- Publisher: EA Games
- Release Date: Nov 9, 2004
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Possibly the best choice for those wanting a Sims game without having to do the house decorations and design, and for those who just want to be able to keep playing and playing without worrying to much about time management and having to deal with mundane tasks in an on going fashion.
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AceGamezWith quirky graphics, familiar sounds, a nice variation in missions and tasks, a high level of interaction where jobs are concerned and some great new power socials, The Urbz is a worthy addition to most peoples' collection.
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Takes the Sims series in a new and good direction.
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BoomtownIf The Urbz was marketed as ironic social commentary it may have raised a wry smile, but the frivolous manner in which it tries to appeal to the cool-set eventually becomes irritating.
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What's really interesting about this game is that for all that it's doing differently, it still just does not feel all that much different from the typical Sims formula.
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Seems that once you've done it all in one district, though, you'll end up doing the same things elsewhere. The only fundamental changes are the background and the inhabitants. There's no real final goal; you just keep playing until you get tired.
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Electronic Gaming MonthlyThe streamlined motives are a tremendous improvement in alleviating tedium - so why the heck is the skill advancement so painful? [Holiday 2004, p.108]
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A pleasant change from "The Sims" that is tailored to those who would find the constant reinventing of personal style an appealing diversion.
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Game InformerI feel that the game opens up too quickly and that, while there a respectable nine districts, each has very similar goals and features. [Dec 2004, p.164]
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It's fun, but a shallow fun, based on shallow characters ' maybe the perfect game for the kids from "Clueless" or "The OC."
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Urbz offers a nice, fresh twist on the Sims experience, for both veterans and newbies alike. Yet, despite seeing the goofy characters in a new fish tank, there isn't enough freshness throughout to keep you down wid it. It's not bad, it's just not baaad-you feel me?
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A very sweet game and, thankfully, very easy to play from the outset. While nowhere near as comprehensive as "The Sims," this is as endearing and sylish as keeping people as pets gets.
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A "Sims"-Lite with a 12-year-old's vision of life painted glossily (and thinly) on top. You'll either love it or hate it depending on your view of games and the world. [PSM2]
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games(TM)The Urbz feels like a step back for the franchise; despite EA's efforts to bring gamers a "console exclusive' there's not a lot on offer here. Fans won't find anything new, but newcomers may well discover the pleasure of the series and seek out EA's back catalogue of simulated lifestyles. [Christmas 2004, p.114]
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Maxis' bold changes to the original formula set forth by The Sims aren't all for the better, but they make The Urbz a very distinctive and surprisingly solid game.
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It might not be as deep as its PC counterpart, but it's perfect for console gamers, who are generally looking for a more casual experience. By the end, my buddy was living the high life, and I was actually proud that my Urb was finally one of the popular kids.
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I don't know about you, but my idea of a good time does not involve the viewing of a man or woman going to the bathroom. All nude parts are purposely blurred, but even so, it was completely unnecessary.
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The series was solid to begin with and it seems that the developers tinkered with a formula that didn’t need to be changed.
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It's fun if you really enjoyed the Sims and want to play a glitzy, more streamlined version of the game. But some players will probably miss the non-linearity.
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The good is it is a very fun game. The bad is it seems a bit watered down from the original game.
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Official U.S. Playstation MagazineIt's rather like cotton candy - fun if insubstantial, without any redeeming nutritional value. But there are times when cotton candy hits the spot just fine. [Jan 2005, p.102]
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PSM MagazineIt's as addictive and funny as any other Sims game - that's plenty good. [Holiday 2004, p.80]
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The developers totally misunderstood what makes The Sims so appealing. There is little opportunity for creativity (furnishing your apartment is tedious), no drama and a mistaken emphasis on conservative conformity.
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TotalGames.netThe Urbz is simply not fun. At all. Not only are your Urbz's bodily functions hyper-accelerated, but satisfying one of them, naturally to the detriment of another, is too time consuming with animations lasting an uncomfortably long amount of time, especially when you'll be seeing them so often.
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Fun for a while, and the customization is quite compelling at first, but before long the innate repetition, linearity, and ultimate emptiness really begin to grate.
Awards & Rankings
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33
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#33 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004
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User score distribution:
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Positive: 23 out of 31
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Mixed: 5 out of 31
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Negative: 3 out of 31
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EmilyC.Feb 20, 2005This game is so awesome!!! rock on!
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AngelaR.Feb 14, 2005
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AmyJ.Dec 8, 2004Too easy, In the first day I made it to the big house. Is there anything else to do?