The Sims 2: Nightlife
July 7, 2006 | _Dustin Smith_ (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
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(http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=688&Page=2#) Even though
the social aspect of the game is a good portion of the
expansion, Nightlife, like University before it, it adds a whole new realm for
your Sims to explore: downtown. What's included in downtown that is so
important? Well, dancing clubs, bowling alleys, and 50s diners for starters,
and
let's not forget maybe your future spouse. If you can't find what you are
wanting in the provided downtown area, Sims 2: Nightlife allows you to create
your
own Mecca of entertainment. However, stay downtown long enough and you might
bump into some unsavory vampires wishing to add to their ranks (on the other
hand, you'll need a little luck if you are wanting to find one).
Of course you can call a taxi service to take you downtown, but now Sims
have the ability to purchase their own vehicles. There are five different
vehicles, ranging from family vans to sleek sports cars, that your Sims can
now
shell out their hard-earned Simoleons for. Although that doesn't seem like
much
variety, there are plenty of paint jobs for each that will allow you a good
amount of customizing them to your Sims' taste (not to mention your own).
Unfortunately, along with your new vehicle you must invest in a driveway,
which
is a tad expensive when you put both purchases together. If you've got the
cash, though, while your adding to your house build yourself a garage, too.
Sims' houses are finally starting to resemble actual houses.
While they're adding things, Maxis decided to create the new Pleasure
aspiration, which is a great way to make sure your Sim gets the most of going
downtown and getting others to have a great time, too. The lifetime aspiration
is
a bit daunting, but I think I'll let you figure that out for yourselves. If
you're not spending a lot of time with the game now, you will be to accomplish
it.
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There is nothing new to say about the graphics themselves because if it
ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Exactly. What Maxis has done, though, is
added
a bunch of new animations to go with the environment and new items. While
waiting for your drink at a bar you can watch your Sim as they start to drum
on
the table and scratch him- or herself. One of the funnier animations is
reminiscent of being thrown off the bull-riding machine from the original Sims
game, but this time it's a Dance Sphere. Get inside and it starts to spin
around; go too fast and, well, you get the picture. Other new items that'll
keep
your Sims happy are a DJ station, karaoke machines, a photo booth, and poker
tables, not to mention the increasing amount of wallpaper styles, floors, art,
and furniture. There's enough new items to keep you well entertained at home
and maybe even build it enough to have your own club in the neighborhood.
Unfortunately, I found the camera control was pretty sluggish when I got
downtown. You have to zoom in on your character a lot to have it run smoothly,
even
with the graphics decreased.
Unlike the graphics, though, the sound gets a small overhaul. Maxis did a
good job of remixing some of the great Sims 2 themes to make them fit the
whole
Nightlife vibe. Of course there are new simlish phrases and music choices,
such as the 50s rockabilly you hear in the diners, that will make you smile.
I was content with just building my career and expanding my house to put
more fancy things in it so the whole dating and nightlife aspect did not
appeal
to me as much. But for those yearning to get out of the house and meet some
new Sims, Sims 2: Nightlife is definitely worth your own hard earned
Simoleons. And even though the expansion is geared toward being more social,
both
parties will have plenty to do until the next expansion arrives.
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