The Sims 2 (console video game)

The Sims 2 is the fourth title in The Sims console series. The Sims 2 was released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and PSP in the fourth quarter of 2005. The console versions include a story and gameplay similar to previous versions of the game, while the DS, PSP and Game Boy Advance contain their own storylines. This is the first Sims game to have a third person view of a character with the ability to control them with the analog sticks.

Gameplay
The gameplay is similar to a 3rd person adventure game. The player controls their avatar's movement to explore, collect items, talk to non-playable characters (NPCs), and edit their house; unlike the PC version, one cannot build the house because it is already set in the game. As also introduced in the PC version, Sims have wants and fears; completing wants earn aspiration points which are used to unlock new items and locations, while completing fears subtracts aspiration points.

There are also several changes from the PC version. Sims do not age, and there are less ways to die. When a Sim returns to life, there is no longer a chance it will become a zombie, instead they will become ghosts. Whenever a Sim dies, any other Sims spectating this seem to ignore it. The body is turned into a tombstone, if outside, or a pot of ashes, if inside. Players can only build one-floor houses, unlike the PC version which allows multiple floors. It is also possible to control the Sim directly using the analog stick, as opposed to the point-and-click method of the PC games. They can no longer have children. Unlike all EA Sports Games and a few other EA Games titles released in 2005, the game does not have an option to play online (Although the PSP version seems to have a "multiplayer" function)

Music
The game features music performed by Paramore, Ryan Ferguson, Trivium and more recording artists (all songs recorded in the Sims language "Simlish"). The Humble Brothers contributed heavily to the game.

Nintendo DS version
The Nintendo DS version of The Sims 2 begins with the player's car breaking down in Strangetown. Upon arriving, an anonymous donor grants the player the deed to a hotel which can be operated and customized at the player's discretion. The player's job is to bring life back into Strangetown by encouraging people to come to the hotel, which players can do by upgrading it and making the guests happy. There are several ways in which the player can make Strangetown a nice place to warm up in, but is up to player to find it. Unlike most games in the Sim series, this one takes place in real-time.

Game Boy Advance version
The Game Boy Advance version of The Sims 2 takes place in Strangetown, and shares a similar GUI to its predecessors (The Sims Bustin' Out and The Urbz). Players are guided through a goal-oriented game based on the reality television concept in which partitions of the game are divided into "episodes".

PlayStation Portable version
The game begins with the player's character driving through the Strangetown desert, presumably 'Road to Nowhere' in their car, when suddenly a flying green diamond (the marker and logo of the Sims game) flies towards the player and causes them to lose control and damage their car. Fortunately, the player finds a gas station. The player takes their car into the garage. At that point the player takes control. The player is introduced to a vehicle mechanic named Oscar who, after a brief tutorial in teaching the player how to talk to NPC Sims, informs the player their car will only take a short while to fix.

The player is then free to roam around the gas station, and after being introduced to some more NPCs, including Bella Goth, who claims to be abducted by aliens, completing tasks and being taught the basic objective of the game which is 'Secret Hunting' for the store clerk. The player then exits the shop only to find the garage around the back has completely disappeared along with Oscar and their car, with only the foundation of the garage remaining. The only thing left from the disappearance is a cell phone, which the player answers and a man named Doctor Dominic Newlow offers the player a job, requiring him or her to get a ride into town and find a place to stay.

The player informs Police Deputy Duncan about the situation who replies that he can do nothing about it and suggests the player find a place to stay. After having bought Bella's house for pocket change and getting donuts for Deputy Duncan (which happen to have been found in the trash), the player finally gets a lift into Strangetown's Paradise Place, only to find more tasks and mysteries.