Definitely harder than TS4, but that, for me, is part of its charm. Once you get into it and get a feel for how it works things will get easier. There are also in-game aids that help. Always have a burglar alarm by the front door and if possible, have that in a 2x3 or 3x3 room to limit damage until the cops arrive. Fire alarms and sprinklers are a must for stoves and fireplaces. There are aspiration rewards that really help with those work 'chance cards', my favorite being the 'instinct' that gives you an 80% chance of guessing right. The household album is great for telling stories. If you plan on diving deep, the printed guidebooks are gold and still out there. The game is tailor made for rotational play as your sims stay where you left them the prior play session. It takes some planning and care, but this version is great fun! Have been playing TS2 since it came out, have every pack, and it's by far still my favorite.
