2-player mode

Consoles are known for their multiplayer capabilities, simply by using multiple controllers. There is no network support this time - no PS2 online or X-Box live - but you can play with 2 players split screen as with the previous console Sims games. The first console version was praised for having a unique split screen, which was split diagonally. This time the screen is split vertically, and each player controls their own urb - with their own rep. It's a bit the same as single player, but with 2 controlled characters, and each of them can unlock different items and locations. The main downside is that the two Urbz can't hang around in different districts - when one of them leaves, the other one will be forced to go with them. You can save and load 2-player games like single player games, so you can play at any time when you want to.

General Improvements

The controls are similar to Bustin' Out, although the cursor now doesn't have the line under it. It's a blue plumb-bob, and with the press on a button you can lock it on your urb. The camera positions are also revamped, and the camera makes special moves when you do a power social. In general you're closer to the Urbz too. Something that's different too is that actions are now also queued up on the right (vertically), rather than at the top. There are some other changes in the interface, like the XAM which is what used to be the menu. If you want an example of that, check the official website, which uses a similar interface to browse through the site. The graphics are looking better than previous versions of the Sims on the consoles, and Sims are far more detailed. X-Box owners will be happy to know widescreen HD graphics are supported. There are also new details, like rain. And when it rains, other urbz will take out their umbrella or hold a paper over their head to prevent getting wet. New is also that you can rob other sims, and take items from them.

Some things have also disappeared since Bustin' Out. Free play for instance, is now more or less integrated in the mission-based game. You're constantly free to do what you want, and after you finish the game - there's about 15 hours of directed gameplay - it becomes a big sandbox. 15 hours may seem a little, but in the mean time you'll also play the "classic" way. You'll need to improve your rep at least a bit so you unlock socials and objects, otherwise there isn't very much to do.

The game is one big parody on city life. Where the PC version is a parody on everyday life, the Urbz is a parody on conformism, i.e. people dress and behave like each other. Nothing in the game should be taken too seriously, which is also why you'll see hardly any straight lines in the graphics. From sidewalks to objects; it's sometimes surprising to see things don't fall over because they're out of balance. The objects - especially skill objects - are wacky and original, and not just objects we've seen in other Sims games before. It's all done a bit over-the-top, which makes the game fun to play. If you like the typical Maxis sense of humour, this game will not disappoint you on that area.

Some features from the handheld version of Bustin' Out have been copied to the Urbz in a way, most importantly following your sim around 24/7. But some things have been removed from Bustin' Out as well: the lack of a separate free-play mode which allows you to create a family and such will be missed by some players. Although you're free to do what you like when playing the missions, which in a sense is what the free-play mode is about, it's not the same as the classic way we know from the Sims on both consoles and PC. A good thing compared to Bustin' Out is that the new game is less linear, and you're really free to play the game your way - so Maxis does make up for the missing feature.

There is one difference between the European and the American versions of the Urbz, besides the technical differences. The American version will include in-game advertising, like The Sims Online did. For instance, a drinks vending machine might be branded by Red Bull. Hutchinson said it's not legal in some countries in Europe to advertise in games this way, hence you won't find it in the European version. This can be both a good and bad thing, depending on your taste; you might not like to see advertising in a game this way, but on the other hand you might like to see things you recognise from the real world.

Handheld

A short bit about the handheld version: the GBA version has gone gold but will be more of the same if you had Bustin' Out, with approximately 9 hours of directed gameplay. Besides the characters and style that are shared to a certain extent, the console and handheld versions of the Urbz are entirely different. The Nintendo DS version will be released at the same time as the other versions, simultaneously with the DS itself. If you compare the GBA and DS version, you won't see too much difference. The DS version is a slightly expanded edition of the GBA game, but they're about 90% the same. A PSP version will (probably) also be made, although it hasn't been announced yet. Details for the N-Gage, on which Bustin' Out was a huge success, are unclear when it comes to the Urbz. I don't consider that too likely though.

Conclusion

The game has been in development since January, which means the game is set to be finished in a quite short time. However, it already looks quite finished, and Maxis has been working on it every single day since May. Although it was initially planned to be released along with the Sims 2, they never made that deadline and delayed the game 2 months - and that's not bad. Besides the slightly long loading times (which occur when going to another district, when creating your urb, etc), the game is very playable and it's fun to see what's possible with the game. It's shaping up nicely and should be done in time.

So it's a fun and accessible game. You can start playing straight away, and you'll quickly start exploring the city - if you don't spend an hour on creating your Urb. If you haven't played the other Sims games on the console, though you would like to try them, perhaps the Urbz is worth the wait. It is a good improvement since Bustin' Out, but the core is still quite the same. Hence if you already liked Bustin' Out or The Sims Get a Life a lot, then you should definitely consider buying the Urbz. However, it's not a typical game that you see a lot on consoles, and so people who consider themselves more hardcore-gamers will probably not like it too much - it never hurts to try though!

The Urbz will hit the shelfs early November: 9 November in the US, and 12 November for Europe. You can expect an in-depth review from us after it's out. Until then, stay tuned for more details. And after the Urbz? The next sequel will probably take the Sims into a completely different direction. Maxis still has enough ideas for more games in the Sims franchise, and a sequel will probably be made even if the Urbz isn't quite the success they're expecting it to be.

You can pre-order the Urbz on PlayStation2, GameCube, X-Box and GBA from our shop today!

Written at 02:11 on Friday 15 October 2004 by ChEeTaH.