What does sims 2 have that is lacking in sims 4

The Sims are too soulless for me. They take a lot of imagination to play with, like dolls. In the previous entries they had more of a unique personality that you could observe rather than sub in. There were also some questionable calls with some of the pack details in my opinion, like kids not being able to walk and bathe pets and teens not being able to play with voidcritters. That is getting pretty specific, though.

I haven’t played sims 2, well, only on console but given the differences between the two versions back then, I don’t know if it would qualify as playing it....

I’ve read a lot of comments though from simmers wo have played TS2 and I can’t believe all the stuff TS2 had that sims 4 doesn’t have! I mean I saw you could even pick turn on and turn offs for your sims!
From what people say it really sounds to me like TS2 had more gameplay and that sims were more fleshed out.

Apart from the minor details I think mainly it's the empty personality, overtaking emotions system and dumb AI.
I love sims 4 for death but can only play with autonomy off. I'm a story teller with lots of imagination so that works for me. I get list for hours.
But turn the AI on and boom they seem to do all kinds of random dumb things just for the sake of doing something. And it drives me nuts.

Sims 3 personalities (that's the one I play also so I using sims 3 as an example.) And AI seems smarter. And my sims 3 childish sim is always being a big kid, soon as we go out he runs to the swings, soon as we get home I hear bubbling laugher. I look over he's having a blast in the water sprinkler. He's always such a big kid all the time it makes me smile.
My serious sims remain serious they are not over taken by emotions.
It really makes it fun to watch these sims.

It's the opposite in sims 4. My childish sim at the most seems to play with with the dollhouse or a toy but feels empty headed and lifeless apart from that. And doesn't seem very childish. Traits are not defined and detailed enough.

And the lack of drama, fear,horror etc. Like sims 2 amazing ghosts and creepy grave yards. I believe the sims 4 was originally suppose to replicate a barbie dream house. The Said themselves it was a "safe space"
And that's a big part of the problem in my opinion.

Like I said I love all sims so I'm not bashing it. Just answering the question ?
If you have a big imagination you would really enjoy 4 also. It has to be played differently than the older ones.

As already mentioned - Sims 2 sims actually have a personality! And you do not need a worded buff to pop up and tell you what they are feeling - it is obvious from their facial expressions and actions. And what they do makes sense, especially according tot their personality - they do not beat the tar out of someone and then smile and chat - they are angry at the other sim for a while and the other sim is angry too and kicks the trash can or steals the newspaper - getting caught cheating has consequences - shy sims dance different then outgoing sims - outgoing sims go in the hot tub nude - etc. They also have memories that actually mean something and come into play many times. It is much more detailed in all the actions they do and it is a lot funnier! I also love the way they look at their creators (us) and complain when we make them do things against their personality or they express thanks when we have them do things in accordance with their personality.

Animations. I personally prefer Sims 4 but Sims 2 has Wonderful animations, that look more fluid and natural. And stuff between two sims, like kids dancing on parents feet etc. They are just done sooooooo well!

An AI.

Let's talk about it. The other day one of my Sims (I play rotationally) was talking to a townie. She confessed she was in love or crush on another Sim of mine, named Burke. Interesting.

How do I know this? While they were seated at the bowling alley she sat down and started talking about Burke. His picture appeared in her speech bubble (Burke wasn't even in the area and or on the lot), hearts appeared which in TS2 mean they love or are crushing on that Sim. My Sim also talked about Burke. His speech bubble showed a picture of Burke. They were discussing a Sim and the townie was in love with him. This doesn't stop there. Others will find out she is in love with Burke eventually. Someone will tell someone else. Did I have anything to do with it? No. But Burke might have met her at a club or something. Because in TS2 you have to be greeted by townies and or your own Sims sometimes. In TS2 she will not be deleted just because she is a townie. So, if I wanted to pursue this interesting tidbit of news I can.

The other day one of my Sims made the mistake of kissing another Sim of mine while out in public. She was dating a Sim named Chris. He saw this on the community lot. (I wasn't playing Chris at the time). He was not upset with her at first, but slapped the guy. Yeah, that makes sense since his girlfriend had not been the one that did the approach and kissing. She was on the receiving end of that kiss. However, when she kissed the Sim back, afterward, then Chris blew up and they instanstly broke up. ( a sign over their heads they were broken up).

He is still mad a week later, he often thinks of her and shows the break up sign over his head. I haven't gone back to him yet to see just how mad he is still yet. Out on community lots he is fuming. He will probably fight with that Sim later.

Wait, this doesn't end there. So, I move on to let him stew in his anger because I need to rotate to another family to do something important for them. So, that Sim who doesn't have anything to do with this gossips to another Sim about Chris and Carolyn breaking up. And why..they show the Sim's face in speech bubbles who caused the whole thing. lol

Wait, this won't end there. Evenually, more Sims will talk about this if I have them gossip. Select gossip. The gossip is real. It's not some random plum Sims talk about just so the player can imagine they are gossiping in TS4. The crush a townie has on one of my Sims is real, it's not some fake relationship the game decided to add an unknown Sim to a relationship panel like in TS4.

