The Urbz: Sims in the City for GameBoy Advance. A deep dive.

[@PyroScorpio85]

Even almost 20 years since it’s release it still live rent free in my head. And the soundtrack was so good too.

[@ajc94]

The composer has uploaded it all onto KZbin! His name's Ian Stoker

[@prudencesofty]

Me too the urbz is an absolute masterpiece! And yeah we are blessed that Ian stoker uploaded it all to KZbin now I can pretend I’m living in the small brownstone in urbania while I’m doing all my chores 🥺🥺

[@Perpetuallytrying]

Bro absolutely

[@QueAwkwardNoises]

Grandma Hattie “obibibah” impression was sooooo good that broke my brain

[@lildeathwishhh]

I regularly speak in Urb

[@ZerudaChan]

This game is literally my comfort game. I’ve replayed this game at least like 5 times. I actually recently started ripping sprites and maps from the DS version as a way to show my appreciation of the game. It’s nice seeing other people who also grew up with this game and also loved it, truly a hidden gem.

[@CHURCHISAWESUM]

Also my comfort game. Want more games like this

[@patrice6139]

To this day, I still listen to the music from this game. The nostalgia almost makes me want to cry.

[@prudencesofty]

Honestly this game has a special place in my heart I feel the same way! If I could live in any game it’d be in Miniopolis I’ve replayed it so much and it’s never lost it’s charm 🥺and the music is so amazing ! Nostalgia is so powerful 🫶

[@june23]

Because of this game, I'm so cautious about expenses now, every place I go to for the first time feels like an unlocked area with undiscovered quests, and most of all I like collecting people in my life lol but also walk on landmines around them hoping I don't trigger red minus signs above their head

[@manikinfear]

I love this game! 10/10 Gramma Hattie impression by the way.

[@foxxf1r3]

I still replay this game from time to time

[@prudencesofty]

You gotta revisit the classics tho. Aged like a fine wine 🧐

[@tombraiderfan2]

i dont think they understand how perfect they made this game

[@Tylersgman]

Absolutely love this game. One of my favorites of all time. I replay this a few times a year. Just a cozy game.

[@Teufelspentagramm]

I remember getting stuck like forever on the "feed the vampire hillbilly chocolate" quest when I was a kid. There was no online guide I could use, so it took me literally years to figure out, it has to be a special chocolate cake, not a simple one xD

[@LockyTheRocker]

I was about 12 when I went to buy this game at a local store, only because I had played the sims 1 as a kid and understood there was a production relationship between the games I.e. Maxis and EA. So child me took a chance and got it. Needless to say it was far from what I was expecting. I played it up until the end of the Urbania chapter, then I got stuck. I revisited it a couple of months or so later, and boy, the second time hit me like lightning. This game truly immersed me in a culture and differing societies, teaching me about different individuals and their ilk - artists, street/sport/mainstream pop culture, the educated, and the elite/wealthy. Being a musician, this game also taught me so much about musicology, different areas having their different cultural music influence, etc. The soundtrack still floors me today, my favourites being Sim Quarter night and Cemetery (although I absolutely HATED going throught the cemetery as a kid, such an intimidating area and sound). Once when I watched the TV show friends, I saw Pheobe, and thought, "gee Pheobe really reminds me of the Pheobe from the Urbz." Needless to say the Urbz Pheobe was actually inspired by the Friends Pheobe. The same bohemian, nature loving kind hearted soul. It's cool to see how it's impacted you aswell. It doesn't just tell a story in the game - you actually feel like you lived an experience. I often wonder if this game is what maybe parts of New York felt like in the early to mid 2000's - the ghetto hip hop scene, the powerful elites trying to dominate and squash the artists, etc. A truly underrated, powerful and immersive game.

[@prudencesofty]

It’s fascinating to hear about your experience with the game! Thank you so much for sharing ! Oh yes i love both those tracks too ! The different songs at the different times of day/areas is so cool to me! I thought the same too about phoebe hahaha !! I guess it was almost like a social commentary? But thanks again for ur comment it makes me so happy that this game impacted you so much! And it does feel like you lived an experience! It really is a classic I wish there were more games like this. The sims bustin’ out GBA doesn’t quite hit the same.

[@TheRealLostfan78]

This was my favorite GBA game when I was younger and it still is to this day, great video.

