The Sims 2 + The Sims 2: Pets (Limited Edition)

This compilation combines the base game The Sims 2 with the Pets expansion, allowing players to create and control virtual characters (Sims) in a dynamic life simulation environment where they manage relationships, careers, and families. The Pets expansion introduces domestic animals such as cats and dogs, which players can customize in appearance and personality, train to perform tricks, and even assign jobs to, adding a new layer of interactive gameplay to the sandbox experience.

The Sims 2 + The Sims 2: Pets (Limited Edition): Review

Introduction

The Sims 2 + The Sims 2: Pets (Limited Edition) is a compilation that brings together the base game and its fourth expansion pack, offering a comprehensive life simulation experience. This review delves into the game’s legacy, development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, world-building, and reception, providing a thorough analysis of its place in video game history.

Development History & Context

Developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, The Sims 2 was released on September 14, 2004, expanding upon the original game’s features with elements such as an aspiration system, expanded character and neighborhood customization, and the ability for Sims to raise families, age, and progress through generations. The Sims 2: Pets, announced in late July 2006, was inspired by The Sims: Unleashed, a similar expansion for the first game. Unlike previous entries, stand-alone console versions were announced alongside the PC expansion pack, released for various platforms including PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The Sims 2: Pets introduces a new layer of narrative depth with the addition of pets, which can be owned and raised by Sims. The expansion pack allows players to create and customize pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and a fictional guinea pig-like species known as womrats. Pets have their own needs and can learn tricks, adding a dynamic element to the gameplay. The introduction of werewolves, a new life state, adds a supernatural twist, allowing Sims to become werewolves by befriending a stray dog known as the “pack leader” and being bitten by him. This adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to the game’s narrative.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

The Sims 2: Pets expands the base game’s mechanics with new features and systems. Players can create and customize pets using the “Create a Dog”/”Create a Cat” tools, designing breeds from scratch, including features and coat color. Pets have needs such as Hunger, Energy, and Hygiene, and can have careers, potentially becoming a family’s primary breadwinner. The expansion also introduces new cheat codes, allowing players to control pets, modify roof slopes when building, and freeze pet aging. The console versions of the game feature a single neighborhood with a town square area, which contains pet-related businesses and deals in “Pet Points,” earned through fulfilling a pet’s wants.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The Sims 2: Pets enhances the game’s world-building with the addition of pet-related objects and environments. The expansion pack introduces new items such as fish tanks, litter boxes, scratching posts, pet beds, food bowls, and bird and womrat cages. The game’s art direction remains consistent with the base game, featuring a cartoonish and colorful aesthetic. The soundtrack, composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, includes diegetic music contributed by various artists covering their previous songs in Simlish, the constructed language spoken in-game. The inclusion of popular artists like Aly & AJ, The Flaming Lips, and The Pussycat Dolls adds a modern touch to the game’s audio experience.

Reception & Legacy

The Sims 2: Pets received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised the realism and design of the pets but criticized the lack of content and narrow focus of the game. The PC version was compared unfavorably to previous expansion packs, while the console and handheld versions were criticized for their limitations and simplicity. Despite these criticisms, the game has left a lasting legacy, influencing subsequent games and the industry as a whole. Its introduction of pets and werewolves has become a staple feature in later Sims games, and its innovative gameplay mechanics have set a standard for life simulation games.

Conclusion

The Sims 2 + The Sims 2: Pets (Limited Edition) is a comprehensive compilation that offers a rich and immersive life simulation experience. Its innovative gameplay mechanics, narrative depth, and world-building have solidified its place in video game history. Despite its criticisms, the game’s legacy continues to influence the industry, making it a significant title in the Sims series.