Forum Discussion

vatoresim's avatar
3 years ago

Played the Sims 2 for the first time, shocked at how hard it is

I played TS3 during it’s time, but I cheated every aspect of the game so I’m not comparing difficulty. I’ve played TS4 since release, and I use mods to make it more difficult, though I still think it’s too easy.

I started playing the TS2 for the first time this week, and I cannot believe how difficult it is. I’m having more fun than I’ve had in a long time with TS4, but I can only play for an hour or two before I quit in frustration.
  • EgonVM's avatar
    EgonVM
    Seasoned Ace
    "simmerorigin;c-18085463" wrote:
    "Seera1024;c-18080137" wrote:
    "thenightcourt;c-18080028" wrote:
    "Seera1024;c-18077732" wrote:
    @thenightcourt

    What motive or motives do you have the most issue with?

    How many Sims and what ages are they?


    I’m playing the Broke household with 4 sims, and it isn’t a single motive, it’s all of them lol. Time management is my issue, I think :)



    It's hard to start with one of the harder difficulty families.

    I would step back from the Brokes and maybe look into one of the houses with just 1 or 2 Sims in them - preferably teen or older.

    Or make a household with just one or two sims.

    Get used to the controls and the rate at which needs drop in an environment with less risk of failure.

    But if you want to stick with it here are some tips:

    1. Group meals even if it's a single Sim household. Make sure you store the left overs. This reduces time to get a Sim to eat on busy mornings when they overslept or they have better things to do than cook a meal.
    2. Red hands raises fun really fast if they live with someone who has a good relationship with them.
    3. Upgrading the bed is first priority. Faster they sleep, the less time they spend sleeping and more time they can use to get a promotion or tend to other needs.
    4. No one ever died from low hygiene, fun, bladder, social, or energy on their own. Hunger is the first priority for all Sims. Followed by Social for kids and younger as they will get taken by the social worker if their social is too low for too long. Just be mindful of low motives if you have ghosts on the lot as the scaring will drop their motives.
    5. If they are too tired to eat a meal at the table, either pull the chairs away from the table and have them eat or have them eat a snack. They can't nap in their plate if they have to hold it and without a table, Sims will hold their plate and they will always hold a snack. If you go the snack route choose chips or cookies and then have them sleep for an hour or two and then wake them up to eat some left overs before sending them to bed again - if no left overs, have them eat another snack to get them to morning.
    6. If you can't get all motives topped off before work or school they will eat and take care of their bladder at work. Unless they have platinum aspiration they likely won't get promoted if you send them with low hunger and/or bladder due to their motives being too low, but if you find yourself crunched for time, it's something to be mindful of.
    7. They will watch tv until directed to do something else, even if you told them to watch tv so you can't queue anything up past watching tv.
    8. The floor dividers will keep things moving in the bathroom and let someone shower and use the bathroom without having any embarrassment issues. Just remember to leave some space in front of the tub/shower and toilet for Sims as they have to be in the same room to use the item.
    9. The floor dividers will also work as sound proofing so you can block off the crib and then a toddler or infant won't wake a sibling or parent in the same room.


    What are the floor dividers?


    Tiny fences sims can step over.
  • "Seera1024;c-18089307" wrote:
    "Cinebar;c-18089139" wrote:
    TS2 is so easy to me now, that I could probably do stuff in my sleep. First when they are standing outside waiting to go in the house, stop all the socializing, send them to the bathroom. Don't let anyone cook anything. Make someone serve Cereal for breakfast. Send the kids on to school if the bus arrives. Get them out of the way because you want the adults to meet the neighbors and spend a lot of time socializing with them because in TS1 and TS2 Sims need friends for promotions.

    Unlike TS1, TS2 Sims will at least talk to your Sim if you make that phone call and not curse out your Sim because they interrupted their TV program....lol. TS1 is harder than all four of them. TS4 players complain of how easy it is to build relationships and get married or whatever in TS4. They should try TS1 and find out how hard Maxis could actually make it, if they keep requesting different opposing relationship points. One Sim feeling closer to the other Sim than vice versa. TS1 is a very true and best example of just how hard Maxis made the game in the beginning.