[@mandosworld3516]

I grew up with this game and actually just bought a Game Boy Advance of my own this month to play this game and others (: I love everything about this game☺️ The cooking and decorating my house always fascinated me!

[@DrDirtyLeggz]

I've been seeing a bunch of videos of this game in my algorithm pop up recently and I'm just like "finally some recognition for this weird gem of a game!"

[@prudencesofty]

I think everyone decided to play the urbz at the same time and remembered how good it was 🥹 I’m glad to see so many people love this game too !!!!

[@iinkrott]

Playing it again right now on my DS lite. Full body skill before leaving the tower to quickly become a basketball legend haha. Also, while trying to raise my fun meter a while ago, my TV broke 3 times while I tried to watch it, and then I got electrocuted and passed on the last try. Good times!🎉

[@Womza_Art]

really enjoying the long format content, hidden gem of a channel

[@prudencesofty]

Your too kind thank you so much 🥹

[@Rachebart]

The Soundtracks, the charme, the characters, the map and the mysteries everything. I love this game.

[@Retrodan680]

I actually planned on doing a video on this game myself sometime soon. I did one on bustin out for GBA on my channel. I love these games, and I'm glad to see other people have nostalgic memories for these games, too.

[@prudencesofty]

Ahhhh I hope u make an urbz GBA video too! I love it sm ! Just watched ur bustin out vid and given it a like! Makes me so happy to see all the love for this brilliant game !

[@Retrodan680]

@@prudencesofty these games are so awesome. You have definitely motivated me to do it.

[@charizardpose]

Genuinely one of my favourite games ever (alongside Bustin' Out) - Bustin' Out was actually my first sims game ever, I grew up emulating both and theyve always been close to my heart. Love the Grandma Hattie impression and appreciation for Kris' dress :] I've got the micro figures and love them dearly because it's such a silly game to have merch. I definitely recommend giving the DS version a go if you haven't already! It's the same game but with an extra chapter with an extra area and characters, I wish there was more love for the DS exclusive characters, especially Cynthia!

[@prudencesofty]

Awww I love the urbz and bustin out so much !!! Omg no wayyyy !!! you are a proper urbz fan !!! I must join you in having them lil micro figures !! theyre so random!!!! you know what I might do i have never played the ds version and Im proper craving the urbz rn !! maybe ill make a vid about it!! I feel like i could talk about the urbz forever this vid doesnt do it justice ahah!!!!

[@marcosrivero8833]

This game had something for EVERYONE It felt like. It was hip, it was cool, it let you, be you! It was way ahead of its time…

[@Kwillow666]

Wow. I never knew that the PS2 version of Urbz wasn’t like this one at all!! I only ever played the PS2 one, & found it incredibly frustrating because of all the long ass loading screens. I never got very far in the game. 😅 Wish I had it now to revisit tho. Just discovered your channel, keep up the nostalgic Sims videos!

[@froufroudeluxe]

There was no greater feeling to have everyone, even Daddy Bigbucks, in love with you

[@Mon-gm7rk]

i know everything about this game. it molded me too hehe, and coming back to it is just beautiful. the sounds and the beautiful visuals have so much personality. i know every secret, and i know how to play it in one sit just from memory hahah.

[@SpecialInterestShow]

This and Bustin' Out were games I played SO many times as a kid. I loved Bustin Out more at first, but once I learned the ending to BO, I switched to just Urbz. Urbz is so good. And LMAO that impression. Also, the kinda anticapitalist theme of Urbz was something I always found cool. Like, yeah! Fuck this rich dude gentrifying the cities!

[@love4dva]

This is my fav game of all time and it's lovely to see a video like this going into detail about it! It's just so full of life and fun in every aspect from its dialogue, music, design, and story. I really wish EA had continued the series or revisited it at some point, but it does feel like no one has played this game sometimes with how little talk about it there is :( I feel like for 2004 this game had pretty decent representation? Like you're telling me they could put a wheelchair user in a GBA game back then but can't today? Also I remember when playing as a kid I used to print off guides from GameFAQs lmao. Anyways, great video and great to see people talking about this game!!

