The Sims go to university! (The Sims 2: University Add-On (PC))

Member Name: Elioclya

Product:	The Sims 2: University Add-On (PC)
Date:	09/09/05 (640 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great fun with a whole new stage for the Sims' lives

Disadvantages: A few minor annoyances

This add-in to The Sims 2 is definitely worth the money, as it opens up a whole new avenue for the gamer (and of course for the Sims!).

It's designed so that when a Sim reaches the Teenager life stage, they get the option of going to college. Using the phone or the computer, they can apply for scholarships or just go off to university. You can basically turn into a teenager and go right off to college if that's how you want to do it, although it's worthwhile getting the grades up for the extra money first. There are three different colleges, each with a slightly different feel.When the Sim arrives at college, with 500 Simoleons under their belt plus anything they've got from scholarships, they can move into a dorm or into rented accommodation. One of the great things about this add-in is that you now have the option to combine households, both in the university and on the ordinary neighbourhood, but a slight downside to dorm accommodation is that you can't do any building.

When at university, the Sim turns into a Young Adult, the new life stage. It's basically the same as the Adult stage, except that getting married and having children isn't an option. Engagements are though, with the slight problem that if one of your Sims gets engaged to a Sim you aren't controlling in a dorm, you have to make the other Sim move in with someone you are controlling in order to ensure that they can graduate and get married. Otherwise they're stuck in that dorm indefinitely.

Another new feature of Sims University is that your Sims have the ability to influence people. This runs throughout the whole game, resulting in toddlers being able to influence their parents - but influence is determined by the number of friends you have and which aspirations you fulfil. It is very useful when you want your Sim to do well at college but can't be bothered to put them through the hassle of working - you can influence another student to do your assignment or write your term paper.

University life is divided into four stages - Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. Each stage includes two exams. As each stage ends the Sim gains something different - an extra want, the ability to lock two wants and fears, the one-off chance to change aspirations, and finally a sixth want.

The final new feature (aside from new wallpapers, floor, furniture and so on, including drums and guitars) is the lifetime aspiration. Each Sim has one, determined by their aspiration. For example, a Sim with a popularity aspiration might want 20 best friends at once, or a Sim with a family aspiration might want to marry off 6 children. Once a lifetime aspiration is fulfilled, your Sim will have platinum aspiration for the rest of their life, and so you'll only need to worry about their needs. Although this is exciting, it does make looking after them somewhat less of a challenge and does revert slightly to the original Sims!

The new features of this game certainly make it more than worth the money, although it will make loading slightly slower. The game is great fun anyway, but it's even more addictive with University. If you don't want to end up staying up all night playing it, it's probably not a good idea to buy it!



© Elioclya 2005

Summary: Fun and addictive