At a glance...

Reviewer	Platform	Publisher	Developer	Players	Screenshots
Matt Bailey	PC	Deep Silver	Rotobee	1	Here
Requirements					Buy from Amazon.co.uk
1.5GHz Processor, Windows ME/2000/XP, 256MB RAM, 32MB video card, DirectX 9.0c, 1GB HDD space, 16bit sound card					Click here to buy Singles 2: Triple Trouble.

Singles 2: Triple Trouble review

Please Note: This title is an 18-rated game, and thus the content of this review (including screenshots) may not be suitable for children.

The success of The Sims has led to two expected conclusions: Lots more Sims titles from EA, and lots of Sims clones from everyone else. One such game was Deep Silver's Singles: Flirt Up Your Life. While it wasn't a direct rival, it was certainly using the same style, combining it with the components of a romance simulator to produce a game which certainly wasn't aimed at the teen market; unlike like EA's. While not particularly well received by the media, it has received the sequel we see here.

So does the 18-rated game offer much more than its predecessor? Well, not really. Yes, there are new characters, stories, locations, and a few new features, but these hardly constitute a sequel; Singles 2 clearly feels more like an add-on pack.

So, like before, the aim of the game is to get your character (either member of the recently split couple of Josh and Anna) to build relationships, with Sims-style meters telling you how things are progressing. You have to use gossip, jokes, and giving gifts in order to impress your partner and continue on to the things discussed later. Like the Maxis game, relationships aren't the only thing you need to manage - you also need to make sure your character is fed, sleeps, and is kept entertained (and that doesn't just mean in a sexual way).

The main gameplay in Singles 2 works well until the minor bugs start to mount up. For example, dishes are not only left behind after meals by your character, but the others in your apartment too. This means you have to manually initiate the washing up procedure for all the characters all the time, otherwise the hygiene rating decreases and your character will become depressed, making many actions much more difficult to achieve. It's one of those small issues which isn't a problem initially but can get annoying over time.

An important point to note is that in between the release of the original and the sequel, EA have served up the excellent The Sims 2. While the original Singles had the advantage of a detailed, fully 3D engine, Singles 2 suffers from being behind new version which offers more detail, and more impressive lighting and texturing than it's own engine. That's not to say that Rotobee's game looks ugly, but that as it hasn't moved on from it's original nearly as much as Maxis' game has, its detail and animation now count for a lot less. While graphics aren't all important, it's still a reason to purchase that has been lost.

There are some important differences to note between the two life simulators. Firstly, Singles 2 focuses all control on the one character you choose at the start of game (the choice mentioned earlier). This means you have a much more limited control than the families of The Sims 2, but it makes sense because otherwise you wouldn't need to play properly, you could just control the character you're trying to build a relationship with at the same time. Of course, that limiting factor is something which will become more noticeable over time, but it depends whether you prefer the focus of one adult, compared to the more fractured family control.

Another key difference is that the game actually has a story. Unlike the completely free-roaming nature of The Sims titles, Singles 2 uses a story mode, complete with dialogue (which, despite the English text, is spoken in non-language-specific murmuring) to guide you through the aforementioned aim. Though this is a good idea, the stories are ultimately too short and not interesting enough to make this an enjoyable element of the game, and this you will probably end up having more fun in the game's sandbox mode (which actually allows you to control all three characters present). And of course, another key difference in the two title is the relationships. As mentioned before, there are a variety of options to impress the opposite sex - which is just like The Sims. However, here you can go beyond the odd kiss and head to the bedroom. It's something which is left out of the Maxis game for obvious reasons, but for those who are interested, there is simulated sexual intercourse (both the heterosexual and homosexual kinds) present.

This review is based on the version 1.2 patch available from the game's official website

Ratings

Graphics	The 3D graphics engine provides a good level of detail, and the lighting works well (particularly in the transition to night), but it has hardly moved on from the original game, and now lags behind The Sims 2.	7/10
Gameplay	The mechanics work well, with some slightly annoying bugs, but the game can often feel too limited, and ultimately is only going to offer fun to a certain group of people.	6/10
Value	It's cheaper than EA's title, but considering the limitations, you get better value for money with The Sims 2.	6/10
Lifespan	The story mode is rather short, and aside from the sandbox mode, there's not a lot to keep you playing.	6/10
Audio	Sounds seems competent, though it is a pity they didn't use proper voice acting for the characters in the story mode.	7/10
Overall	Not a bad title, but unless you're desperate to make virtual characters have sexual intercourse, then there isn't really a reason to purchase this above The Sims 2.	6/10

Click here to buy Singles 2: Triple Trouble from Amazon.co.uk.

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