The Sims: Bustin’ Out

The hit series that stormed the PC many years ago has struck yet again with
The Sims: Bustin’ Out. The latest title out of the Maxis laboratory has expanded
on the foundations set by the previous console release in every way possible.
While gamers have often had a love hate relationship with The Sims series, it
is however credited with expanding the videogame market’s demographics and drawing
in all types of users from children, to teens, to adults.

For those unfamiliar with The Sims series of games, the two people left on
the planet that is, The Sims has you taking control of a custom designed Sim
down to his personality traits and astrological sign. Once in control of your
Sim you can shape and mold them into a reflection of your own persona, or into
something the darkest pits of your mind can invent. Everything in your Sims
life is under your control; work, wealth, fun, friends and romance. What will
you do when youâ€™re in control?

This latest installment into The Sims line of games features two different game
play modes, “Bust Out” and “Free Play.” Each mode of course
offering a different experience depending on the person who is playing. In “Bust
Out” you are given the ability to travel to different locations and to
move out of your home and progress upward in your career as well as unlock numerous
items to purchase throughout your home. “Free Play” gives you the
option of setting up your own home down to the smallest details and playing
the game as you see fit. With “Bust Out” containing mission objectives
and ways to push you to complete them, many gamers may find Free Play to be
the most enjoyable mode for those most familiar with the original Sims title.

So how do you play The Sims? The game is basically you in control of a virtual
representation of a person, when in control of this person you are tasked with
meeting their basic human needs, hygiene, social interaction, fun, food, sleep,
comfort, etc. Needing to actually take care of your Sim plays a unique role
in the game, as you can’t just party all day long, but you actually need to
make sure you are taking care of them, mentally, physically and of course financially.

Not even in The Sims can you escape the burden of having to find a suitable
income, be it by working at home or finding a job. How else are you going to
pay for that Microscotch Covetta computer or the Specter Detector SÃ©ance
Table to decorate your home? In this latest installment of The Sims you have
a variety of different jobs titles you can pursue from movie star to counter
culture panhandler. Each job has beginning and ending times for when you must
be at work as well as opportunities to advance and make more money. Throwing
parties, buying food and having the coolest house in the neighborhood all rely
on your ability to advance at your job and make a few bucks.

Where would a Sim be without some friends and a significant other to share
it all with? Social interaction plays a large role in how happy your Sim is,
and this of course plays a role in other things. Your Sims social meter if it
falls to low will cause them to become depressed and not want to partake in
other activities such as work, having fun or cleaning house. Building strong
relationships also allow your Sim to complete some of the objectives in Bust
Out mode, where having kids and getting married are goals with unlockable rewards.
Yes your Sims can have kids, it works the same way as in real life, ask your
parents not me for details.

Play videogames on your PC, watching horror movies or action flicks on TV,
playing on your very own pinball machine. How do you have fun? The Sims features
many items, from those that allow your Sim to kick back and enjoy life, to those
that let him explore his artistic side through painting, music and invention.
With the wealth of items you can choose from turning that spare room into an
arcade, a music studio or even an art gallery. The Sims: Bustinâ€™ Out contains
over 100 items from seating to electronics for you to decorate your home with.

Simple and effective, you have a beacon on screen that allows you to direct
your Sim throughout the house and interact with objects. Once you click on a
highlighted object a menu often appears allowing you to choose which of the
available actions you would like to take with that person or item. Some items
of course contain multiple ways to interact with them such as people where you
may have the options to talk, hug, tell story, or burp in their face. Overall
the controls should be easily mastered in a matter of minutes for users of all
ages, 10 to 15 at maximum.

L Trigger: Pause Time
R Trigger: Progress Time 2x
A Button: Select
B Button: Deselect
X Button: Switch Sim
Y Button: Switch Sim
Start Button: Pause Menu
Back Button: Actions Queue
White Button: Focus on Current Sim
Black Button: Drop Walls
D Pad: Navigate Emotional Menu

The Sims: Bustin Out features many improvements graphically from the previous
console release, including real time shadowing and minor improvements to character
animations and models. While The Sims: Bustinâ€™ Out looks to be smoother
in general, their looks and designs have also improved, some returning characters
such as the Goths have also received a slight overhaul to their looks. Not only
has the character designs been improved but also the item designs, such as the
new electronic and furniture designs available. While the actual graphical look
in terms of polygon counts have not become anything phenomenal, the actual design
work is top notch in creating a fun environment.

The Sims: Bustin Out Screenshot

[ Additional Screenshots Temporarily Unavailable, Sorry. ]

The audio in The Sims: Bustinâ€™ Out is very standard, there is no background
music while playing and unless you own a radio or stereo system in your home
expect a quiet game. The now infamous Sim language has returned for you to listen
to and attempt to decipher there meanings. With numerous different radio stations
for your Sim to listen to, the background music isnâ€™t actually a problem.
Unfortunately the game as a whole is just a little too silent with music only
playing while the game is paused and you are navigating the menu systems.

With over 100 items to be unlocked through various mission goals and over 15
job paths to explore with various positions available along the ladder The Sims
replay potential is outstanding. Play the game again to explore a new career
or focus your Sim on creative endeavors over mechanical ones. Play a different
aged Sim or even a Sim of a different sex. The Sims has always stood as a game
that can be played over and over again in any way you see fit, being as mean
or as nice as you choose to other Sims. How will you go about controlling your
Sim?

Overall Score: 9.1/10 [Not an Average]

Simply addictive, though at times boring. The need to constantly watch after
your Sims meters for fun, social interaction, hunger, bladder etc. becomes almost
tedious. I often found my Sim waking up to do the same activities day in and
day out to make enough money for a new TV. The power of course is in your hands
as to how you go about things, I soon found myself quitting work to pursue a
home career designing and selling Rocket Powered Lawn Gnomes. Once I began working
at home my Sim had all the time in the world and plenty of time to pursue romantic
endeavors and other interests of that nature. In closing I am still mildly addicted
and will continue to pop this game in the Xbox from time to time, I think I
hear it calling me right now …