Maxis is slowly trying to cover every aspect of regular human lives for
the Sims. From seasons, to business careers, and with a recent stuff
pack. Holidays.
I was delighted and all for it when I first heard about it a little
before Christmas time, and couldn't wait to get my greedy hands on it. I
rushed to the store before Santa even had a chance to put it under my
tree.
I wasn't expecting much though, every stuff pack Maxis has ever thrown
on the shelves have been crap. I figured this stuff pack would be
filled with festive crap.
Stuff packs differ hugely compared to expansion packs. Stuff packs come with 'stuff', where expansion packs come with an entire new realm within the game.
Maxis also released the Holiday edition of the Sims, which cost
$39.99. It is basically the Sims 2 with the holiday 'stuff' added in for
free. However if yo already own the original game, there is no need to
buy the Holiday edition, and this is why Maxi released the stuff pack.
Many fans would be pretty pissed off if they had to spend $39.99 on
something they already had.
WHAT KIND OF STUFF IS INCLUDED?
Holiday stuff of course. Haha!
On a more serious note, you will be getting mainly a collection of
objects that focus on Christmas. There are some other holiday things
that come with the pack, but Maxis barely covered Halloween, and
Thanksgiving Day. Valentines Day is not present at all. There are also a
few objects that focus on Hanukkah, and New Years Day.
In the objects menu you can find snowmen, lighted reindeer, Christmas
lights, a radio, a few decorative dining room furniture pieces, and some
wall hangings.
Now my biggest issue was with the outdoor object sizes. They would
have been really cute additions if Maxis hadn't blown them up to sizes
that almost match the entire home. Who the hell wants a statue in the
yard that is as tall as the house? No one!
My next issue was with the dancing snowman, once you turn him on, your
game will run slowly. I have a fast machine too, and there is no reason
for this. My PC was designed for gaming, and why this snowman slows it
down is beyond me.
The dining room furniture is nice, but honestly cannot be left out
long once you install The Sims 2 Seasons, seeing how there are only 4
days of seasons. It'd look pretty dumb to have it be summer time with
your home decked out for Christmas time.
This stuff pack also features the Christmas tree. This was the biggest
disappointment of all. On the cover of many magazines, and even on
their website, it shows a Sim child opening gifts. This is NOT the case.
The tree is there solely to look pretty, and there are no actions
involved. The worst thing about it, is that if the trees lights are left
on for a few hours it lights up on fire. Lovely way to start Christmas
right! Sheesh!
There are also a few new doo dads for you to place on top of the
fireplace mantel, such as nut crackers, candles, and stockings. Again,
the stockings have no actions for your Sims.
The candles will light up though, but the light they put off is barely
even recognizable, unless you have a plasma screen monitor.
SANTA:
Yes he will visit, if you throw a holiday party. You can choose this
option over the phone, and your guests will arrive. At midnight, Santa
will arrive, or old man winter with a dancing baby. The dancing baby is
pretty creepy.
What sucked more than anything was how you could not interact with any
of these NPC'S. They came to visit, yet did nothing but look cute in
the game. It would of been nice to have Santa come and give the kid Sims
something. BAH!
Old man winter does the same thing. He will walk around the lot
ignoring you. If you're not quick you could even miss them. So keep an
ear out for bell chimes. Thats how you know old man winter or Santa is
on the lot.
I've never felt more jipped from Santa Claus in my life! Ech!!!
WHAT ELSE?
Oh yeah, there is a cornucopia for the kitchen table or counter, a
frosty music box radio thingamajig that plays 4 annoying tunes over and
over again. I'm surprised the 'smash' action is not available.
There are some Halloween statues, again...too big to fit in the yard and
look normal, a jack-o-lantern, and..umm...that is seriously about it!
Oh I'm sorry, how could I forget, the frigging mistletoe. The only
action in the game! Stand under the mistletoe and someone will come and
give you a big ol' kiss.
To me this mistletoe is nothing more than a family destroyer. You see,
my Sims for some reason will stand under it on their own, and if I'm
not careful a guest or someone on the lot will kiss them. If the wife or
husband sees... well you know what happens, the cheating memory.
I didn't know a kiss on the cheek because of this frigging mistletoe
would tear my Sims apart. Avoid placing this in your home if you know
whats good for you.
So thanks MAXIS, for giving my Sims a tree that sets itself on fire, a
Santa without any presents, presents that cannot be opened, a mistletoe
that causes Sim spouses to think mistletoe kisses are cheating devices;
thanks for the creepy dancing baby, gigantic statues that don't fit on
the lawn, the radio that plays the same annoying jingles, stockings that
cant be looked in, the snowman that slows up my game, and candles that
waste space and produce no light. Thanks Maxis, for the headache! Thanks!
Recommendation:
Nay! This stuff pack will cost you $19.99 and is the biggest rip-off Maxis has released yet.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
800 MHz processor or better
256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000
At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space
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