The Sims: Bustin' Out
Score: 70% ESRB: Teen Publisher: EA Games Developer: Maxis Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 Genre: Simulation
Graphics & Sound: If you've played any games made by Will Wright, you'd instantly know that graphics are not a first priority. While the eye candy may not be great, it is adequate for the situations in the game. Characters and the environment in general have very low polygon counts, and textures are mediocre at best. Because of this, it makes me wonder why the game seems to stutter as you are moving your cursor around onscreen. Nevertheless, The Sims: Bustin' Out is the next game in the series that packs a good amount of gameplay into a visually slow game. The audio side of Bustin' Out once again delivers nothing that we haven't seen before in the series. Ambient sounds are present and accounted for, and the music spewing from the radio is very generic. But this is all well and good. Why? Because once again, The Sims are all about gameplay. Still, I would love to hear the conversations between characters as they progress through their daily lives. What is that, France-talk?
Gameplay: Those who've played any of The Sims games in the past (console or PC) will know instantly that this is more of the same. You create a Sim, decide on his or her attributes, and attempt to control this Sim throughout his or her daily life. The difference in The Sims: Bustin' Out is that it offers a Free Play mode along with the "Bust Out" mode, which starts you out living with Mama and working your way to the top of the human food chain. That is, making a career for yourself. Some of the careers in The Sims: Bustin' Out include becoming a Mad Scientist, Gangster, or Movie Star, among others. Free Play mode also offers the ability to become a Rock Star, Slacker, Artist, Computer Geek (hey, that's me!), or a Swindler. The whole point of Bustin' Out is that you need to complete goals for each career in order to re-confiscate your property from Mr. Malcolm Landgrab. Free Play mode is exactly what it sounds like. Here you are able to just play the game without the restrictions and goals in the "Bust Out" mode. Instead, you'll be able to take control of multiple Sims and run their families without reservation. One thing I don't understand though, and maybe someone can explain it to me, is that how a flat out boring game like The Sims can actually be somewhat addictive? Really, it makes no sense. I have enough trouble trying to get my real roommates to get off their butts and clean up after themselves. Why would I want to do it in a video game? My guess is there's a secret, subliminal code being sent from the screen into our pathetic little brains. Any takers?
Difficulty: In all, The Sims: Bustin' Out really isn't all that difficult. The main goal above any other goal is to keep your Sim's mood on the positive, happy side. Doing this will make attaining your set goals much more manageable. In fact, grumpy people really can't do much of anything. I'm just wondering who got grumpier, my Sim, or me. It's extremely frustrating to constantly have to keep the house up while trying to meet your goals. And there never seems to be enough time to get anything accomplished.
Game Mechanics: I was a bit leery about controlling a game like The Sims with a console control pad. And while using a mouse would certainly be preferred for a game of this type, Bustin' Out's controller setup certainly does it justice. Using the analog sticks makes for moving about the screen a breeze, and the D-pad makes for an easy quick-select to see your Sim's current conditions. The easy-to-access menu system also adds a lot to the game in an efficient manner. In all, I would say that The Sims: Bustin' Out is another good addition for the series. If you're into The Sims, then certainly check this year's game out. If you've never tried, then maybe a rental is in your future (kind of nice to be able to rent for the console, unlike the PC). But if you didn't enjoy the original, you may want to stay clear of Bustin' Out as it's more of the same, controlling your Sim through his or her very predictable life. I, for example, have utterly loved every incarnation of Will Wright's Sim City, yet just can't get into controlling the individual lives of The Sims living in those cities.
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
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