    After the Sims have eaten something, I make them watch TV..the cooking channel to at least get one cooking point. It gains fun and comfort and a cooking skill. Easy Peasy.

    Don't let anyone cook anything without a smoke alarm in the rooms that have a stove, a kid stove and or a fireplace. I learned that lesson twenty years ago. On day one.

    There is absolutely no reason at all any Sim should die in TS2 on the day they move in. It's not that hard, TS1, yes, never TS2.

    No cooking until they have some cooking points and then there is still a risk of fire burning up your Sim if they cook something for the first time. Salads, sandwiches and cereal...and no grilling outside without smoke alarms.

    As stated before, Active Sims take more care, they need more food, more sleep, more hygiene requirements. Sloppy Sims won't care they are that dirty, and or the house. Lazy Sims need more comfort and want to lounge a lot...let them it builds comfort faster than sitting. And remember furniture matters, the points on furniture and appliances matter in TS2 and were very low in TS1...it was very hard to find any chair in TS1 that was above 3 points and then those Sims won't stay seated when commanded. At least TS2 Sims will sit until you make them stop. :)




    At least 3 points mechanical before the repair anything electronic. And make sure they are in a good mood first just in case as that will keep the from dying if the get electrocuted. Raise their motives before trying again. No shame in calling the repairman either.

    My upgrade order and reasons:

    1. Kitchen: better appliances mean more filling meals means less chance of fire.
    2. Bedroom. Bed only and better bed means less time sleeping.
    3. Bathroom. Less time dealing with bladder and hygiene

    Beyond that dependent on what else they need or want.

    At least one toilet per 3 Sims. I usually only do full bathrooms and not half bathrooms so my shower to sim ratio is the same. Any fewer and you have to be more attentive as to the bladder levels.

    Red hands builds fun super fast, if available. Does require some build up of a relationship.

    Play without mods for some time. This let's you figure out normal game behavior based on how you play. That way you recognize a mod conflict or issue and not mistake it for regular game behavior.

    Digging for treasure raises fun but will tank hygiene. Useful for easy quick money before skills are earned if you're holding off for a specific job.


    Very good. Also, hygiene tanks when doing any other physical activity, it's easy to take care of Sims who enjoy reading a book more than pitching a softball.

    A Sim who isn't playful but more serious enjoys reading the paper, and books, etc. Their fun builds faster by doing these things rather than watching TV. But all Sims' fun builds faster watching the sports channel. It must be an EA thing..EA Sports..lol.

    OP, Sims in TS2 won't die just from hunger, their hygiene and energy have to be depleted, too. This was not the case in TS1, hunger killed them even if they didn't have low energy and or hygiene. Different traits matter in TS2 because as I said some Sims eat more often than others but better meals and better appliances are faster and last longer.

    If you are really in direstraights just maxmotives. Or go to the neighborhood screen without saving. And yes, play without any mods until you learn what trait matters and why and which Sims get along better with others depending on their interests and likes, dislikes, and or traits, etc.
    But really most Sims in TS2 get along extremely well (patched out the odds in later patches) compared to The Sims.
  • LadyGray01's avatar
    LadyGray01
    Seasoned Hotshot
    "thenightcourt;c-18080029" wrote:

    While Sims do die easier in TS2, I don’t think pregnant Sims could die!


    They could actually! There were even deceased pregnant ancestor Sims in some of the neighborhoods.
  • bandit34's avatar
    bandit34
    Seasoned Traveler
    yeah in verona they had dead pregnant ladies from the romeo capp fight
  • Yup, my poor pregnant sim died in a fire while cooking dinner while her boyfriend was at work. Then he started an affair with her twin sister hours later. It was that Gunnar guy from University. She brought him back from Uni with her and they moved in together. I was like "You low down filthy (everynameinthebook). He didn't seem effected at all that he lost his girlfriend and unborn baby so I revived her and had her get revenge on her no good sister and boyfriend. Then she went on to have her baby. There was so much drama in TS2 and I loved it!

    In TS1 pets could die in fires, so I'm glad that pets and pregnant sims are immune from accidental deaths. It just feels way too sad.