how a
simple concept can become something of a phenomenon and still dominate the
gaming market even today. The Sims on the PC allowed you to create your own
universe filled with your own characters and then unleash them in your created
neighborhood to perform tasks such as make dinner for the family or woo that
elusive girl next door. Yes, we’re talking about a game that basically mirrors
our own lives. Yet the game was so widely accepted that there are now console
versions complete with a story mode. The Sims Bustin’ Out is the latest
addition to the franchise but is it still fresh enough to hold our attention
once again? Gamers, you better believe it.
Once again we’re treated
with all the usual The Sims goodies, meaning you are still able to design your
characters from scratch while adding all kinds of facial features as well as his
or her own unique wardrobe. Bustin’ Out, you will quickly find out, has more
options added to the list so you’ll be able to design many unique characters.
This is also the first console Sims game that allows you to venture out of the
neighborhood to visit various locations and participate in different activities
such as playing ping-pong at the nudist colony or hitting the dance floor at the
hottest club in town.
Replacing the Get A Life
mode from the first game, Bustin’ Out mode is the game’s main story mode. The
story–if you can call it that–centers on your created Sim as he or she
attempts to move out of Mom’s house to make it out in the real world. Not only
do you try to hold a job; you also attempt to climb up the career ladder for
better pay and exposure. You also have to build relationships if you want to
get back all the things the main villain; Malcolm Landgrabb has taken from you
and your mother. You’re not alone, though, Mr. Landgrabb’s children, Mimi and
Dudley are also in the same bind so together with their help you move along
towards fortune and fame.
Bustin’ Out mode has
plenty of objectives to complete and those gamers that have played the original
game’s Get A Life mode will be completely familiar with the types of objectives
needed to be completed. There are objectives that have you making your first
meal all on your own or getting that girl or guy to become really friendly with
you. All of this sounds rather tame, but trust me, there’s just something
unusually fun about accomplishing each task. The major difference, however, is
the fact that you’ll see and interact with different areas throughout the game.
The game introduces a scooter that you use to get to various locations such as a
hot dance club or a studio where you’ll partake in a photo shoot.
There are also new career
tracks that are connected with some locations. For example, there is a movie
star career track that allows gamers to start as mall performers and work their
way up to a major movie star so you can hang out at the posh Tinsel Bluffs as
well as Studio 8. If you’re a scientist, you’ll probably be visiting the Shiny
Things Lab often. There are also a few career-oriented objectives that help
you advance and completing these unlock better extras.
One of the extras you get
to unlock is the game’s Free Play mode, which allows gamers to simply create
their own character and neighborhood without worrying about objectives.
Thankfully the new character model options are plentiful and far more detailed
than the first game so your creations will be quite diverse. There are also
multiplayer games that are similar to the first game’s co-op and competitive two
player games. The best addition, though, is the PS2 exclusive online access
(Broadband or Analog modem) that allows you to visit a friend and trade unlocked
extras via the memory card. You can even use your USB headset to chat with
friends while playing.
Visually, Bustin’ Out does
not make a huge effort in cleaning up the jaggies. The new environments are
wonderfully detailed and the effects surrounding them are quite spectacular (a
Sim getting electrocuted is still an impressive but tragic sight). The
character design is still good and with more options you’ll see a lot less
clones than before. Still the game’s visuals could have been handled a lot
better.
Sound-wise the game
showcases some new tunes on the radio but other than that we are looking at the
usual Sim-styled music that’s very cartoon-like. You will, though, find some
different tunes in the dance clubs that is actually pretty good. The voice
work found in the game is still meaningless gibberish that still sounds quiet
amusing in its own way.
All the things gamers
loved about the original console version are present but The Sims Bustin’ Out is
loaded with so many extras that you’ll just love this one all over again. The
various new locations add new life to the game’s past routine and the different
game modes will have you playing this one with a friend once again. Add some
online “trading” and you have a recipe for a real good time on your PS2.
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#Reviewer’s |
Gameplay: 8.2
Bustin’ Out feels like the first
game and you basically control your created Sims in the same fashion. While you
continue to watch over them in the same way, Bustin’ Out mode allows you to get
on your scooter and drive towards different locations around your neighborhood.
There are also new career tracks that are connected with the locations (e.g.
your career as a Mad Scientist will put you in a bizarre laboratory). I only
wish the trip to each location didn’t take so long.
Graphics: 7.0
The game doesn’t get any PS2 visual
treatment so expect to see little change in the graphics department. The
environments, although very pretty and colorful, are still filled with too many
jaggies and this does feel like something of a letdown since there is so much to
see in the screen at once. It’s still fun to see your designed Sims move around
the new environments.
Sound: 7.5
The sound fairs a lot better than
the visuals but not by very much. You’ll find your basic Sims-type music but
this time–thanks to the new radio stations available, you’ll find salsa music
and country. The dance club also plays its own brand of thumping electronica.
Once again the voice work is handled in the same nonsensical gibberish. There
are, though, plenty of great sound effects.
Difficulty: Medium
Bustin’ Out mode gives you plenty of
objectives to complete and the farther you get into the game the harder it is to
accomplish all of them to move the story along. This also teaches you a very
valuable lesson: it’s not easy pleasing all the people all the time but
sometimes trying to do so will open new doors for you by people that recognize
your efforts. Other Sims characters here are hard to please but by attempting
to do so you build more points that help you gain a higher position in your
career track. It’s not easy to do but the payoff is certainly well worth it.
Concept: 8.0
If you’ve ever wondered why these
series of games–plus their expansion packs–are so popular than all you really
have to do is try to play five minutes of this game. Really, the addictive
nature of The Sims series can be pinpointed to many things but being able to
design your own families and place them in the universe you create for them is
still intoxicatingly fun. Bustin’ Out just adds so much more (like the scooter
that allows you to visit sixteen locations in all. The new career tracks also
open up new situations and places.
Multiplayer: 8.0
The original platform version of the
game enabled two players to go head-to-head in a competition for love and money
or a cooperative game and its back once again in this game. These modes are
actually pretty fun but its ability to meet up with players online is where the
multiplayer fun really kicks into gear. For starters, you can trade or unlock
items directly to your memory card and you can also stop to chat with a friend
via a USB headset. While this doesn’t make the game The Sims Online–mainly
because you can’t visit other locations–this mode is greatly appreciated.
Overall: 8.2
It’s time to party The Sims-style
because The Sims Bustin’ Out is just wilder and more addictive than the
original. There are plenty of modes here to satisfy everyone and the fact that
you can go out to different locations is just the icing on an already sweet
cake. While the ability to go online and visit friends at their pads, it just
would have been a lot better to have a Sims Online community to interact with
since voice chat is available. Still, gamers will love all the new options and
the always-appreciated Free Play mode. Buy this one if you’re a fan of The Sims
or would like to experience it for the very first time.
