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Sims 2 Nightlife, The

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8.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 31 critic reviews
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Based on 42 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Maxis

Genre(s): Simulation, Strategy

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: September 13, 2005

Summary

The Sims 2 Nightlife takes Sims into the night to explore all of their favorite after-dark activities. Players can either head out and discover their love lives or have a crazy night out with friends. With the new dating gameplay, players will see if their Sims have chemistry with others which will determine their romantic fate. The newest addition to the game includes the brand new pleasure seeker aspiration allowing players to explore a life filled with unforgettable dates, endless nights of dancing and fine dining. Make your Sims nightlife fantasy a reality with over 125 new objects including a DJ booth, poker table and all you need to design the ultimate nightclub and VIP lounge. [Electronic Arts]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: The Sims 2 The Sims 2 University

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: GameSpy Preview Official Game Site

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Game Chronicles

Dating is another significant aspect of play added to The Sims 2, and it certainly throws in an element of challenge and intrigue to the base game.

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Armchair Empire

If dating is your game and "partying" is your middle name, then dance on downtown with Nightlife, where the nighttime is the right time for loving and partying hearty all night until the sun rises in the morning.

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Gamers' Temple

There aren’t any big enough changes in Nightlife to change your mind about the game if you’re not a The Sims 2 fan to begin with, and certain issues such as long load times still persist in the game. However, if you’re looking to add some fun to your sims’ lives, Nightlife fits the bill quite nicely.

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Pelit (Finland)

A nice romance and party oriented add-on for The Sims 2. Does not add to the basic concept as much as University did, but at least it gives a lot of new things to do with your little computer people. [Sept. 05]

My Gamer

The good news is that it has an abundance of new features that, rather than taking over the basic goals, instead complements them. It's an expansion that actually expands on the core game, so if you're getting a little bored with the basic package it's a good bet.

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2404.org

This is as replayable as it gets. Nightlife--as is the Sims 2--is completely open-ended.

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IGN

Nightlife is certainly worth the money if you're the kind of player that loves the social aspect more than the house aspect of the game, but it's doesn't seem as dense an addition as "University" was.

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GameSpy

Unlike Sims 2 "University," which added a whole new age, new careers, and new ways to radically change your Sims, Nightlife doesn't change Sims 2 with any bold strokes. Still, just about every feature added in the expansion works and works well, enhancing if not revolutionizing the game.

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GameSpot

The expansion adds a few things that help make the game seem more goal-oriented and a few things that are just plain weird--but it does have some neat new tricks to keep fans of The Sims interested.

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Yahoo! Games

Nightlife makes a challenging game more challenging and an amusing game all the more amusing.

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Times Online

There are countless appealing touches about the 100 or so additions here, such as the chance to take pictures that you can then hang up at home. Absorbing fun.

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AceGamez

Possibly the best feature of Nightlife is its integration with University.

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PC Gameworld

The numerous entertainment options in the downtown area are a real treat, as are the new items and activities.

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Computer Gaming World

Wisely focuses on humankind's hedonistic tendencies, with less emphasis on acquisition and more on enjoying life outside the house.

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G4 TV

Unlike "University," which takes you completely out of the Sim’s home environment for long stretches of time, Nightlife is expertly integrated into the core game.

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PC Format

Exactly what you'd expect, and full of good ideas. [Nov 2005, p.92]

PC Gamer

Enough new features to keep Sims 2 fans sated 'till the next expansion. [Dec 2005, p.84]

RealGamer

It doesn’t offer as much input into the game as university does but its still worth having and adds a load of new features to stretch the games fun-life out that little bit further!

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Worth Playing

A solid expansion, although I really wouldn't call it a must-have because it's a little light on content for its price tag.

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Game Informer

Reverts back to the old formula, taking the existing mechanics and just adding a few new bells, whistles, and (inexplicably) the chance to become a day-fearing vampire. [Oct 2005, p.148]

1UP

It's a lot of work for flashes of scandalous fun, and not as much reward in the long run. Neither the new Aspiration nor the dating mini-game brings very much to the gameplay, and that's the crux of the problem.

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Boomtown

If you can get past the technical glitches, or somehow manage to avoid them, then Sims 2 Nightlife is a fine addition to the growing Sims 2 franchise.

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GamePro

"Minor" would be the best way to describe the changes in Nightlife, and only fans will likely lay hands on this copy. Hopefully the career-based third expansion will be Sim Revolution we've all been waiting for.

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Game Revolution

Whereas University added a new age group, new careers and the ability to influence others, Nightlife simply enhances the social interactions that were already there by fleshing out the Attraction system and making it more user-controlled.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

A funny, worthwhile and well made expansion, but let down by slow loading times. Until Sims technology changes in a fundamental way, Nightlife is going to leave all too many home on a Saturday night.

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Eurogamer

Problem is, with the lengthy time it takes to move between any location in the Sims 2 - especially if you're only going to be there for the few minutes a date takes up - is particularly taxing.

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Gamer 2.0

Nightlife looks much the same as before, sounds much the same, and plays much the same. On this front, we’d rather spend a night in with the original than shell out the money for this second expansion.

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GamerFeed

This is really more for people who might be looking for a different way to play The Sims 2 rather than simply adding to existing gameplay.

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Loaded Inc

Even though Nightlife fits seamlessly into the Sims universe it just doesn’t seem like sufficient extra content has been included in the expansion. It feels as though Nightlife is more about expanding on what you already have instead of giving you more to work with.

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Computer Games Magazine

Nightlife merely gives you new places to do the same old thing. [Dec p.62]

Computer and Video Games

There's no real added depth to the original gameplay, and behind the complex conversation options you'll find the same game you were playing before you installed the expansion. Except with more bowling. [PC Zone]

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 42 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Haley K. gave it a10:
This is the BEST game ever. Do not deny it, you know it is... So awesome, and the person you aren't playing on can actually propose to you!

Ben J. gave it a10:
I think it is excellent because you can finaly drive cars go to bowling alleys nightclubs and restaraunts.

Alexandra L. gave it a10:
this is the best game ever because it shoes the true nature of people!

Karina G. gave it a10:
This game is like total awsome today i am going to buy it and i know that im not going to stop playing, im already in love with it even though i havent played it i know it's an awsome game.

Karen T. gave it a10:
Excellent game! I have been hooked on the Sims since the first game. They keep getting better an are never boring. The game is what you make it! I look forward to each new expansion.

Kavveen gave it a7:
I just love the sims 2 and this is even better but you dont get to do it hardcore do you?

Jazz L. gave it a10:
This game is simply excellent! What can I say, I mean cars, dates and too many new clothes and objects to choose from. The cars mean that you can match your aspiration to your car. For example, a family sim gets the minivan and the sporty sim gets the sports porsche etc... One of the coolest parts is the new turn on and turn off option in Create-A-Sim. You can choose what attracts your sim to another and what repels them, fantastic! Definitely more worth while than Uni, purely because of the fact that Uni had to move you to another place entirely and lasted around 3 or less days of game play after waiting forever to play with it. Night Life on the other hand is something that you can use throughout the whole game, as long as you don't kill off all of the adult sims. Worth the money, certainly. 5 stars and 10 outta 10. Jazz xx

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Sims 2 Nightlife, The

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