The absolute GOAT of the Sims games, it is more detailed than all the other games and way more enjoyable and in depth. The lack of open world really makes the game run well, and the characters not being unrealistic plastic pieces like in 4 make it stand out compared to the other ones.
The Sims 2 is the second main line entry for The Sims. For PC players, it was the first fully 3D Sims game. Not only did it introduce some of my favorite add-ons in the series, but also introduced a lot of new features that became a staple for the series.
The biggest new feature is aging. Sims 1 only had adults and kids and none of them would ever age, but this game lets you experience their lives from babies, to kids, to teens, (to young adults), to adults and up to elders. This also introduces an actual family tree. It also introduced the wants and fears system and genetics.
The coolest thing is something, that has never really been done ever again. This game lets you create your own neighborhood and sub neighborhoods, from street layouts imported through Sim City 4, to all the neighborhood decorations and every single lot, including actual accessible and useable community lots and with add-ons also college dorms, hotels, apartments and many more. If you don't want to do that, the base game comes with three premade towns as well, and most add-ons included some other neighborhood themselves to show off the new gameplay features.
When it comes to the actual gameplay, it's The Sims as you expect it. You control various family members and build houses. You let them apply to jobs, find love and get children, or let them die horribly in a mysterious pool ladder accident. The whole life simulation is filled with the well known quirkiness of The Sims series, like alien abductions and impregnation or becoming a literal superhero at the end of the law career.
In my opinion, it is also one of the most detailed Sims games. You have to actually go grocery shopping or order food, as your fridge doesn't magically teleport food into it, clothes have to be bought before you can change into them after Create-A-Sim, pizza slices are actually taken from an ordered pizza, Sims can lazily lie on couches and watch TV like actual people do, etc.
Graphically, it obviously aged. Hairstyles are often quite low poly and objects have quite rough edges, but I still prefer the whole look over the Sims 3 doll house abominations. (Comparing both games in non-modded state) Otherwise, the whole aesthetical style and soundtrack capture the vibe of the early 2000s. For example, there are a lot of clothing and hairstyle choices that are rather punkish or emoish. Some real life musicians of the time also provided some of their songs in Simlish like Katy Perry, Depeche Mode or Lily Allen.
For me, it's one, if not the best Sims game of all time. I still often return to it. It is a shame that EA made it unavailable to purchase, and I'm lucky that I've gotten the Ultimate Collection when it was given out for free on Origin.
If you have the chance to play it, give it a try - the modding community patched all the problems the game might have on newer systems, and do not worry about the whole save file corruption myths going around. I've played this game from my earliest childhood on and did many things that other people say would corrupt the game and it didn't. It's way more robust than one might think and especially with various tools to clean and backup your save files it is way more stable than ever.
Sadly it was the last Sims game which didn't feel like a cash grab, with add-ons that felt complete, new and fresh.
The biggest new feature is aging. Sims 1 only had adults and kids and none of them would ever age, but this game lets you experience their lives from babies, to kids, to teens, (to young adults), to adults and up to elders. This also introduces an actual family tree. It also introduced the wants and fears system and genetics.
The coolest thing is something, that has never really been done ever again. This game lets you create your own neighborhood and sub neighborhoods, from street layouts imported through Sim City 4, to all the neighborhood decorations and every single lot, including actual accessible and useable community lots and with add-ons also college dorms, hotels, apartments and many more. If you don't want to do that, the base game comes with three premade towns as well, and most add-ons included some other neighborhood themselves to show off the new gameplay features.
When it comes to the actual gameplay, it's The Sims as you expect it. You control various family members and build houses. You let them apply to jobs, find love and get children, or let them die horribly in a mysterious pool ladder accident. The whole life simulation is filled with the well known quirkiness of The Sims series, like alien abductions and impregnation or becoming a literal superhero at the end of the law career.
In my opinion, it is also one of the most detailed Sims games. You have to actually go grocery shopping or order food, as your fridge doesn't magically teleport food into it, clothes have to be bought before you can change into them after Create-A-Sim, pizza slices are actually taken from an ordered pizza, Sims can lazily lie on couches and watch TV like actual people do, etc.
Graphically, it obviously aged. Hairstyles are often quite low poly and objects have quite rough edges, but I still prefer the whole look over the Sims 3 doll house abominations. (Comparing both games in non-modded state) Otherwise, the whole aesthetical style and soundtrack capture the vibe of the early 2000s. For example, there are a lot of clothing and hairstyle choices that are rather punkish or emoish. Some real life musicians of the time also provided some of their songs in Simlish like Katy Perry, Depeche Mode or Lily Allen.
For me, it's one, if not the best Sims game of all time. I still often return to it. It is a shame that EA made it unavailable to purchase, and I'm lucky that I've gotten the Ultimate Collection when it was given out for free on Origin.
If you have the chance to play it, give it a try - the modding community patched all the problems the game might have on newer systems, and do not worry about the whole save file corruption myths going around. I've played this game from my earliest childhood on and did many things that other people say would corrupt the game and it didn't. It's way more robust than one might think and especially with various tools to clean and backup your save files it is way more stable than ever.
Sadly it was the last Sims game which didn't feel like a cash grab, with add-ons that felt complete, new and fresh.