THE SIMS 2, Electronic Arts
Getting a life gets a lot more complicated in this sequel to the best-selling computer game in history. Your "sims" -- on-screen avatars over which you exercise near-God-like control -- still have basic needs for food, sleep and companionship.
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Transcript: The Sims 2 Greg Kramer, author of The Sims 2: Prima Official Game Guide, answered questions
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But it's no longer enough for you to mechanically meet those goals (which your sims are now pretty smart about achieving on their own anyway); they now have life aspirations such as getting an education, succeeding in business, becoming a neighborhood Casanova or raising a family.
Your goal in the game is to make it possible for your sims to fulfill these goals. If you succeed, they'll live long and healthy lives; if you don't, their lives will probably be nasty, brutish and short.
Those lives now start much earlier: Sims can enter the game as babies, growing through all the usual life stages -- toddlers, children, teenagers, adults and elders. Your sims can also make new sims in the traditional way if they pair up; the children will take on the genetic characteristics of their parents.
I played the game as a single mother with a young daughter. Unsurprisingly, sim-life was tough going at first: I had to spend enough time at home with the toddler to keep her from hurting herself, change her diapers, play with her to encourage her mental development and in general keep her healthy and safe. (The game starts you off with a decent nest egg, and I was able to stretch that out for a while by spending almost nothing on housing or furniture.)
The turning point didn't come until she grew from toddler to child -- quite a good little one, if I do say so myself. I could hire a nanny and leave to pursue my chosen career in the Mafia. Yes, I was a mob enforcer by day, single mom by night, and that's not even the weirdest thing possible in this game.
The Sims 2 regularly challenges players with difficult, potentially life-changing scenarios. For instance, at one point I was given a chance to get my kid into private school. I had to host a dinner party for the school's headmaster, flirt with him and convince him that my child was worthy of attendance. You have only a limited time to impress, but my sexiest outfit and a hot spaghetti dinner did the trick.
On top of all that, the game is simply beautiful to watch. Everyone looks so absurdly real, you will be addicted to your second family, or families, in no time. But please don't forget your real family outside the screen. -- John Breeden II
Win 98 or newer, $50