[@CHURCHISAWESUM]

I want to see one of those videos where they interview the developers of this era of mobile sims games and we get a deep dive into how these things were made. Frankly I'd put in the time and effort to program a spiritual successor if I had info from these guys about how they did it

[@gocrucial]

I played this game 3 times and never got tired of it like 3 years ago. Such underrated masterpiece, i never got to play it in my ds as an kid cuz i thought it was a weird sims x gta Crossover and my mom prohibited me from touching adult games as a kid, i finnally decieded to download bustin out and the sims 2 gba in an emulator cuz thats all my phone could handle (gba games) i downloaded a bunch other gba games too since i was going in a trip to my grandma's house and there was no wifi connection so i had to download offline games to play in the go. I tried sims 2 gba for the laughs and funs cuz the old man from the begginging cutscene made me laugh when i first booted it. Completed the whole game cuz i had nothing better left to do in my grandma's house and oh boy i was HOOKED, i craved for more so i installed bustin out and i loved it then played the sequel (urbz) (BEST Game PEAK) ,thats how i fell to the sims port franchise rabbit hole i 100% completed them all and fell in love with all the characters, i wish EA revisited this concept cuz omg its sm fun and so underrated.

[@prudencesofty]

I’m so sorry your comment was held for review!! But thank you for your comment! It’s so nice to hear your love for these GBA ports and honestly they have such a charm!! The urbz will always have a special place in my heart and I really wish they’d make games like this one again 🫶

[@sxhem5889]

Your video fell onto my recommendation and I loved it !! One thing that I loved doing in the urbz was the mini game in the swamp where you play violin !! I always take out my Nintendo during the summer to play this game, it's for me tue best Sims game !! (Maybe the sims strangetown on the ds too )

[@Bobbiitty]

This game is a 10/10 and I’ve never played anything else like it. 1000% my favorite sims game and it took me too long to find out about the other handheld sims games

[@stev6963]

I loved the Bustin Out and Urbz GBA games when I was a kid! I just recently replayed them through an emulator on my iPhone and it was such an amazing nostalgia trip for me. I can’t believe how genuinely well thought out and executed these games were. The music, the writing, and the graphics are all really impressive for a GBA game. Also, your Gramma Hattie impression made me bust out laughing! I used to say it all the time too because it was such a weirdly creepy thing to hear especially walking around in the game at night. 😂

[@Donteatacowman]

I rediscovered this game as an adult last year and spent like a week playing it on an emulator start-to-finish. I then checked out the other Sims game with Uncle Hayseed etc, which I don't think I had access to as a kid. I'm pretty sure the only GBA games I had were Urbz, Kim Possible, and that godawful dolphin one that had no instructions and a brutally high difficulty level. I still wish I had a Nintendo DS for Nintendogs, which I wanted so bad but had to deal with Dogz/Catz on Mac instead, and at one point tried to see how much it would cost to buy one now... More than it did back then! I may never get to play Nintendogs. An emulator for a pet game just doesn't seem the same if you can do a typo and accidentally vanish your pet away forever.

[@ParaSpikyHyperGoomba]

Me and mum used to play this game when I was a kid! I remember the start vividly but I don’t think we ever got very far in it because the rest doesn’t really ring a bell. Also this channel is like unintentional ASMR??? Your voice is insanely relaxing

[@purplepatch7]

Same! This game molded my best friend and I as 10 year olds. And Sam’s about the hiding under pillow😅

[@Maria-km2pe]

This game rocks, the soundtrack was such a banger

[@prudencesofty]

It really does!! I love the urbz so much !!

[@Hallandoatesmeal]

This brought back such great memories/memories of some parts of the game scaring more and I can’t remember why?

[@DieAlteistwiederda]

I play either the GBA or DS port at least once a year. Such a fun game and the story is just ridiculous and weird but thats also exactly what makes it so fun. I mean there are ghosts and weird genetically modified creatures and so many other colorful people all around. It's amazing how they managed to fit so much life in this kind of game.

[@bluedoom]

This is my favorite game from the franchise, thanks for this video 💙

[@tednelson5574]

LOL'ed at grandma impression holy poop, im unhappy withbyour familys lack of understanding....

