The Sims 2 Free Download, released in 2004, is a strategic life simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. As the second major title in The Sims series, it serves as the sequel to The Sims. Initially launched for Microsoft Windows on September 14, 2004, and later for MacOS on June 17, 2005, The Sims 2 gained widespread popularity and success. Over the years, the game received eight expansion packs and nine "stuff packs," with various versions released on consoles, mobile platforms, and the Nokia Ovi Store. A sequel, The Sims 3, followed in June 2009. In line with its predecessor, The Sims 2 enables players to create and customize characters known as "Sims," design neighborhoods, and construct and furnish homes. Players oversee their Sims from birth to death, managing relationships in a manner reflective of real-life dynamics. Sims have life goals, wants, and fears, and the fulfillment of these aspirations can lead to positive or negative outcomes. Notably, The Sims 2 marked a significant advancement by introducing a 3D graphics engine, allowing players a 360º view compared to the fixed 2D isometric view in The Sims. Genetics became a new game mechanic, impacting the appearance of Sims' children. Although the gameplay is non-linear, pre-built neighborhoods incorporate storylines and scripted events. Critically acclaimed, The Sims 2 earned a 90% score from aggregators Metacritic and GameRankings, and it is often considered one of the greatest video games ever made. The game's commercial success was evident as it sold one million copies within its first ten days, setting a record at the time. As of April 2008, The Sims series had sold 100 million copies. By March 2012, The Sims 2 had sold 13 million copies across all platforms, with over six million on PC alone, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling PC games of all time. Gameplay involves choosing a lot to play from the neighborhood view, which can be either residential or community lots, with Sims residing only in residential lots. Community lots allow Sims to purchase items, interact with NPCs, and engage with townies. Players can opt for pre-made inhabited lots, move households into unoccupied pre-built lots, or construct buildings on empty lots. Foundations, a novel feature introduced in The Sims 2, add depth to the gameplay. Players switch between "live" mode to control Sims, "buy" mode for adding, moving, or deleting furniture, and "build" mode for structural changes. While buy and build modes are inaccessible on community lots, the neighborhood view allows building on these lots. Additionally, players can import neighborhood terrains from SimCity 4. The game features time-bound social challenges that provide rewards upon successful completion. Sims can host parties or invite the headmaster for dinner to enroll their children in private school. Expansion packs introduce new mini-games, such as managing a Greek house in University or navigating the challenges of dating in Nightlife. Some expansions bring supernatural characters like Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, PlantSims, and Witches into the game. The Sims 2 continues to be celebrated for its engaging and dynamic simulation gameplay.

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