The Sims 2: Apartment Life: PC Game Review Farewell Sims 2... This Expansion Pack is the Last

The Sims 2 Apartment Life is the latest and final expansion pack to the Sims 2 PC games. As sad as that sounds, fans have been jumping for joy for the newest release Sims 3, which will be hitting stores in February of 2009.

At any rate though, I picked up the final installment, and to be honest it was pretty depressing loading the game knowing that it would be the final installment I ever loaded into my Sims 2 game.

Although it was a huge sigh moment, the game did deliver some pretty neat and new aspects of game play. Sadly though I was expecting more, expecting the Sims 2 to go out with a bang, and after toying around with the new expansion Apartment Life, I realized it was way, way too similar to University.

Like University, the expansion pack now crams a few buildings close together, separating your Sims only by a set of walls, or a small walkway. Your Sims are no longer confined to just living in homes with their families or roommates, now they are crammed into units, or small apartment buildings where interacting with other residents of the apartment complex come much easier.

For the social butterfly Sim, the newest expansion pack is awesome. You meet new Sims, and can even invite a Sim NPC to come and live with you to help pay the rent.

Now even though the all new expansion sounds pretty nifty, the game play is relatively the same in University, where teen Sims could be sent to educate themselves in college before turning into an adult.

With Apartment Life though, everything feels pretty much the same, only there is no excessive studying or classes to attend.


Issue!
 
One major bummer moment came when I discovered I couldn't make an apartment building of my own. I was given around 5 apartment building lots that I could place in my community, but I found all of these lots to be too small, and not glitzy enough.

I had to figure out a way to make my own apartment buildings. If you click on my user name above this review, you will find this tutorial so you too can make your own apartments. It involves entering the cheat menu and adding a code.

Social Status:
 
A new feature added into this game allows you to see how your Sim holds up in their new neighborhood. You will either be a well liked Sim, or a Sim that the neighbors despise. Interacting with other Sims is pretty easy, especially now that there will be a slew of different Sim personalities right in the apartment complex.

New NPC Witches:
 
If anyone remembers the original Sims game, you already know that Makin Magic was the final installment to the series. The Sims 2 sort of took that same magical route out, only with the addition of apartments which is cool.

In Apartment Life your Sims can become friends with Witch NPC Sims, and hopefully become friendly enough as to where these new witch Sims can teach your Sim some magic. Once your Sim is in the inner witchy circle a new magical realm opens up, and your Sim has the option to be an evil witch, or a good witch.

I find this new addition to be extremely enjoyable, and am glad to have seen it added. Sadly though, like the original Sims, shortly after came a whole new series, which means as soon as the Sims 3 hits shelves, the Sims 2 will become a game of the past, meaning that in just a few short months, this expansion pack will not be re-played anytime soon.

Graphics:
 
The graphics are your basic Sims 2 graphics. Nothing really new here.

Objects:
 
Some new objects were added to the game, but really I have always been disappointed by Maxis made in game objects. They never match the rest of the game, and they are for the most part ugly. There is no exception with the newest and final pack. I think the best objects in the game are the new playground objects, everything else is pretty lame and mostly won't be used.

Clothing:
 
Another sour disappointment in the clothing department. With the new pack you get a few new work out clothes, and some casual outfits. Without custom content made by Sim fans, the game just wouldn't be the same, because Maxis delivers some God awful clothing styles. Even the H&M stuff pack sucked.

A new addition to work out gear though has been added for children. Only the clothes are baggy and horrendous looking. Come on now, I like my Sims to look classy, and Maxis always manages to release things that make them look trashy.

Nothing new for the garden has been added. No new trees or flowers, or objects and decorations fans have been screaming for more of since the game began back in the early 2000's.

Overall:
 
Decent. I wouldn't call it my favorite expansion pack, but it's OK. As far as recommending you go out and buy it, I'm still on the fence seeing that the new Sims 3 will be releasing in just a few short months. For hardcore Sim fans though, it is a must have expansion pack to the game.

I would slap 3 stars out of 5 onto the Sims 2 Apartment Life. For me it was just decent. It lacked, and it is sort of a sloppy ending to an excellent series of games.