[@SpecialInterestShow]

Oh, um, I don't mean to be rude but if I may offer one constructive criticism? Whilst I like your soft voice, I find it hard to hear you over the music. Perhaps lowering the music volume or raising the gain on your mic would help? Just something for future reference. Also, be careful when reccommending people use emulators! Emulating is kinda a legally grey area, so it might be best to be very careful with your wording when reccommending someone play a game on one. It's stupid legal stuff but I am just warning you cause I hope your channel gets more of the attention it deserves and I don't want your to get in trouble with youtube or anything! Otherwise though, I love the video! This game was my childhood!!! I think I beat it at least twice? I love having goals when playing the Sims. When Sims 4 introduced Scenarios, I was so fucking hype!!! Though, it's sad that there's not that many scenarios to play, and not many people have modded in new ones 😭 Have you played the infants update yet? I haven't gotten around to it but I'm hype for it

[@prudencesofty]

Thanks for the tips I do really do appreciate it, i wanna get better at making vids!! I have had a handful of comments about the sound so I’ll make sure to make it louder in my future vids 🫡 and tbh I didn’t even think about that ! I’ll watch my wording in future!!! Thank u tho I’m glad u enjoyed !!! I feel like there’s so much to say about the urbz I love it so much!!! I’m not gonna lie I stopped playing the sims when 3 came out🥹 like I have sims 4 but idk played for 10 hrs the other month and I’ve never touched it since🙃

[@nijunikuro]

I absolutely loved playing the GBA version of Urbz, it was tons of fun. :)

[@Sylphella]

Great video. The urbz was such a fun game and I wish EA would allow a remake of it, along with the previous game (with fixes to the most tedious last chapter parts).

[@woofmute]

this looks so much more engaging than the console versions... i think i had similar formative experiences with sims 2 ds, that version of strangetown and its music have not left my head after all this time.

[@prudencesofty]

It is such a good game and tbh I would definitely recommend it to u !!! I think it suits ur vibe even if it’s just for the music and the city, it’s inspiring! I’ve never played on the console version so I can’t really say but once I’ve played I’ll know for sure ! I’ve just recently played on sims 2 ds for the first time and I love it sm! What a haunting game !!!

[@woofmute]

@@prudencesofty i will get put in the art social category if i play this :(

[@denise_the_economist]

I loved this game and this video is giving me so much nostalgia

[@OctoOil]

Luv the urbz! Great video Prudubz, v well edited! Can't wait to see more this year!

[@OctoOil]

Do one about Trollz game next 🥵

[@prudencesofty]

@@OctoOil not trol🥹🥹 lol thank u oil🥹

[@cll27]

Love both versions ❤

[@prudencesofty]

I will play the urbz console version one day 🥹

[@DieAlteistwiederda]

Same they are different but both fun and I alternate every year which one gets the annual playthrough.

[@GlivGluv]

tha ehbz

[@AndreiFantastic]

I knew something was wrong with me when i was in love with Giuseppe. Heeeeyyyy

[@callmemandyNL]

Loved loved LOVED this game!

[@alexnolasco1339]

I sunk hours and hours on this game as a kid and I am inspired to play this today

[@prudencesofty]

YES PLAY IT NOW!!!

[@mistybeethoven3630]

Purchased a Gameboy advance last week just to play this game again - and bustin out and sims 2! 💪

[@prudencesofty]

Heck yes u legend !!! Have lots of fun 🫶

[@akinamation]

I like the format, really nice video! However one thing I would like to mention, please either turn up your voice audio or turn down the volume of the soundtrack/video material. It's a bit hard to listen to what you're saying when these songs go off

[@prudencesofty]

Aw thank you for the comment and watching my video!! Yeah I’ve had this comment a few times now !! And I’m not making excuses I swear🤪 but this was the first one of these videos I made so Im learning as I go and I think I’ve improved with my latest vids but I’ve still got plenty of room for improvement!! I also had covid when I recorded my audio! I do apologise tho I wanna remake this vid so bad 😭😭but I guess I can look back on my progress lol ! Anyway I appreciate the advice and I will work on this for my next vid 🫶🫶

[@lildeathwishhh]

I have played thru this game at least 6 times over my life so far, currently on my first walkthru of the DS version tho!

[@usernameundefined123]

THAT IMPRESSION😂😂😂😂

[@mojaslatt]

The comedy job minigame was sooo hard

[@prudencesofty]

No way!!!!! It’s my fave!!!! 😱

[@Odelayderado]

I grew up on the gba version but I beat the ds version it’s pretty much the same thing my sister had this game but I’d always steal it from her and play it I had sims 2 and busting out but this was the best version

[@oilblivion]

Underrated video tho 🥲

[@krisrunedelta]

*Referring to Kris Thistle* "Lesbian icon" YOU SEE, I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO THOUGHT THAT!!!

