PSP Sims 2 Bundle

PSP Games Bundle

The tiny little people are back, but this time around, their world has become tinier in the PSP Sims 2 bundle. The Sims now have a world in the portable gaming universe, having been launched as a PSP games bundle.

Though the developers at Electronic Arts have managed to squeeze in the infinite possibilities of controlling a group of unpredictable people into the PSP they have had to vastly cut down on their abilities. But what has been sacrificed in terms of abilities has been made up by putting in a storyline. But don’t imagine the Sims flying airplanes or saving the world; the storyline is just as lightheaded as the game itself. But then it's fun.

This is probably the first time that the Sims will run on a theme or a story. Again, though the developers have maintained the basic formula for the Sims, they have changed everything else. The PSP Sims 2 bundle also features minigames and secrets. The game is FUN and is refreshingly different from the previous helpings of Sims 2 we have all been so used to.

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Gameplay

You are driving in the desert of Strangetown when the sudden appearance of a strange green thing makes you lose your control and crash your car. With no option left but to handover the car to the mechanic, you are free to be what you are, a Sim. While roaming around the town, you befriend people and come to know of strange things like alien abductions, ghosts and zombies. Upon going back to fetch your car you realize that the entire garage has disappeared. With the sheriff expressing his helplessness, you have no option but to stay on and solve the mystery surrounding Strangetown.

Well, so much for the story. Now for the actual gameplay. The game still works from a third person perspective and still maintains the Sims look. What has changed though are the controls which have been adapted for the PSP. Also, along with the story, minigames have been introduced into the gameplay. There is the game where you whack zombies with a shovel or there is the symbol based dance minigame. But the game that appears the most is the symbol based communication minigame. The game involves watching two Sims already in conversation and matching the symbol in their thought bubble with the symbols appearing at the bottom of the screen. The closer the person is to you, the tougher it is to match the symbols. Though these minigames might look like child's play, they are actually pretty but interesting all the same.

And then there are secrets. You learn secrets from the Sims in your world and sell them for cash. The darker the secret, the better the cash you earn for it. To learn secrets though, you have to befriend or intimidate people, which is not easily done.

Overall the gameplay makes for a refreshing play, interesting and challenging.

Features

1. Storyline:
Sims now comes with a storyline. Play as an outsider in the town of Strangetown and unravel secrets.
2. Graphics:
The game is very visually appealing. The environment has been designed to the detail and the characters are deft and smart in their movements. The Sims2 for the PSP manages to maintain the legacy of excellent graphics that the game is so well known for. Even though the game is a port from the PS2, it moves at a stable frame rate and does not hang or chug along.
3. Audio:
Crisp and clear audio makes the game a pleasure to play on. Every whisper can be clearly heard as well as the effects of nature such as the wind blowing and the water flowing.
4. Minigames:
The game introduces the concept of minigames which are small challenges within the main story. Minigames can be time bound most of the times and are very interesting to play with.
5. Secrets:
The game also introduces the concept of secrets. Secrets can be obtained from the other Sims either by force or friendship and can be exchanged for cash. Darker the secrets, more the cash.
6. Sanity:
Throughout the wild ride of being a stranger in the strange town of Strangetown to becoming a tycoon and a real-estate owner, it is essential to retain one's sanity. Keep up your life's aspirations without giving in to the mankind's greatest enemy: fear. Maintaining a frenetic pace of life without an able mental health could lead to a nervous breakdown. The sanity is indicated by a "Sanity Meter" at the bottom of the screen. A small jewel changes colors from platinum to gold to green to red. The saner you are, the easier it is to win over friends and move up the social ladder. You can lose your sanity by losing in the communication minigames or by being scared by ghosts.
7. Perks:
Perks are simple gadgets which make your journey to the top of the ladder easy. The first perk is a cell phone which is obtained at the beginning of the game. More perks with different attributes come your way as you progress through the game. Some perks help in honing skills while others are useful to intimidate or torture people for getting information. Perks can also be used to befriend or flirt with people. Perks are perhaps the most interesting concept added to the game.

Our Verdict on the PSP Sims 2 Bundle

The Sims 2 is a very fresh outlook to the original Sims 2 for the PC or the PS 2. The game has not only been ported but has been completely overhauled with an efficient storyline and added concepts like minigames, secrets and perks.

The PSP Sims 2 bundle is a pleasure to play even if you are a current fan of the Sims and not a newbie to the world. The game is a must have on the shelf of any PSP gamer true to his salt.