Jones in the Fast Lane is a really fun game.
I am an avid fan of games that simulate life. I really like the graphics, especially the realistic way the characters look. I like the look of the different apartments the player can live in, from the dilapidated poverty-stricken first home to the most expensive one with a modern and chic look.
One thing that has always bugged me about this game is that the mascot never actually appears while you are playing the game.
You only see him on the title screen and such. I would have liked this mascot, who I presume is named Jones, to make a cameo appearance in the game at the very least.
The music is quite catchy. There are many humorous little things in the game, such as the comments made by the non-playable characters. For example, the fast food worker would say "Would you like some Thousand Isla.... I mean secret sauce with that?" and the grocer would say "No tipping, please!" The landlord will garnish the player's wage if he or she fails to pay the rent, which can make the game quite difficult. You may have to buy different clothes depending on what kind
of job you get as you move up the career later. If you show up to work in your default casual clothes, your employer may say "You are not properly dressed for work!" and then you will not be able to work until you manage to get yourself properly dressed for work. That is another thing that makes the game a bit more challenging.
I think that the player should get more of a reward for finishing first, such as a nice animation or screen of the player enjoying their new-found success.
I have played this game extensively when I was a child, and I would play against my family members. It was a favorite game of mine back then, and a precursor to the newer life simulation games I would later become obsessed with, namely The Sims. This is a great, fun way to pass the time. It is unique as one of the few life simulation PC games of its time, and it provides a great standard for the genre I greatly enjoy.
I would strongly recommend this game for everyone of all ages, and it is great that it can be played alone or with a friend, living large and in the fast lane!
