The Sims debuted several years ago and was immediately welcomed for it's open-ended gameplay and customization options.  It was like Sim City in a new coat of paint and a clever dash of personality.  The interface was easy to navigate, the game never demanded anything from you, and one could actually relate - at least a tiny bit - to all of the little people in the game.  People who had never touched a computer game in their life were giving it a try, and many ended up absolutely loving it.  Some people hated it, often times for very valid reasons; others were simply indifferent to it as a whole.

The majority, of course, enjoyed the game thoroughly.  This led to the imminent release of not one, not two, not five, but six expansion packs (a seventh is in the works), recreations of the game in full 3D on the Xbox, Playstation 2, and GameCube, and even an online reincarnation.  Those obsessed with the game have been in heaven; those who dislike the game are certainly offended every time a new expansion hits the shelves.

But The Sims Double Deluxe isn't really for those who love the game, nor is it for those who hate it.  It's definitely not going to change your mind about the title, either way.  It consists of the original The Sims, the first two expansion packs, Livin' Large and House Party, and a few extras thrown in for good measure.  This is definitely a great starting point for anyone interested in trying the game out; the original game in its entirety is here in full form, along with a bevy of additions that the expansions provided.

For all six of you have never heard about this game, I'll explain how it works.  You create a family of Sims, complete with different names, clothing, faces, and personality attributes.  Then you pick a piece of property to move this new family onto: you can move into an already-built house, or you may construct your own to your liking.  From here on out, you help out the Sims in living their lives; keeping the house tidy, finding jobs, having healthy relationships with others, and perhaps even a love life.  There's a ton of stuff to do and see here.

Many of the extras that the expansions provide are ways to furnish your home to your liking.  Anyone who's enjoyed The Sims will tell you that building your home is half of the fun.  With a ton of door, window, wallpaper, floor, and fencing options, you could spend hours simply constructing a place to live.  There are dozens upon dozens of different patterns here, and you're bound to find something to suit your needs.

Then there are the things to load your house with: chairs, couches, bookshelves, beds, tables, counters, appliances, stereos, televisions, computers, lights, and so much more are all here by the truckload.  Those categories may cover a fair amount of the items here, but there are so many miscellaneous pieces that you can't help but splurge a little and check 'em out.  Telescopes, grills, exercise equipment, toilets that look a bit like spaceships, and even a work-table at which you can compose small clay gnomes are simply a few of the possibilities off of the top of my head.

Also included in this package is The Sims Creator, which allows you to map your face - or anyone's, for that matter - on to a blank Sim model  If you have a nice quality photo of someone, you need only load it up in the program to begin the process.  It's actually a little tricky to get everything just right; one has to align the image properly, rotate it to the right angle, size it as it needs to be, and make sure the hairline doesn't cross over onto the face or vice-versa.  It's not as hard as it sounds, but it takes a little practice to get good with this program.  You can also create custom clothing for your Sims.  This is done easily by applying textures to the type of clothes you wish to use.  This little program is definitely a nice addition and can spice up your own Sims characters.

Considering that this game is several years old, it doesn't graphically compare to a lot of newer titles coming out.  That said, it still holds up rather well, with smooth animation, sharp graphics, and a clean interface that never gave me any trouble.  The sound isn't bad either.  Sims speak in their bizarre language of gibberish, in which one can't help but laugh occasionally at the weirdness that comes out of their mouths.  Everything is complemented with some really nice piano music; it really makes building and furnishing your house an enjoyable task.

The Sims Double Deluxe is a great investment for those interested in trying out The Sims.  It's the entire game and then some (well, not some - a lot.).  The game holds up well after all these years (the tons of raving fans would seem to confirm this) and each of the expansions add quite a bit of options to an already big game.  The Sims Creator is the greatest little touch.  Still, I can't help but feel a little concerned.  This is already the second "deluxe" edition of The Sims, and while it contains two expansions, there are many more than two expansions available.  I would not be surprised if we see a "Tripe Deluxe" edition in the future.  Nonetheless, you should give it a try if you're interested.  You might just end up liking it. 

Gameplay: 8.0

It's a love-it-or-hate-it game if there ever was one, but millions of supporters can't be wrong, right?  The non-linear gameplay allows you to play the game how you like.  It's not for everyone, but at the very least you should have fun devising your own place to live.

Graphics: 7.0

The graphics hold up well, but they don't really compare to new games of this age.

Sound: 8.5

The sound is very good; the voice acting is nonsensical and funny, and the musical scores are actually quite worthy of turning up your speakers.

Concept: 6.0

The first Sims game was really original in it's time.  Even if it was fundamentally little more than a new-age Sim City, the way you played was up to you, and oftentimes, nothing like any other game out there.  The two expansions aren't exactly mind-blowing, but they add solid support to the game.

Difficulty: Easy

You can play this game however you like - there are very few instances where you're actually forced to do something.  This gives the game a care-free feel and is often quite relaxing.

Overall: 8.0

If you have The Sims in some form or another, there's not a lot of reason to bother with this package.  You can just as easily buy the two expansions for a reasonable price.  This package is for those who want to get into The Sims, and it will suit that need extremely well.  Even with the possibility of a bigger and better compilation in the probably-not-so-far-future, this is a great way to get your feet wet in the universe that is The Sims.