Product Reviews

It was only a matter of time before a games company brought out a variation on The Sims that took social interaction to its logical conclusion. Yes, you can now choose your own flatmates, help them to feel at home - and then start manoeuvring towards a romantic liaison.

If you manage to whisper enough sweet nothings, inject a little humour, do some housework and choose the right gifts, then you might achieve the ultimate goal - luring the object of your desire into bed.

Regular Sims players will recognise the style of play - the action takes place in an 'exploded' view of a flat. You're offered a range of characters, from bespectacled nerd to Latin lothario, and rich bitch to grunge chick. There's even a 'Pink' mode, in which you can explore same-sex relationships.

Your flat comes ready-furnished, but

Once your couple's relationship starts humming, more options become available. Eventually, you'll find a full-blown romance under way. Yes, you will see them completely naked in the shower and walking round the flat, but the actual sex will still be covered up by a sheet. And there'll be no exhibitionism, either. If you're intent having your couple naked for any length of time, they'll get embarrassed and rush off to put on their clothes.

The best feature of the game is undoubtedly the graphics, which are extremely detailed even at full zoom. The music, though, is very repetitive and soon becomes irritating. What you do miss most in this game, however, is the sense of scale - apart from a bonus level in which you get to visit a beach house, you are totally confined to the one location and there are no other characters to interact with. All of these issues will have to be addressed if any sequels are planned, otherwise this might well turn out to be a one-joke game.