I've always wondered what it feels like to play God. The Sims allows you to control the lives of virtual people that strangely ressemble ourselves in many ways. In a weird way, it reminded me of the childhood days I spent playing with my dolls in their doll house. Now if only my dolls had had this much personality! Sims grumble, laugh, throw tantrums, and basically remind you of the most annoying little kids you've ever met. They don't listen to instructions unless they're in a good mood, and they yell at you when they want to sleep, play, or pee. This is just great!
You design the people and stick 'em in houses you can remodel, then you help your Sims live out their lives. They can get jobs and earn money, which you can then spend on refurbishing their homes in anyway you want. Half the fun is designing the houses. If you have the necessary funds, you can build a palatial mansion for your Sims, complete with balconies and swimming pools. I only wish I could trade in my dorm room for one of these houses!
Graphics and play control are pretty good, but there are a couple of annoying glitches that occur when you order two Sims to the same place at once. I also would've liked facial expressions. The goofy sounds the Sims make to express their feelings are really neat, but the faces never change to reflect how they sound. You hear them laughing, but you never see them smile. Weird.
This is an incredible game. It's creative, fun, and at least as addictive as Roller Coaster Tycoon. I highly recommend this one, even if you typically don't like simulation games. Just be warned--the lives of your Sims may suddenly seem to be more important than your own life.