I've been playing TS4 on-and-off for about 4 years now and is completely aware of the environment in the community, most especially the boxing ring surrounding TS2, 3, and 4. Lately I've been wanting to play TS2 after remembering that I had a lot of fun playing it for like a few days when I was little. Although, I have completely forgotten how the game feels. As objectively as possible, do you think that TS2 is better than TS4 and is worth playing in 2020? Or is it really just the nostalgia? Should I continue devoting my time to TS4 or should I try to get back to playing TS2? I can't decide really. What do you think? Please don't take this like some shallow "ts2 g0od, tS4 bAd" discussion (or the other way around). I want to hear your opinions about this also to help myself decide. I know that I can just get TS2 and try it myself right now but eh, i don't really want to waste my time especially that i have ocd.PS. I own all the TS4 packs and I'm a gameplay-focused player.

I think TS4 is better. TS2 was amazing in its time and is still great, but most people prefer TS4 these days for a reason. However, you might as well try TS2 again if you're curious. To me TS2 is a much slower, simpler, and slightly more difficult game. By slow, I mean that the pace of the game is different because TS2 animators put more detail into the animations. Sims open cabinets when cooking and use cars when traveling. There also aren't as many Sims and they don't age together. So if you're a fast-paced, non-rotational player all of that might be annoying, especially given that there are fewer skills and objects in TS2. But TS2 allows for lots of drama.

The gameplay in TS2 is so enjoyable and detailed, if you do not mind the graphics or a restricted build mode it is fun. If you want to get a better idea of TS2 gameplay and how it compares to 4 I would recommend watching youtuber Pleasantsims. Cindy’s playstyle is based on the sim’s wants and whims, she has several videos comparing all the versions. The one where she discusses the differences between TS2 and TS4 retail is a good example of why she prefers TS2 gameplay. Side note, I wish EA would release TS2 for Switch.

The Sims 2 is miles better than the Sims 4 game play wise. It’s really dated though. I won’t go back to it for that reason. I’ve got used to the nice crisp graphics of today’s standards and I can’t go back. It depends on you though really. If you don’t mind how dated the game feels then sure it’s definitely worth playing again.

The only reason I don't play The Sims 2 is graphics.If EA sold The Sims 2 Definitive Edition in UHD, I'd never touch The Sims 4 again.

I think TS2 is worth playing for the gameplay and I still like the graphics, but it is definitely much more demanding than 4. Trying to care for a household of 8 is so much harder, but so much more rewarding in my opinion. The needs are also much more difficult to maintain, but there is much more control over the world.Some of my favorite content, pets and witches, is also better in it in my opinion. You have a lot more control over things like apartments and I think aspirations are more rewarding though also more difficult.Basically, think deeper but harder. Fun is definitely to be had, but sometimes you want difficulty and sometimes you do not. They both have their place.

TS2 as a TS4 player | EA Forums

Haneul33
Seasoned Adventurer
5 years ago
What do you mean by gameplay focused? If you're into achieving things in your Sims' careers or trying to build up skills, Sims 2 is not for you because there's not a lot to do there compared to Sims 4. But if you want the game to dictate your Sims' personalities and their wants/fears, giving you less control over those things, and if you want balancing needs to be more of a challenge, it's worth trying TS2 again.
catmando830
5 years ago
I have all of TS2 (it is on my iMac), some of TS3 (use to have it all until, well I don't anymore) and all of TS4.

Right now I only play TS4 because that is what I have installed on my laptop. (my iMac is packed away right now or I would also be playing TS2)
imahulazombie
5 years ago
best gameplay: ts2
best cas: ts4
best build mode: ts4
best AI: ts2
best graphics: ts4
best devs: ts2
life simulator: ts2
virtual dollhouse: ts4
thatpinkcoconut
5 years ago
"catmando830;c-17729818" wrote:
"bella_goth;c-17729815" wrote:
best gameplay: ts2
best cas: ts4
best build mode: ts4
best AI: ts2
best graphics: ts4
best devs: ts2
life simulator: ts2
virtual dollhouse: ts4

Questions: what is AL; and I have not heard the term virtual dollhouse used before = what does that mean?

