Big part of my childhood and I recently played it again. As a kid I never made it through the whole game, I just socialized with everyone, listened to the music at the club, kept my needs up, and played a bunch of mini games. I was very content playing it as a kid even though I didn't really do much. I'm 19 now and I'm playing it properly. I'm about 3/4ths done with the game and I really like it. My favorite part is the aesthetic and music. It has a certain charm to it/ Instead of the protagonist being silent and agreeable, they're snarky and sarcastic. I always enjoyed the simple dialogue mechanic. I love the rep groups too. The characters are a great balance between mature and clean. They're not sugar coated or dumbed down but they don't mention anything that would be inappropriate to kids.
I do have a couple complaints. I don't know how the story is for the other versions, but in the GBA version, there doesn't seem to be a strong driving force for the story. I feel like Daddy Bigbucks could have been portrayed as more menacing instead of just a guy with a lot of money.
The pets are very glitchy. The cat I bought was brown, but it showed up orange when I placed her in the world. My cat has ONE sound effect that plays loudly every second. Sometimes the meows play over each other. I would just leave her at home, but as soon as I tell her to stay she begs to go on a walk, and the blinking need bubble doesn't go away. Doesn't matter how much I pet her or walk her, her social need never goes up.
There's one mission where you have to write a letter to get running to be legal again and until then you have to walk (very slow) until it's legal again, less you go to jail. I feel like this could have been done differently in a less obnoxious way.
Despite all my complaints, it's a very good game and highly entertaining. The music is very nice and I can't get enough of it. So much nostalgia.
4 Reviews
alternative to Sims
AvionPrince1630 December 2021
It's only OK (Review for Nintendo DS version)
patrick_dunne2 February 2006
I was expecting one of the computer versions using the touch screen when I picked up "Urbz: Sims in the City." This is WAY different then those versions.
You start off as your own made-up character in the hip-hop city of... I forgot the name. Anyways, what you do is live the daily life, while completing missions. I'll get to that later.
So, when you really get started in the game, (and get past all that tutorial stuff in the beginning) you make your "crib" or house. It's a good move to place certain objects in your house such as beds, toilets and whatever else there is, because you have to tend to your character... a lot. You must make sure that they don't get too hungry, tired, etc.
Of course, you want your person to have a social life. So, you can talk to random people you meet. However, conversations just consist of pressing the right options. For example, some people like to talk about sports, and not about shopping.
The second screen is used to a minimum potential. It serves as a touch-screen menu, but who needs one? I think that you can the same menu on the other consoles, except you press "pause" to access it. I'm not so sure.
Your missions must be completed to move into the next area. Usually they consist of doing things like bringing people food, being somewhere on a certain time, buying a certain object. Then you move onto the next area.
The next area just has more missions to compete and more people to talk to.
The game eventually gets dull. I mean, who wants to deliver pizza for a game? Your main tasks in the game will mostly be attending to your person's everyday needs, and talking to people, which means pressing the correct options over and over. The shopping is basic. You buy a microwave. When you move to the next area, you buy a better microwave that fills your hunger meter more.
Soon, the game gets tiresome, and you just want to play something else. It might be good for a rent, but not much else.
Good: Some fun elements such as decorating your house
Bad: Missions are pretty boring, mini games are boring too, game is a bit repetitive
Feel free to send me a Private Message regarding this comment.
You start off as your own made-up character in the hip-hop city of... I forgot the name. Anyways, what you do is live the daily life, while completing missions. I'll get to that later.
So, when you really get started in the game, (and get past all that tutorial stuff in the beginning) you make your "crib" or house. It's a good move to place certain objects in your house such as beds, toilets and whatever else there is, because you have to tend to your character... a lot. You must make sure that they don't get too hungry, tired, etc.
Of course, you want your person to have a social life. So, you can talk to random people you meet. However, conversations just consist of pressing the right options. For example, some people like to talk about sports, and not about shopping.
The second screen is used to a minimum potential. It serves as a touch-screen menu, but who needs one? I think that you can the same menu on the other consoles, except you press "pause" to access it. I'm not so sure.
Your missions must be completed to move into the next area. Usually they consist of doing things like bringing people food, being somewhere on a certain time, buying a certain object. Then you move onto the next area.
The next area just has more missions to compete and more people to talk to.
The game eventually gets dull. I mean, who wants to deliver pizza for a game? Your main tasks in the game will mostly be attending to your person's everyday needs, and talking to people, which means pressing the correct options over and over. The shopping is basic. You buy a microwave. When you move to the next area, you buy a better microwave that fills your hunger meter more.
Soon, the game gets tiresome, and you just want to play something else. It might be good for a rent, but not much else.
Good: Some fun elements such as decorating your house
Bad: Missions are pretty boring, mini games are boring too, game is a bit repetitive
Feel free to send me a Private Message regarding this comment.
The URBZ: Sims in the City PS2
thebeautiful725 May 2008
Amazing game. I don't know about the DS version of this game, I mean I have seen screenshots of the DS' Urbz Sims in the city, and it looked like a complete joke, maybe it caters to kids between 5 and 10yrs.
If you are going to buy this game, get the ps2 version.
I loved this game much better than any other Sim game, Busting out is definitely my second favorite. When EA released the Sims 2 after the Urbz, I definitely thought they went five steps backwards, in terms of music, fashion, interior design, cosmetics and hair styles.
The Urbz really caters for the gamers who are from a cosmopolitan city, and who enjoy fashion and understand culture. It makes you feel as though you are in fashionable New York, meeting people, working to buy a nicer apartment, furniture, and of course stylish clothes. The Sims 2 fashion is like those people who live in Kansas, Kentucky or the South. No offence to anyone, but the games designs go backwards, not forwards. I hope The Sims 3 is much better.
Anyways, I really loved and enjoyed playing this game, I have played it over fifteen times, just for the experience, and for designing my apartments. Although, I must say I do wish we had more apartments to design, as you only get 3. I also really pray for a bigger sequel to the Urbz, that would be the BEST EVER!!
If you are going to buy this game, get the ps2 version.
I loved this game much better than any other Sim game, Busting out is definitely my second favorite. When EA released the Sims 2 after the Urbz, I definitely thought they went five steps backwards, in terms of music, fashion, interior design, cosmetics and hair styles.
The Urbz really caters for the gamers who are from a cosmopolitan city, and who enjoy fashion and understand culture. It makes you feel as though you are in fashionable New York, meeting people, working to buy a nicer apartment, furniture, and of course stylish clothes. The Sims 2 fashion is like those people who live in Kansas, Kentucky or the South. No offence to anyone, but the games designs go backwards, not forwards. I hope The Sims 3 is much better.
Anyways, I really loved and enjoyed playing this game, I have played it over fifteen times, just for the experience, and for designing my apartments. Although, I must say I do wish we had more apartments to design, as you only get 3. I also really pray for a bigger sequel to the Urbz, that would be the BEST EVER!!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
