Game Title: "The Sims 2: Pets"
Platform: Wii
Studio: EA Games
Rated: T for Teen, crude humor, mild violence and suggestive themes
Score: 5 out of 10
THE REVIEWGAMEPLAY: For some reason it seems the "Sims 2: Pets" game for the Wii was rushed to catch the Nintendo Wii wave. And it shows.
While the game has been out for a year on other platforms, there really isn't anything Wii-specific about this version. The graphics and accessories are very similar to the game's counterpart on the Nintendo GameCube. The only real difference is the gamer can use the Wii remote to move things around. The concept makes it seem better, but in reality it's not as easy to do. The grasp and release controls are confusing. And, for example, placing wallpaper in the interior walls becomes a comedy of errors. Sometimes the wallpapr is placed on the wrong side of the wall. Sometimes it only gets placed on part of the wall. And to correct the mistake, the gamer has to exit the current program and go into one that removes the wallpaper, before reattaching it correctly.
Another problem is that this game is extremely time-consuming, more so than the other Sims games. And that, too, goes back to the Wii remote. The other Sim games seem to move quicker, but this one lags, especially when you want to start training the pet.
Setting up the character and the pet, as well as the living space, does take time. The player can easily eat up an hour or two choosing between a cat or a dog, and among the various breeds. And then building a house from scratch or moving into an already existing structure or becoming a quick roommate with someone else will also take a few hours.
Part of the problem comes down to numerous choices players face. They can choose the style of wallpaper, carpet, hardwood floors, tiles, kitchen appliances, furniture, bathroom fissures and style of doors and windows. Other decisions include square footage and the number of rooms houses can have. A player can choose to do all that either before or after choosing a character and pet.
Even when everything is set up, it takes time to get used to ordering where the characters will go and how they will interact with their pets. But once the gamer gets used to the pace, the experience is rewarding — especially when developing the bond between human and animal.
There is something fun about creating a world and characters that you can fully control. Well, you can't control your pet — especially a dog — if it rushes off and digs holes in your yard, but you can train it to stop. In fact, you can train the animal to shake, play dead, fetch and roll over. Even cats can be trained to do tricks.
Gamers who like the "Sims" games will find it a little challenging to use the Wii remote to do what the standard game consul controls does. But once they get the hang of it, the game works well.
Like all "Sims" games, there is the danger of characters and animals fighting with each other if they aren't happy with their living conditions or for other reasons. And the pets can become deathly sick if they don't have enough food.
GRAPHICS: The graphics are a bit disappointing with the Wii version of "Sims 2: Pets." They aren't any different than what can be seen on the GameCube. In fact, when the Wii version is compared to the smooth and intricate details found on the Wii's "Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," it's like watching an old VHS when you could be watching a DVD.
AUDIO: The audio, however, is a highlight. Sure, the characters speak gibberish and gamers can tell if they are happy, sad or angry, but the real draw is the pet sounds. Each animal has it's own trademark bark or meow. And the background sounds, such as crickets, wind and such, add ambience to the playing.
THE WRAP UPPARENT'S TAKE: While "Sims 2: Pets" could be used as an educational game to introduce children to the responsibility of taking care of a pet, the Wii version can get a bit too tedious and frustrating for younger teens. In fact, teens who are used to quick-paced games will get bored.
Also, when a man and woman live as roommates, there is a chance for some mild romance, that may be uncomfortable to some parents. However, when a character takes a shower or uses the toilet, the screen around the figure is pixilated.
There is also a segment where gamers can breed their animals. So if a younger player is not savvy about the birds and the bees, parents had better talk with them before playing that segment of the game.
FINAL WORD: "Sims 2: Pets" takes a lot of dedication, time and patience, especially when using the Wii remote. If the gamer is up to it, he or she could easily spend hours upon hours in the "Sims" world. And whether or not those hours are rewarding or frustrating depends on how they like using the Wii remote.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com