TS2 has an AI. TS4 doesn't. Townies will gossip. Chris will still be mad and remember it. Carolyn will be mad and remember it. And Burke will have many relationships to pursue. It won't be forgotten when they look at a happy painting.
And the next time Burke sees a townie out who has a crush on him, I already know it by watching conversations and can pursue it or not. That is just two examples of a proper AI.

ETA: Another example. Sims congratulate each other for things. Even getting to move into a house. (I guess they feel lucky)lol. Even townies will walk up and congratulate your Sim for a promotion, getting a house or whatever. What do TS4 Sims do or discuss? jibber jabber.

"Cinebar;c-17564159" wrote:

"Duvelina;c-17564155" wrote:
@Cinebar I agree with mostly everything you said here, but the speech bubbles with a face in it with hearts above it don't mean sims are in love with or crushing on one another. They just mean your sim has chemistry with them and is attracted to them.

Beg to differ. Fainting is an interest, hearts are more dynamic and means she really wants to be with him. Faining fainting is more general, like ooh, I have an interest, but may not try to get to know them etc. Either way, TS4 doesn't have AI.

From my understanding it's the attraction system (acquaintance, crush, love, etc).

I think the fainting is due to aspiration among some other things that I'm drawing a blank on - Sims will swoon at Romance Sims for instance.

It could be it takes a decent bit of attraction to generate those heart farts so using that to determine who your Sim wants to be with wouldn't be an incorrect usage. So I don't think your interpretation of hearts is wrong.

Whether it's their own attraction or gossip about someone else's attraction is the kicker. As I do know Sims can gossip about that.


As for me, Sims 2 Sims have personality. Two Sims affected by the first born glitch/effect can behave completely different. Even when your own dice do not cooperate and gives them the same aspiration on top of the game's randomness giving them the same personality.

I haven't seen a Sim in Sims 4 show so much personality. Which isn't helped by the limited number of traits a Sim can have nor is it helped by the overpowering emotion system. The traits they do have don't even affect the actions they take while under the influence of an emotion.

Since i just commented on what i like about sims 4, i guess it is only right to say what i dont like. You guys already said it, it is the AI and the personality of the sims themselves. The sims in sims 2 had an impressive and immersive level of depth. I honestly havent played sims 2 in a very long while so i am sure there might be other things i am forgetting, but this one is the most obvious to me.

"Bessieboo;d-978285" wrote:
I'm a sims 2 fan but now I have sims 3 I find it hard to choose between the two. I also have sims 4 and a lot of the expansions but really find it lacking in something but can't work out what it is. It should be a great game and has some really nice features but I find I can only play it for about half an hour then I've had enough but I can play for ages on the other two.

What do other simmers think?

You've answered your own question. ? Play the versions you most enjoy. You may feel obligated to play 4 since you've paid for "a lot of the expansions" but why force yourself when you clearly prefer 2 and 3? ?

Interesting posts. I began playing TS2 Ultimate Collection...2 days ago. Never played TS2 before. The reason I’m getting into it is because I want to explore and understand the very AI mechanics that a lot of folks on the forum are talking about. Im familiar with TS3 & 4.

I didn’t get many hours out of TS2 yet: In fact I’m only just figuring out how the game works, the UI etc. It reminds me of sims 3, but it seems more complex.

Anyway I just noticed my sim doesn’t have any food in his fridge. 0 food supplies. How am I going to get proper food? Please, don’t tell me, I want to figure this stuff out for myself. But I like it. For now he’s surviving on bags of chips and soda cans. It’s grand. Apparently I can skip off the pounds with my skipping rope. That’s how I like it!

I may call Brandi Broke in awhile because there seems to be chemistry between herself and my sim. Chemistry you say? But there’s this other girl...Rebecca Something. And my sim’s memory claims he has even kissed a Mystery sim the other day. That must have happend when I wasn’t looking. The rascal.
Apparently he’s also best friends with her. Who and Where is she?! How will I find out? I don’t even know what she looks like! Don’t tell me, I’ll figure it out. That and the 0 food supply.

This is all very exciting and my sim may be dead before I solve it all, but at least It keeps me hooked.
At least my friend shows an interest in others. Shows an interest you say? Well now TS4....
It’s a good start. Let’s make sure he survives.

So far I like the chemistry feature and the incredible amount of social interactions the sim can perform. And the absence of a mobile phone...

All this stuff will keep me going for a while and as a player it makes me happy having to learn again. I’m actually learning to understand the game. It makes me feel more intelligent as a player. I never felt I had to learn TS4. Its kinda there for you isn’t it? Im not saying it’s good or bad, but it’s something I observe. I’m not from a generation where everything was handed to me on a plate, so maybe it’s easier to spot these kind of things. Hey, I’m not old. But I’m probably old.

Anyway, my sim just stuffed his face with whatever left over snack there is in his fridge. The poor lad is hungry. And I still don’t know how to fill the fridge with nutritious food..Do I actually have to send him to the shop?....