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The Sims 2 (Gamecube Version)
Despite the majority of opinions, it is my belief that The Sims 2 for consoles is not a bad game. However, it is definitely not the best in the series, and I would only recommend it to those unable to play the popular PC version of the game.
Before continuing, I feel I should mention that althouigh the game is essentially the same for XBox, Gamecube, and Playstation 2, I have only ever played the Gamecube version and will be basing my opinions on that experience.
Nothing angers me more then fans of the PC version of this game complaining that the console version is too different. People need to keep in mind that these are two totally different games. Consoles are just not as powerful as the computers we have these days, and there's no way a Gamecube could run such a game. The designers needed to water this game down in order to make it available to everyone.
Like the console version for the original game, The Sims 2 for Gamecube features two different modes: story mode and freeplay mode. However, unlike the previous game (and something that's a plus in my books) you don't have to complete the story mode in order to play the freeplay game. Unfortuantely, in order to unlock everything you must complete story mode, and you can only have one save file for some reason people still don't understand (myself included). This means that if you being playing freeplay, but want to unlock some things, you'll need to overwrite your families in order to play story mode.
Unless you're totally into unlocking every single item and piece of clothing then story mode is completely pointless. In fact, it's not even a story. Unlike the previous console Sim games where you're given important, realistic life goals to complete, your sim has certain wants and fears. Complete these utterly pointless wants such as buy a bed worth at least $500, or play foosball, and you earn aspiration points. Come face to face with a fear, such as throw up or get fired, and you lose aspiation points. Get a certain amount of aspiration points and you unlock something, be it a new piece of clothing, a new item, or a new location. After a few minutes you'll realize all you're doing is running around from point A to point B, which gets pretty boring very quickly.
Unfortunately, freeplay mode isn't much better. For starters, you are only given four lots unlike the previous six, and there are no premade homes or families for those lazy players. However, seeing as most players like the creation process the best, that won't be an issue for most of you.
Freeplay mode gets boring very fast as well. You'll find that all there is for you to do is go to work, come home, and take care of your needs. Socializing, although important, is a pain in the ass now. Instead of simply going up to another sim and selecting "chat" or "joke" you now enter a comepletely different mode that zooms in on the two sims who are commicating. You can't stack on the social commands this way, which makes building up social points with a sim a much more time consuming process and you'll do whatever you can to avoid it.
The AI in this version has also seemed to take a huge step backwards. You can't leave your sims alone for a second as all they'll do is waste their hard earned cash in the fridge. It doesn't matter if they're hungry or not, and it doesn't matter if another need is in the red. Another step backwards is the removal of children. Although this was a large part of the PC version, and even available in previous console versions, they have been completely removed from The Sims 2 for consoles.
It's not all bad, though. You can't critique this game without mentioning the vast amount of creation options when it comes to making your sims. There are hundreds of clothing options and they can now be layered. This means you can give your sim a jacket to wear over their t-shirt now, or give you're female sim a bra (or maybe not). There are hundreds of different outfits you can create doing this.
There are also hundreds of new items added, making it easier to create your dream house. However, there are a few items left out from the original sims for consoles that I miss. Mostly, as silly as it sounds, I miss the doorframe. I hate having to have actual doors in my house (with the exception of the bathroom).
Unfortunately one can't play this game on creation alone. I tried and it only kept me entertained for about a half hour. Although, I never was big on playing with dolls, so maybe girls (and guys?) who enjoyed dressing up barbies for hours on end will get enjoyment out of the creation process alone.
There's more, though. The Sims 2 for consoles also introduced a new recipe system. Although it sounds great in theory, and seems fun at first, it quickly becomes very annoying and time consuming. Simply put, you are given a recipe book with recipes that you need to unlock in the story mode. You then have to search for special items that give you certain ingredients so you can make your own food. Different recipes give off different effects. If you're like me and get bored of this, you can also make the classic "shabu-shabu," in which your sim will do all the work thankfully.
There's also the new "direct control" which allows you to directly control your sim (there's a shocker). I love this new control method, but if you prefer the classic point and click method it's still there. Many players find a combination of the two controls is most effiecient. I still prefer just to use direct control, though.
Overall, if you have access to the PC version of The Sims 2, don't waste your time with this one. If you're looking for a great Sims experience on your gamecube, again, don't get this game. Buy either The Sims or The Sims 2 Pets, as they are much better. However, if you're like me and are a diehard Sims fan who only has access to the console versions, then I would buy this game. It's definitely not the best in the series, but it's not all bad, and you will get some enjoyment out of it.