She meant AI. :) It's what governs the autonomous actions of Sims... how they act by themselves without player intervention. "Virtual dollhouse" is basically what's in the opposite spectrum of what she meant by "life Simulator".
imahulazombie
5 years ago
"catmando830;c-17729818" wrote:
"bella_goth;c-17729815" wrote:
best gameplay: ts2
best cas: ts4
best build mode: ts4
best AI: ts2
best graphics: ts4
best devs: ts2
life simulator: ts2
virtual dollhouse: ts4

Questions: what is AL; and I have not heard the term virtual dollhouse used before = what does that mean?

AI = Artificial Intelligence, the one to dictate sims smartness, their autonomy.
virtual dollhouse = the easiest way to describe this, but in a virtual environment lol
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81faJqzegWL._AC_SY355_.jpg

but both games are life simulators. i just used virtual dollhouse because sims in ts4 have the AI of a vacuum cleaner which makes the game boring unless i create a story in mind for them.
Kita5399
New Spectator
5 years ago
I have the complete collections of all 4 Sims games installed on my computer. I’ll go back and play TS2 & TS3 every so often. Honestly as much as I loved them all in their time, I just can’t get back into them for very long. I’m not sure if it’s because they are rather dated, or if it’s the graphics that bother me. I’m not a fan of how in TS2 you can go to a community lot at noon, stay until 9pm, then return home at noon. I’m also not a fan of how you have to play every household in order to have them all age together. Obviously this is just my opinion, and those things could be positives for others, but I’m mostly sticking to TS4.
Chicklet45368
Rising Traveler
5 years ago
I think that if you already own TS2 and your system will run it you should definitely give it a try again.

But there are differences, if you can get over the graphics in the game and the limitations of build mode & CAS (outfits in TS2 come with shoes already attached, hats are on hair, etc) .... for me the things that sims do together and all of the animations being so detailed is amazing and I still enjoy it.

I love playing Open-For-Business and having a beauty salon to de-fuglify the townies in a gameplay function, which to me is much more satisfying than just popping them into CAS in TS4 and making them over. With TS2 you have the randomized event of failing at making them over, and that sim will be mad at you, also their look will remain that way until you convince them to let you make them over again. It's comical and I really enjoy it.

I like how kids play together.

But needs decay a lot faster, it's harder to build up relationships, you need to maintain relationships for promotions, etc. It's harder. And, like others have said, it's harder to play rotationally. I'm not a rotational player so that didn't ever bother.

But, I also miss things when I'm playing TS2 compared to TS4, mainly build type stuff ..... shrinking/enlarging objects, raising or lower objects, freely moving wall items, etc.
FaerieRose84
5 years ago
If you enjoy gameplay, I'd definitely recommend going back and giving TS2 another shot. TS4 will still be there if you don't enjoy it. And there's nothing wrong with playing both. :)
MissIcewolf
Seasoned Traveler
5 years ago
I think both are good. They have their pros and cons. I love The Sims 2 for their sims and gameplay, but I can't help but feel very limited at times. The Sims 4 is awesome at many other things, but I miss how the sims would interact with each other and the small little details.

As I said, both are good.
oddRebelisaac13
5 years ago
I meant to click sims 2 btw lol

I like sims 2 for its gameplay depth, cute cutscenes & so many animations that we would take for granted. It was a game where our standards weren’t set so low. You know our standards are low when simmers were praising the gurus for a new swatch on the science table instead of getting a activity table for the 6th time for SE.

Sims 4 is great if you’re just building or creating sims as the gurus are catering to builders since most of their GC are just that. It’s not so much of a simulator as the gameplay is not as rich as it used to be. The half backed packs we get is what ruins the sims 4 for me.

Both are good in their own ways. Why not play both? You don’t have to devote in playing just one series.