VIDEO GAME REVIEW

Escaping Reality

From loving marriages to engaging social lives, the "embryo" state in which The Sims begins gives the player utter control of an interactive world. Selecting a personality shifts the game into gear, allowing for a choice from the banal to the outgoing. Attitude, cleanliness, social interaction and even success in relationships are all determined by each character’s disposition. Just like in Sim City, planning is detrimental to prosperity in customized neighborhoods dominated by dozens of virtual people.

It is this concept – the idea of rewarding players by guiding their families through trials and tribulations – that makes The Sims so durable. But with Sim Theme Park, this concept becomes somewhat distorted. Rather than allowing the player to mold personalities, the game offers only variants on the amount of salt shaken on french fries – a detail that is completely unnecessary. Coupled with difficult joystick handling and painstakingly harsh graphics, sitting with Theme Park for more than an hour is quite a challenge.

But The Sims makes up for Theme Park’s lost elements. The most intricate fine points of life have been inserted into the game, allowing the gamer to choose a career path for each member of the Sim family – everything from a military operative to an Academy-honored actor are among your options.

Ultimately, the quest for love commands the lives of most Sims. Being social creatures, interaction with neighbors is key to avoiding despair, and marrying proves to be both profitable and blissful. From here, larger houses, elaborate stereo systems and Olympic-sized swimming pools are all just a click away.

The Sims’ only downfall is time consumption. But aside from its endless hours of gameplay, this single CD-ROM provides virtually unlimited possibilities – generally very fun and amusing – giving free will to the gamer.

It’s amazing that a game can transform the usually mundane and taxing activities of daily life into nearly flawless festivity.

Jon M. Gibson writes about video games for Metro Times.