- Release Year: 2004
- Platforms: Windows
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc.
- Developer: Maxis
- Genre: Special edition
- Perspective: Third-person
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Gameplay: Character customization
- Average Score: 77/100
Description
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition is a enhanced collection of the acclaimed life simulation game where players create and control customizable Sims, managing their daily lives, relationships, careers, and aspirations across generations in dynamic neighborhoods, featuring improved AI, detailed graphics, and endless replayability. This special Windows release includes the full original game plus exclusive DVD extras like developer interviews with hints and strategies, movie-making tips, The Sims 2 movies, outtakes, and vintage ads from the series.
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition Patches & Updates
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition Mods
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition Guides & Walkthroughs
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition Reviews & Reception
mobygames.com (75/100): Very fun and Addicting. Lots of replay value.
imdb.com (80/100): One of the most addictive games in the world, much better than Sims 1.
retro-replay.com : The Sims 2 delivers an engrossing life simulation experience.
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition Cheats & Codes
GameCube
Enter these codes anytime during gameplay. Note: the Cheat Gnome code must be entered first before the others will take affect.
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| L, R, Up, A, Z | Unlock Cheat Gnome |
| X, B, L, Up, Down | Advance Time 6 Hours |
| Y, X, B, Z, Left | Set Skill Level |
| R, L, Z, Right, Left | Give Money |
| X, Z, Left, X, Up, X | Unlock All Lots |
| Up, X, Up, Right, Z | Max All Motives |
| Z, X, Down, Left, Up | Unlock all objects |
| Z, B, Up, Down, Right, A | Unlock all recipes |
| B, Z, Down, Right, B | Unlock all fashions |
| Right, Down, Right, Down, Right | Team picture (cheat gnome not needed) |
| R, L, R, L, Y | Horn Sound |
| A, A, B, B, Up, Down, Up, Down, Z | Unlock Everything |
PC
Press CTRL + SHIFT + C to access the cheat window, then enter the following. Codes are case sensitive.
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| kaching | Adds 1,000 Simoleons |
| motherlode | Adds 50,000 Simoleons |
| help | Display information about cheat commands |
| help -all | List all cheats |
| expand | Expand or contract console window |
| exit | Close console window |
| moveobjects on | Allow moving/deleting objects and place outside grid |
| moveobjects off | Disable moving/deleting objects |
| autopatch on | Enable automatic game updates |
| autopatch off | Disable automatic game updates |
| aging on | Turn on aging |
| aging off | Turn off aging |
| slowMotion 8 | Set game speed to slow motion (0-8, 8 slowest) |
| deleteAllCharacters | Remove all Sims in neighborhood view |
| twinsr2cute | Sims have twins |
| stretchskeleton 1.5 | Make Sims larger or smaller (use number, 1.0 normal) |
| intprop censorgridsize 0 | Remove censor blur (8 for normal) |
| unlockcareerrewards | Unlock career rewards |
| nosocialworker | Prevent social worker visits |
| familyfunds [lastname] 50000 | Set family funds to specified amount |
| boolProp testingCheatsEnabled true | Enable testing cheats and debug options |
| boolProp enablePostProcessing true | Enable post processing effects |
| bloom rgb 0.5 | Add bloom blur effect |
| vignette 0.5 0.5 0.5 | Add vignette blur to screen edges |
| filmGrain 0.5 | Add film grain effect |
| letterBox 0.2 | Add letterbox effect |
| boolprop displayNeighborhoodRoadsWithModel false | Remove bridges from neighborhood |
| boolprop lotTerrainLighting false | Lots do not light up when highlighted |
| boolprop displayLotImposters false | Remove house graphics from neighborhood |
| boolprop displayNeighborhoodWater false | Remove water from neighborhood |
| boolprop displayNeighborhoodFlora false | Remove trees/plants from neighborhood |
| boolprop displayNeighborhoodRoads false | Remove roads from neighborhood |
| boolprop displayNeighborhoodProps false | Remove props from neighborhood |
| boolprop lotWater false | Remove water from lots |
| boolprop lotTerrainPaints false | Remove terrain paints from lot |
| boolprop carsCompact true | Higher detail cars in neighborhood |
| boolprop lotInfoAdvancedMode true | Show advanced lot information |
| boolprop objectShadows false | Remove object shadows outside |
| boolProp guob false | Remove object shadows inside |
| boolprop renderSelectedSimLevel true | Disable wall cutaway for selected Sim |
| boolProp displayPaths true | Show Sim paths |
| boolprop displayLookAtBoxes true | Show look-at boxes on Sims |
| boolprop simShadows true | Toggle Sim shadows |
| boolprop ShowLotPackageFilename true | Show lot package filename |
| boolprop locktiles false | Allow placing floor tiles outside lot |
| boolprop allObjectLightsOn true | Keep object lights on |
| vsync on | Enable VSync (improves performance, lowers graphics) |
| boolprop constrainFloorElevation false | Allow floor elevation changes |
| RoofSlopeAngle 45 | Set roof slope angle (15-75) |
PlayStation 2
Pause game and enter the cheats beside the gnome. Unlock Gnome first.