[@carsoncusa9122]

This game’s OST is the best ever

[@prudencesofty]

RIGHT!?!? I have sm love for the urbz 🥹

[@MyratheDunmer]

Legendary game!

[@SpecialInterestShow]

There was a DS version!? How did I not know that!? I had the Urbz for the Playstation 2 as well, and I didn't like it nearly as much as the GBA one. Urbz was pretty much an entirely different game in PS2, as far as I remember?

[@prudencesofty]

RIGHT?!? Theres like a few more goals, more characters and mini games I think ? but it’s pretty much the exact same as the GBA version! I really wanna play the ps2/GameCube version some time!!!

[@TheFloodFourm]

I remember me and my two brothers all shared a save and we still couldn’t beat the game.

[@CYB3RNYMPH]

omg i need to find my ds and play this.

[@elmasteryu]

I love your voice

[@prudencesofty]

Awww thanks 🥹

[@ControversyCaution]

Hearing Urbz in a scouse accent is wild 😂

[@lucasrenz3984]

Thank you for the video but the audio when you're speaking isnt very clear, almost muffled, not sure if thats because you speak with a low voice or just the quality of recording equipment.

[@prudencesofty]

thanks for the comment this video was the first one i made, its over a year old now i also had covid when recording, id like to think ive improved after a year of making these vids as i used to receive this comment all the time but now not so much

[@lucasrenz3984]

@@prudencesofty ohh i see thats good to know, hope your channel is doing good, do you know if the sims came out with any more games after the urbz that was same gamestyle? I really adored this game style, im not a big fan of traditional sims that is whats popular now adays.. i also liked the sims 2 hotel strangetown gamestyle but the urbz was by far the best style of any sims game in my opinion.. I noticed you made a video about a prequel and ill be buying that for sure, and there was a few others in another video of yours that had similar game style too, id love the info thank you!

[@prudencesofty]

the stuff that is in the urbz kinda style is bustin out that u mentioned ur gonna buy, and the sims 2 for GBA its not the best game imo but is defo worth a play!!! the Urbz has a DS version too which has an extra chapter that id HIGHLY recommend just because that extra chapter is completely bonkers!! oh yeah sims 2 ds is great too!! I really dont enjoy the main series either defo enjoy these spinoffs a lot more too and the urbz is my absolute favourite!!! i love a good story!!! but i know they arent in a similar style to the urbz but imo the urbz for console is very good and so is the sims 2 for PSP!!! but whatever you do dont play the sims 2 pets GBA awful game!! glad to hear you love the urbz it was such a cool game i wish they had made more!!!

[@lucasrenz3984]

@@prudencesofty hahaha yeah i saw you trashed talked sims pets in a video made me laugh cause i agree, but then again most pet games are crap.. only pou on mobile was a decent pet game ever made, and yeah by "buy" i mean yk what hehe, i have the 3ds now so ive got the games on there, and yes the sims 2 gba i saw that in one of your videos, fucking perfect!!!! literally a combination of both my favorite sims games! Its hard to believe its not a good game though.. I never played the urbz on console I played it on the DS originally, what is the extra story that youre referring to? I hope it didnt require all the fan club entries as i only had access to 2 i think., the time travel at the end was amazing, i kept thinking to myself damn this farm could be another game, little did i know it was a prequel..

[@la912]

What are the differences between the DS and the GBA versions?

[@nattycatmeow]

Prudence covered it in the newest vid but basically ds has way more content for postgame (a new island w new mini game & locations, new storyline mission, new objects)

[@Sora_Beats]

You completely ignored the DNA Splice part, which for ME was the most interesting part of the game!

[@prudencesofty]

Yo I’ve never played the urbz ds game this vid is about ONLY about the GBA version which is why idek what dna splice thing is lol! Cos like until I made this vid I wasn’t even aware of splicer island or additional goals and mini games in the ds version. IVE BEEN ROBBED OF THE EXPERIENCE. But I’m gonna play it soon any excuse to play the urbz am I right

[@aayutube2907]

hi where u from?

[@mollykinyon5537]

kris thistle IS a lesbian icon

[@sydbsays]

your videos are so well done and nostalgic! 🥹 love the channel. i had the urbz on DS and on gamecube. I consider the game cube version to be one of the best games of my childhood