by Angus Buswell

Created on: November 13, 2009

The Sims 2 Pets (Wii)

This, the next game of Sims 2, is the same as Sims 2 but you can have pets (as you have guessed from the game name). The game still has skills, careers, motives, wants and moods but has the extra feature of having a pet (although in theory you could play the game without a pet) the main pets being a cat or a dog (you can get other pets just not as much involvement as a cat or a dog).

The Basics

Your Sim's overall Mood meter displays a summary of their needs. The more green that shows, the happier they are. The more red, the less happy they are. Sims who aren't in a cheery mood are less likely to head off to work, look for a job or engage in skill building.

There are 8 different Sim motives - Social, Bladder, Hygiene, Hunger, Fun, Energy, Comfort and Room.

Wants

Every Sim has a life goal (just like us), or Aspiration, which influences the things they want to achieve in their day-to-day life (Wants). The Wants panel displays your selected Sim current Wants as well as an Aspiration Meter, which indicates how your Sim is doing in the pursuit of their Aspiration.

Fulfilling a Sim's Wants fills the Platinum Aspiration meter. When the Platinum Aspiration meter is filled, that Sim's motives decays at a much slower rate. When you fulfil a want a another one takes its place.

Skills and Careers

Acquiring skill can help Sims advance in their careers and increase their efficiency when performing tasks (such as cleaning or repairing things). Cooking - Prepare meals and read cookbooks. Mechanical - Study a mechanical book. Charisma - Practise speaking or kissing in a mirror or teach your pet a trick. Body - Exercise or use a treadmill to increase your Sim's fitness. Logic - Play chess or design a game on a computer. Creativity - Play a musical instrument or paint a little something on an easel. Cleaning - Clean up around the house.

There are ten career paths. Your Sim can find jobs by looking in the newspaper or searching for one online (using a computer). Your Sim advance in their careers by building up skills, improving relationships and expanding their social circle. Different career paths require different skill sets. Review the career screen to see what your Sim needs to do to earn a promotion. And don't forget to ensure that your Sim is in a good mood when they head off to their work - surly Sims aren't prone to promotion.

Pets

They have the same motives as your Sim expect they don't have room and if they are a cat they have a scratch motive and a dog has a chew motive. If you meet their needs then they will become more friendly towards you but if you don't they will just get fed up and run away.

Like their owners pets have dreams and wants (even if they are lesser) like a prized toy or a tasty and delicious snack. Some common ones are Play - Pets love to have a little fun with a favourite toy or person - and Eat - A tasty treat just might be the ticket.

Try and make it a priority to instruct your Sim to fulfil their pets needs and wants whenever possible. When one of your Sims fulfils a pets wants, the entire family (your Sim(s) and their pets) is rewarded with pet points which can be spent at the stores in the town square (something else that is new to Sims 2).

In conclusion I think that this game is very good at giving a good gaming experience to the person playing.

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