The Sims 2, also abbreviated as TS2 and commonly referred to by its initials, is the first major entry in the Sims series to follow its predecessor, The Sims. The Sims 2 was made available to the general public for the first time on September 14, 2004.
The Sims 2 ushers in a period of profound transition from the first game. A full 3D environment has been included into The Sims, replacing the previous isometric vision. The life phases that Sims go through include baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult [TS2:U], adult, and elder. These life stages cause Sims to mature from birth until death, and Sims can pass on their genetics to their offspring at each stage of their lives. The aging mechanism in The Sims 2 places a temporal limit on the player’s ability to train a Sim’s talents before the Sims pass away. This is in contrast to the original The Sims, in which the player had unlimited time to train a Sim’s skills. A makeover has been given to the personality of the Sims, and now each Sim has their own aspirations, needs, and concerns.
The Sims 2, like its predecessor and subsequent games, is a game with a wide-open world and few predetermined objectives. In order to satisfy the goals of their Sims, players can give their Sims homes that they have constructed and furnished for them. They have the option of putting their attention into strengthening the relationships and skills of their Sims in order to enhance their Sims’ jobs or begin a family. They are also able to center their efforts on reaching a Sim’s desire by satisfying that Sim’s needs and avoiding that Sim’s anxieties.
The Sims 2 came packaged with three pre-made communities: Pleasantview, which is a continuation of the storyline from the first Sims game set 25 years later; Strangetown, which is set in a desert landscape and features supernatural occurrences; and Veronaville, which is a neighborhood based on several plays written by William Shakespeare. The Sims 2 was also packaged with a large number of pre-made Sims and families, some of which were re-uses of Sims and families from the original The Sims game.
