What saves The Sims from becoming an unmanageable and nightmarish mess is the incredibly intuitive and easy to use interface. Given the immense complexity of the game engine, which takes into account everything from a Sim's star sign to how far they have to walk to get a snack from the fridge while watching TV, it's a wonder that The Sims is so simple to get into and play. The menu bar along the bottom of the screen allows you to get detailed information on your Sims' needs and desires just as easily as it allows you to zoom and rotate your view of their lives.

What really makes The Sims stand out from the previous games in the series is the way in which it overcomes their traditional problems. Perhaps the most significant is that while your basic aim is the same as always - keep your Sims happy - you're not limited to a passive role. In The Sims, while your little people will do their own thing if left to their own devices, you can give them direct commands at any time. If they're hungry, you can get them to make themselves some food, rather than having to wait for them to do it on their own.

The other problem with previous Sim games is that once you've got everything running (or falling to pieces) to your satisfaction, there's little to do other than start again from scratch. In The Sims, though, when you leave one household and take charge of another, the previous one remains in the neighbourhood and its inhabitants carry on with their lives, perhaps becoming friends, enemies or lovers of the Sims in your new house.

The end result is a game that's quite horrifyingly absorbing and addictive. Not only do you quickly find yourself getting caught up in the lives of your digital families, you also find yourself getting rather attached to them. In fact, if you're not careful, their lives can start making a rather large dent in your own as you keep playing just until Bob gets his promotion or Lisa seduces Frank...