| Game Reviews From a Parental Perspective! | |
|
|
|
| Home | Forums | Review Archive | Columns | Feature Articles |
|
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: Singles: Flirt Up Your Life
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us Scroll down for our Kid Factor. 
Imagine youﾒre clicking around with ﾓThe Sims,ﾔ enjoying yet another quiet, clean evening at home. But this time, after your virtual housemates clean the dishes and watch some television, they march arm-in-arm to the bedroom, disrobe and jump under the sheets to do the deed.This is what players can expect from the racy ﾓSingles: Flirt Up Your Life,ﾔ a download-only European import published by Eidos Interactive. While not as deep or well-rounded as ﾓThe Simsﾔ -- a game ﾓSinglesﾔ draws heavily from in both its visual style and game-play mechanics -- this mature title is fun for those looking for an eyebrow-raising interactive experience. Hey, it certainly beats yet another violent shoot-em-up, no? Players first select from one of ten men and women -- each with their own unique personality, job skills and physical appearance -- who must move in together and, with your help, work their way up from strangers to acquaintances to friends to lovers. Lisa, for example, is a bookish freelance photographer who prefers to wear jeans and a t-shirt over sexy ensembles, so it may take some patience for her to attract the attention of Nicolas, a disturbed, tattooed musician who resembles rocker, Trent Reznor.  While there is some variety between these singles, including an optional gay man and woman, all are Caucasian, which is disappointing given the cultural and racial diversity of gamers today. Along with decorating the inside and outside of the house with purchased items (furniture, artwork, plants for the garden, etc.), managing the singlesﾒ needs (such as hygiene, hunger and comfort) and advancing in their careers to increase salary, much of the game-play revolves around developing the relationship by selecting from varied dialogue balloons and performing actions and, eventually, getting down to the buff. It should be noted there is full frontal nudity in the game. This is a curious goal for a computer game indeed ﾖ especially on this side of the pond where violence in entertainment seems to be tolerated more than sexuality -- but it is peculiarly fun to watch your singles flirt, joke and bond over time, before reaching the, er, climax of the game. And no, there isnﾒt much graphic detail once the lovemaking begins. That said, the highly detailed 3-D graphics and intuitive free-roaming camera are two of the gameﾒs greatest achievements. Music is upbeat and catchy. Because the game-play doesnﾒt change from one couple to another, and because there arenﾒt too many objects in the game to add onto the house, ﾓSinglesﾔ grows repetitive after a while. The game also suffers from technical problems, including long load times and poor performance on some ATI video cards. Kid Factor: Players intrigued by this adult premise can download the game for free. The first hour is free, and then players are asked to provide a credit card to unlock the rest of the game (no, you canﾒt have sex in the first hour). The game is rated ﾓAOﾔ (Adults Only) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, therefore it is not suitable for players under 18 years of age. "Offensive stuff" includes nudity, sex, and bad taste. Seriously, you don't have to be a prude to know this one isn't for the kids. I mean, even if you're one of those: "Tsk! We are far too afraid of sex in this country! I would rather have junior play Doom3 than a sexy game like Singles" you're still going to have to agree that there's nothing healthy about robotic relationships and crudely simulated sexual encounters. And if you are a prude, why did you read this far? You don't need my help! Now quick, check your hard drive to see if your kids already downloaded the demo. Kids are pretty smart, you know. Kid Factor by GamerDad Reviewer's recommended Ages: 18+ GamerDad's recommended Ages: 18+ (but mentally, roughly, 12) Platform: PC Genre: Simulation Developer: Rotobee Publisher: Eidos Interactive Web Site: www.singles-thegame.com Price: $29.99 Rating: AO Adults Only Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Singles: Flirt Up Your Life |
Read the GamerDad 2007 Holiday Guide!
|
Please Note: GamerDad is not intended to be read by anyone under 18. We stay clean, but be warned! Content Management System developed by Redbird Solutions. |
