In the past there has been a strict barrier between PC games and console games. Once the power of consoles drew closer to that of PCs, we began to see more and more PC to console ports. Starting with First-Person Shooters and moving on to simulations and eventually online software, the barrier has seen a steady decline. Now, virtually all top selling PC games will make the jump to console at one point or another. EA Games and Maxis have done just that with their number one selling PC game, The Sims.

If you've been locked in a cave and don't know what The Sims is all about, basically you play through life itself. The Sims lets you control your virtual counterpart as he or she learns basic functions such as cooking or flushing the toilet, and goes through the general trials of life. You'll get a job, cook meals, have friends over, throw parties, get married, and eventually die. Almost anything you can do in real life, you can and will do in The Sims.

While the PC incarnation of The Sims featured several add-on titles to stretch the limitations of the game to its greatest extent, the PlayStation 2 port combines nearly every aspect of the Sims expansion packs into one big game. In addition to this "all-in-one" approach, console players will find a new mode of play not featured in any of the PC Sims titles. If you didn?t like The Sims on PC, this new play mode will hold your hand through the crucial process of learning how to succeed in the game.

Appropriately dubbed "Get a Life" mode, players new to The Sims universe will be treated to a pseudo-tutorial. You'll create your character by customizing virtually every possible feature, right down to his or her shoe type and astrologic sign. And if you're not happy with the way your Sim looks, later on in the game you will be able to change them to your liking.

Once you have created a virtual version of yourself, the game will walk you through a series of goals. Unlike the PC version, which makes you figure things out on your own, you will be told that you Sim must study cooking before he or she can cook. Likewise, you'll be told to acquire a job, borrow money from your mom, move out on your own, and eventually get married and have kids of your own. All along the way you'll learn the basics of keeping your Sim healthy and happy. You will also learn to manage your time. Most console gamers will find that virtual game time seems to fly by. Sometimes you really don't seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done. It will be frustrating, but things do get better as you learn time management.

After you've learned the basics of the game, you can enter the "Play the Sims" mode. This is in fact the PC version of the game. Completely open-ended to allow you to do whatever you wish. You won?t have any goals to meet, but you can turn the help mode on. With this, the game will give you a few hints on how to make friends and live in the world of The Sims. While the game won't hold your hand through this process like it does in "Get a Life" mode, even PC veterans may find themselves learning a thing or two about Sim habits.

The graphics are on par with the PC version of The Sims, but it certainly doesn't push the limitations of the PS2. With the power of the PS2 obviously not in full swing, players will find slowdown to be a common and somewhat annoying occurrence. While it won't deter from your overall enjoyment of the game, it's really something that shouldn't appear in a game like this. Some fine tuning on the part of Maxis probably could've eliminated this problem.

Sound in The Sims also falls a bit short of entertaining. While your Sim can purchase a radio and listen to various types of music, the songs soon become repetitive and you won't waste your time turning the radio on unless you're having a party. You'll also find that nearly all of the characters in the game frequently whine about whatever problem they're currently experiencing. Players may want to have some music playing in the background to go along with the otherwise drab sounds you'll hear in the game.

Console-only gamers will not be used to the open-ended environment of The Sims. The more you play the game, the more you'll find you can do. However, there is a limit to the seemingly endless replay value. After awhile you may find yourself doing the same daily routine over and over again. Even the new two player options added to the console port don't withstand the test of time. You'll have some fun racing to get the most friends, but the multiplayer features are more of a second thought then anything else. Unfortunately, without an online option, once you've done everything the game has to offer, you will probably find yourself getting bored and moving on to something a little more entertaining. How long that takes is up to the gamer. Fans of Animal Crossing will enjoy the game moreso than fans of straight action titles.

Overall, the game is a near perfect port of the PC version, but it still lacks in several areas. Players who were frustrated with the learning curve of the original will find the new "Get a Life" mode extremely helpful. However, with the recent release of the online Sims for the PC, the PlayStation 2 port seems to fall short of greatness. Especially when you add in the slowdown issues and repetitive gameplay. Maxis did a good job of introducing the franchise to console gamers, but we really shouldn't have to wait another year for an online Sims game.