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| L1, R1, Up, X, R2 | Unlock Gnome (enter first) |
| Circle, Square, L1, Up, Down | Advance clock 6 hrs. |
| Up, Circle, Up, Right, L2 | Fill All Motives |
| R1, L1, R2, Right, Left | Give Money (9,999) |
| R1, L1, R1, L1, Triangle | Horn Audio |
| Triangle, Circle, Square, R2, Left | Set Skill Level |
| Square, R2, Down, Right, Square | Unlock All Clothing |
| Circle, L2, Left, Circle, Up, Circle | Unlock All Lots |
| L2, Circle, Down, Left, Up | Unlock all objects |
| R2, Square, Up, Down, Right, X | Unlock All Recipes |
Macintosh
Press CTRL + SHIFT + C during gameplay to display the console.
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| kaching | 1000 simoleans |
| motherlode | 50000 simoleans |
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition: Review
Introduction
Imagine a digital dollhouse where your creations don’t just pose—they live, love, feud, and perish across generations, their every whim a pixelated echo of human frailty. Released in 2004, The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition isn’t merely a life simulation; it’s a revolutionary sandbox that transformed gaming into a mirror of existence itself. As the sequel to the best-selling PC title The Sims, this edition bundles the core game on a single DVD with a bonus disc of developer interviews, movie-making tutorials, in-game films, outtakes, and nostalgic ads from the original Sims. Its legacy endures as a pinnacle of emergent storytelling and player agency, proving that true innovation lies not in scripted epics, but in the chaos of simulated free will. This review argues that the Special DVD Edition cements The Sims 2 as a timeless masterpiece, blending profound mechanical depth with aspirational creativity that still captivates two decades later.
Development History & Context
Maxis, under Will Wright’s visionary guidance, began conceptualizing The Sims 2 in late 2000, mere months after the original Sims exploded onto the scene in 2000, selling millions by tapping into universal desires for control and escapism. Announced by EA on May 5, 2003, and unveiled at E3 that year, the project shifted from the original’s isometric 2D to a fully rotatable 3D engine—a technological leap necessitated by hardware advances like improved GPUs in early-2000s PCs. Constraints of the era, such as limited RAM (requiring efficient asset streaming) and DirectX 9 compatibility, shaped a game that ran smoothly on Windows 98/ME/XP while pushing boundaries with dynamic shadows, genetic inheritance, and aging systems.
Wright’s team drew from The Sims‘ expansion feedback: community lots from Hot Date became staples, while pet demands foreshadowed future packs. Development was capricious—Sims exhibited unpredictable “tweaks” and bugs emerged spontaneously—yet this serendipity fueled the AI’s emergent behaviors. The Special DVD Edition, launched September 17, 2004 (just days after the standard four-CD version), catered to convenience-seeking players amid a booming DVD-ROM market. Publishers EA positioned it as a premium bundle, including a bonus disc with interviews offering hints (e.g., aspiration optimization), movie-making guides leveraging the new in-game camera, and curated content like Sims 2 films and Sims 1 outtakes. In a landscape dominated by shooters like Half-Life 2 and RPGs like World of Warcraft, The Sims 2 carved a niche for social simulation, outselling rivals and hitting 1 million units in ten days.
Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive
The Sims 2 eschews linear plots for emergent narratives, where player choices weave multi-generational sagas. No scripted hero’s journey exists; instead, stories arise from Sims’ aspirations (Romance, Fortune, Family, Knowledge, Popularity, Pleasure, Grilled Cheese) clashing with wants and fears. A Romance-aspiring Sim might woo neighbors via flirtatious socials, only to trigger jealousy-fueled feuds or alien abductions (via telescope gazing). Pre-made neighborhoods amplify this: Pleasantview revisits Sims 1 families 25 years on—Mortimer Goth pines for vanished wife Bella amid Cassandra’s romantic woes; Strangetown probes paranoia with UFOs, mad scientists (Beakers), and abductions yielding hybrid offspring; Veronaville reimagines Shakespeare’s feuds as Capp-Monty rivalries, where star-crossed teens defy elders.
