The Sims 2: FreeTime
by Electronic Arts
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List Price: Category: Video Games See more product details |
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Video Game Reviews of The Sims 2: FreeTime
Customer Review: Not as expected.
Summary: 3 Stars
Hi. I am an avid sims player. I have LOVED the sims since they first came out with the orginal game. I have most of all the expanisions and thought this one would add so much to the game itself.
When I purchased the game after reading the review I truly thought this would put so much dimension in the game and give them so much more to do as I play. Well, this was NOTHING like I expected. I believe I did set my standards to high based on the other expasions I have received for the sims.
First, this game Sims Freetime can get very annoyng. Every single time your sim picks up a new hobbie and advances with it, there is a telephone call from the "hobbie master", I like to call them. So if you have numerous sims in a house advancing in their chosen hobbie, then the phone will ring off the hook even in the early AM. Another thing I do not like about this game, is that it takes so much time for your sim to get going. Before the time would fly, for whatever reason its like time has slowed down with this expansion. As they do more hobbies, they need more replenishing as well.
I would only recommend this game to someone who likes to spend lots and lots of time with their sims game. Not an occasional simmer. If you want a fast paced game, dont bother buying this expansion... wait for the bathroom expansion, I think atleast that one would be worth buying and not slow down the game as much.
Customer Review: Sims 2 Free time: A nice final touch
Summary: 4 Stars
For those wishing to buy Sims 2 Free time, then I'll say this: Get this addition to this Sims World mostly if you're already a big fan. If you're still new to the game, then purchase the previous adds like Open For Business or University. Free Time brings to the Sims more distraction and the characters has a lot new range of actions. At the same time, those new hobbies aren't exactly important to the game itself. It is exactly what it is, an add-on.
A thing that I found interesting, however, is that toddlers now have more possibilities. True, not a lot more, but still.
Customer Review: The Sims Rocks! Time flies when your having fun!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a true Sims lover! I have all of the expansion packs, and I am always dying to hurry up and buy the newest one! The Freetime is fun! I love that your Sim can now restore a car, Play the violin, bug hunt, birdwatch and go jogging! It really lets you be more creative in designing your sims world! I would highly reccomend this expansion pack! Heck get them all! It is a nice way to relax and unwind after a long day!Customer Review: Lots of fun for Sims2 fans
Summary: 5 Stars
I've enjoyed Freetime for Sims2. It's nice to actually have activities and hobbies for all ages to enjoy and a secret neighborhood full of hobby lots. There are activities and hobbies for everyone - sports, sewing, pottery, car repair, ballet, violin, family games, even fun things for toddlers.
I like the new beach lots with crashing waves for my beach houses - Sims can dig for shells, build sand castles or go for a swim.
It's lots of fun for Sims2 fans.
Customer Review: Fun Freetime Activities - and Sim telemarketers
Summary: 3 Stars
Freetime, like all of the previous Expansion Packs (EPs) adds new and interesting functionality to The Sims 2. Sims as young as toddlers can stumble upon an activity that they find particularly appealing and get additional fun and perks while engaged in it.
Hobbies include science, nature, music, cuisine, tinkering, sports and fitness. Now considering the different activities and career paths that were already present, these add many new possibilities for finding a fulfilling lifetime of fun for your Sims.
New careers have also been added, new objects, such as the restorable car, the basketball and soccer nets, and new functionality to old objects like the newspaper and computer and career 'chance' cards that allow your Sim to take part in and share their love for their hobbies and gain enthusiasm.
Your sims can now pick their hobbies as a topic of conversation, and impart knowledge to other sims for relationship building and enthusiasm gain.
Sims also gain lifetime aspiration points for milestones that take place in their lives. Starting with toddlers who get points for learning the three primary growth skills of their age group (walking, talking and potty training), your sims will gain points to put towards perks such as a secondary aspiration, slower need decay, better luck at chance cards, the ability to make three way calls and give financial advice for cash, and much more. Of particular use is the ability to make Grandma's comfort soup, which drastically shortens the time your sims have the flu.
But, there is something annoying that happens once you install Freetime: Spam. Your Sims are spammed at every turn by the game announcing via a pop-up that a particular sim has gained or lost enthusiasm for one hobby or another. Once you get to higher levels, the spam increases, with your sims getting incessant phone calls from various hobby clubs and sims offering magazine subscriptions related to your sims hobbies.
Eventually, the NPC sims just barge in to your sims homes and give them membership cards to the new secret hobby lots of their interest area. There they can share their hobbies with other like minded sims and compete in contests for simoleons and build enthusiam even more.
The spam starts to encroach on your enjoyment of the game, as the phone ringing is not likely to be a buddy any more, but a hobby club telling your sim about their enthusiasm level. It makes you wish for Sim caller ID or phone screening. Even if you cancel the action of your sim answering the call, you still get a pop up about it. And if you have a full house of sims, it gets maddening, pop-ups filling the entire right side of the screen.
So, great EP if you can overlook your sims getting spammed to death. If simulated telemarketing reminds you too much of telemarketing in real life that prompted you to put every phone number you have on the National Do Not Call List, maybe this EP will get on your nerves.
(Supposedly, there is a user-authored mod that reduces in-game spam, but I haven't tried it yet. I'll update after I give it a go)
EDIT: I downloaded a user-authored mod that cuts the spam down to a reasonable amount. It's still more than I'd like. And Mr. Humble, wherever you are - I think it stinks that this EP has made the game so annoying. Does anyone there market test your stuff with real players? It seems like it never was, other wise you'd know how annoying this EP was.