I don't want to have to do as I am told.

Glad you have TS4 to let you play the way you want to play.

Personally, I prefer the challenge offered in previous Sims games (which is what it sounds like you don’t like).

I feel like I dictated to more in TS4 than in TS2, and both are my favorites. TS4 just barely edges out TS2 in fact. But I also didn't play TS3, and remember how it was when it was the game du jour. Lots of complaining then too lol.

I enjoy Sims 4 for the exact same reasons and although I didn't exactly hate Sims 3, it ranks very low on my scale because of the pesky story progression finding ways to get its way even when I turned it off (accelerated aging, sims moving away, inventory clear upon move out, unwanted jobs for moved out sims, nonsensical curfew). When I left it behind in favour of Sims 2 again, I felt relieved. It's definitely not healthy to feel a burden off your back when you stop playing a videogame. Switching between 2 and 4 to the contrary makes me feel slightly sad, because I like both.

That said, I play Sims 2 at the moment and am way more relaxed about aspirations than before. Back when I last played, I still made sure everyone was always in platinium mood, now if they roll out-of character wants and fears that's not on me, but on my sims and they have to live with it. Except for when I want to use an aspiration reward, being in the green "only" is nothing bad. And if they drop too low, a date fixes every dissatisfaction. Also genie lamps, each one equaling three sims getting perma-plat, are pretty common. I got three in a single season (in three different households, of course).
I also age my sims whenever want now... long story short, I brought a lot of "bad" habits with me from Sims 4.

(Both Sims 4 and 2 are modded, I should maybe add.)

When I don't want the challenge of needs all the time, in sims3, I just enable testing cheats and drag needs up manually or do a mailbox cheat to stop needs from degrading. It's nice to have a game in which Sims actually take initiative on their own lives again. Got tired of playing with mindless puppets.

I like the hoops - I don't want to play dolls. I want a challenge. The trick is to have enough of choices of different hoops that everyone get a chance to play their kind of hoops. In Sims 2 it was very flexible how you got to the goal, and you could change the goal if you wanted to. I don't see a problem.

The way I see it, gameplay is very important sure, but after Sims 3 I have found ease of playing takes precendence in Sims 4. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing Sims 4, relatively less buggy than any of its predecessors. How many packs are we at now, 38, 39 and my game still runs well even after 3 gb of cc. You can discuss gameplay all you want, if your computer can't handle it gameplay goes out the window. :p

I'm flexible I enjoy both hoops and dollhouse play. I loved TS2 and the challenge it provided. TS4 leaves a lot to the player to decide, but gotten used to it and enjoy it as well.

I agree about Sims 2 although I did enjoy playing it I did feel I always had to be on top of those aspirations and wants and fears and some to me were over the top. I usually played a knowledge sim or a serial romantic and I'd get the same rolls: woohoo so many sims, woohoo so many service sims .. although dating was pretty fun once you got those rolling. Then with knowledge it wasn't too bad it was mostly about getting a skill to the next level and trying to lock the ones you knew that you could or would want to do. Then you'd of course try to get more want and fear panels available and find ways to lock more possibilities. It was gameplay, but yeah I felt guided more than I wanted to be and a little boxed in. I remember getting mods for locks and expansion of wants and fears so I wouldn't have to send every sim to college ect.
I still like some guidance along with the ability to tell my own stories or decide what my sim should do so Sims 4 is better fit for me. Thing is I didn't know that I would like it better because I really enjoyed Sims 2 while playing it. Now I wouldn't want to be tied into having to live by a sims wants and fears personally. Although it would be nice if they had more say in what they wanted I still want to be able to say "NO.. I want you to do this and you better like it!" I don't know where that happy spot for all simmers would be... I don't think there is one.
I really like the ability to aspiration switch easily that Sims 4 offers when I do kind of want some guidance but need a change of pace. Sure Sims 4 is definitely easier and you have to find ways to challenge yourself or guide yourself... It really has changed. I guess I can see why that would disappoint some simmers.

"NationalPokedex;c-17839619" wrote:
Glad you have TS4 to let you play the way you want to play.

Personally, I prefer the challenge offered in previous Sims games (which is what it sounds like you don’t like).

Well, no I don't prefer that but I do appreciate knowing what the sims community has to say. I have always understood that we don't all love the game for the same reasons and diversity is better than nothing outside the lines. What do you think about the fifth version of the sims being an online platform?

I love playing with a combination of the "dollhouse", challenges, outerspace play & historical play. ;)