Themes delve into life’s absurdities: genetics mock heredity (recessive traits skipping generations), aging imposes mortality (babies to elders in ~72 Sim days), and memories shape psyches (a “Left at Altar” trauma spawns phobias). Dialogue, in gibberish Simlish, conveys emotion through tone and gesture—grunts of frustration during burglaries or coos at toddler potty-training. The Special DVD Edition enriches this via bonus movies showcasing scripted extremes (ghostly hauntings, elopements) and outtakes highlighting AI quirks (Sims autonomously stealing gnomes). Vintage Sims ads underscore evolution from mundane management to existential depth, thematizing player-godhood: we craft heavens or hells, fulfilling dreams or indulging fears, mirroring real-world agency and regret.
Gameplay Mechanics & Systems
At its core, The Sims 2 loops through Live, Build, and Buy modes, with Sims juggling eight motives (Hunger, Comfort, Hygiene, Bladder, Energy, Fun, Social, Environment) via interactions. Aging progression—baby (3 days), toddler (4), child (8), teen (15), adult (29), elder—enforces urgency: skills decay post-death, demanding heir cultivation. Genetics blend parental traits (face sliders yield unique offspring), while aspirations meter fulfillment via wants (e.g., “Throw Party”) and fears (e.g., “Get Fired”), yielding platinum moods for bonuses or red breakdowns.
Career ladders (e.g., Criminal, Politics) demand skills (Cooking, Logic), friends, and chance cards—success unlocks rewards like telescopes. Socials evolve: age-specific (toddler “Tickle”), memory-creating (“First Kiss” cutscene), with expansions hinting at chemistry (Nightlife lightning bolts). UI shines—rotatable camera, queueable actions, Wants/Fears panels—but flaws persist: Sims pathfind poorly (autonomous stupidity, like fire-ignoring cooks), demanding micromanagement. No combat exists; “conflict” is relational (fights tank relationships).
Innovations include movie capture (directorial tools for zooms, pans) and Body Shop for custom skins. The Special DVD Edition’s tutorials demystify these, with interviews detailing AI aids (e.g., auto-care for toddlers). Flaws like neighbor intrusions (gnome thefts) add realism, but grindy skill-building and slow “fun” ramps frustrate. Replayability soars via scenarios (Headmaster dinner) and open-endedness—hours vanish in family trees.
| Mechanic | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Aging & Genetics | Infinite legacies | Time pressure |
| Wants/Fears | Dynamic goals | RNG fears |
| Build/Buy | Vast customization | Pathing glitches |
| Social/Careers | Emergent drama | Micromanagement |
World-Building, Art & Sound
Three neighborhoods form a richly thematic world: Pleasantview’s suburban nostalgia, Strangetown’s sci-fi eeriness (UFOs over graves), Veronaville’s Renaissance intrigue (manors hiding secrets). Full 3D enables 360° immersion—roofs lift for interiors, terrains import from SimCity 4. Art direction blends cartoonish charm with detail: expressive faces (25 sliders), swaying foliage, dynamic weather (post-Seasons). Visuals pop on 800×600–1600×1200, with fluid animations (blinking, emoting).
Sound design immerses via Simlish (inauthentic yet evocative) and licensed tracks (rippable MP3s). Composer Mark Mothersbaugh’s themes—”Simsation,” “Neighborhood”—pulse with whimsy; ambient hums (heartbeat tension) and jingles (promotions) cue events. Bonus DVD films/outtakes extend this, with developer commentary on sound cues enhancing atmosphere.
These elements forge escapism: neighborhoods feel lived-in, art evokes empathy, sound narrates unspoken tales, culminating in a holistic “Sim heaven.”
Reception & Legacy
Critically adored (Metacritic 90/100), The Sims 2 earned “Simulation Game of the Year” (AIAS), outselling 6M+ PC copies (13M all-platforms). MobyGames scores it 7.5; player Matt Johnson lauds customization/AI (4/5 gameplay) but notes babysitting (2006 review). Commercially, it shattered records (1M in 10 days), spawning eight expansions, ten stuff packs, console ports, and Ultimate Collection (free 2014 giveaway).
Influence ripples: popularized life sims (The Sims 3/4), modding (SimPE tools), emergent narrative (in Stardew Valley). Special Edition’s bonuses presaged modern deluxe re-releases (Legacy Collection 2025). Fan communities thrive on Tumblr “Simblrs,” preserving its moddable soul amid modern hardware patches.
Conclusion
The Sims 2 Special DVD Edition transcends gaming—it’s a canvas for humanity’s messiness, where a gnome-thieving neighbor rivals any boss fight. Exhaustive mechanics, thematic profundity, and bonus insights deliver unmatched depth, flaws notwithstanding. In video game history, it reigns as the sim pinnacle: 9.5/10. Essential for creators, a must-preserve artifact. Play it, and live a thousand lives.