As an obsessed fan of the PC version of The Sims 2 and a sucker for any game that allows you the freedom to create and unleash said creation in a fully functional world it didn’t come as a surprise to find The Sims 2 make it to the consoles. After all we have seen The Sims games on our beloved Xbox and while they weren’t exact duplicates of the PC originals they were still good enough to make fans more than happy. The Sims 2 follows the same console version tradition of offering more than just the ability to play God but this one is by far the best Sims game you’ll find on your Xbox.

For starters this game marks a change in the game’s visuals as well as gameplay mechanics. Sure you’ll still have the deal with the usual series challenges such as keeping track of your created Sim’s basic needs so you’ll still have to make sure they don’t go hungry or have a little “accident” on the rug but there’s places to go and things to do besides just go to work and sleep. There’s a Story mode but unlike The Sims: Bustin’ Out (where the objective was to not only move out of Mom’s house but also start a successful career) or the most recent Urbz: Sims in the City (where you have to earn a name for yourself to hang with the cool people) there’s not much of a story to begin with.

When you start Story mode, or the game’s Freeplay mode, you start by designing your character. Sadly the series introduces a character generator that acts as a template for your male or female character. Unlike the PC version template, though, you’re not able to dramatically change facial features to fit your liking. The good news is that there are dozens of hair options as well as more clothes and accessories than past games. You’ll also have to pick an aspiration for your Sim. Your character can aspire to have as many love interests as possible, live out a creative life or aim their sights on a wealthy lifestyle.

The problem is that there really isn’t a story and while the world is filled with various characters they don’t introduce some kind of plot nor push you to complete some kind of quest. You basically do what you want within any of the four neighborhoods while keeping your basic needs in check and your aspirations satisfied. Even then it’s not hard to satisfy the aspiration needs and unlike the PC game you won’t go into a depressed state or start acting strangely. If you don’t like a house or your roommates you can always move out to Pleasantview or Strangetown and meet all new people.

Living out your life the way you want it is the major reason the mode does fall flat on its face. There are people to meet and romances to live out. The only bad part is that many of the things we loved about the PC version are skipped in the console version. You won’t have babies and see them turn to teenagers. When you chat with other characters the camera focuses on the pair but if you want other characters to perform tasks while you’re conversing you can’t. The good news is that your Sim can now move a little more quickly (unless they’re dead tired) and instead of just grabbing the usual meal you can now open the fridge, take out various different ingredients and prepare a new kind of meal. Oftentimes the meal is well received by the others in your house and other times you’ll send them running to the bathroom.

There’s also Freeplay mode, which is basically has you create your own house and family and do what you like within your neighborhood. You can also share the game with a friend in a split-screen multiplayer option that allows two players to control their characters to share chores or help fulfill aspiration needs. The only problem is that Freeplay and Story mode share the same save file instead of having their own separate file. It’s baffling, really, but no big deal.

As I mentioned above The Sims 2 also marks a change in the visuals just enough that they’re a lot more realistic than the ones seen in The Urbz. It’s great to see how close the Xbox tries to mimic those of the PC version in terms of great character models and a nicely detailed environment. Your Sim shows emotion and their gestures a bit more natural this time around. The animation runs smoothly and that’s a good thing since you’ll get to see some really wacky antics.

The game’s sound is also good, although the cool sound effects are kept at a minimum in this game. You’ll still find the same Sim Speak so expect a bunch of baby-like gibberish. The music, though, has improved vastly. The game is filled with music whether it comes from a radio or the television. The radio stations themselves offer an eclectic list of music covering various different musical genres with the vocals using the same Sim Speak. The music never gets boring or becomes a nuisance.

The Sims 2 is, by far, the best console version of a PC great. It doesn’t quite capture the overall beauty of its older brother but then again there are improvements for those who have enjoyed past console versions of The Sims. If you’re a returning fan you might want to consider this one right away but if you’re a loyal fan of the PC games this one isn’t bad at all. Either way, you’re going to like this game.

Gameplay: 8.2
Control-wise the game is a lot looser than it’s PC original and some of the most notable features have been sadly taken out of the picture. Still your created Sim moves more quickly and taking control of his or her hectic schedule is downright addictive. The basic needs still feel like annoying distractions.

Graphics: 8.5
Sharp visuals and colorful backgrounds and characters make this the best-looking The Sims game on the Xbox. It’s great to see those dated character models replaced with characters with far more expressive faces without losing the hilarious antics and gestures. You can be really creative with your characters’ appearance.

Sound: 8.5
Sim Speak hasn’t changed at all but why do that? There’s the same cartoon-like sound effects that follow most activities but it’s the game’s soundtrack that really stands out. The tunes are fun and television programs hilarious.

Difficulty: Medium
There are aspirations to meet and wants to satisfy but unlike the PC version they’re a lot easier to complete seeing as interactions are a lot easier in this game. Relationships aren’t that hard to keep and the game is good at letting you know who is interested in you and who doesn’t like you very much.

Concept: 8.5
Story mode doesn’t offer anything close to resembling a story but at least its deep enough to have you unlocking some great extras like clothing, design and item options. There’s a lot more smooching in this one and coming up with your own crazy food recipes is a great idea. Why does Story mode and Freeplay mode have to share the same save file?

Multiplayer: 8.0
A friend can control their own created family split-screen style and interact with your characters as well. You can share the chores to help meet certain goals a lot more quickly.

Overall: 8.5
Even if you’re not a loyal fan of the brilliant Maxis series on the PC, The Sims 2 provides enough fun and humor to make this one a worthwhile Xbox game with a lot to offer. It might not be a true port but many of the basic features are still present and accounted for so you might want to give this one a try.