Rate TS4 Werewolves on these Criteria
For those who have bought and played with the pack. Scale 1-10 relative to the rest of the DLC: World Aesthetic Uniqueness World Replayability World Size Build Buy Aesthetic Uni...
Forum Discussion
World Aesthetic Uniqueness - 6/10
We already have a few temperate worlds with wooded areas, so it's not too special. We also have one other world with at least one neighborhood with an industrial aesthetic, so it's not super unique. The most unique things are the moondial in the town square and the library build out of the old industrial building. Otherwise, it's not super unique to me.
World Replayability - 3/10
Because there's so much story build into the world itself, with such deeply-rooted aesthetic to it, it's just not as versatile as more generic worlds like Oasis Springs, Brindleton Bay, Windenberg, or San Myshuno. I can tell any sort of story in the more generic worlds, but for more heavily themed worlds like Strangerville and Moonwood Mill, I feel more locked into that world's in-built story and theme, so I have to be in a certain kind of mood to play there.
World Size - 3/10
Only 5 buildable lots, 3 of which are occupied by plot-important buildings, 2 of which are relatively small lots for building on. There's lots of off-lot roaming space and you can get anywhere in-world without a loading screen because it's a small world, but navigation can be tough because there are so many spots hidden by the trees or spots that look way too similar. A large area that's hard to navigate in a video game, especially one like TS4, where you have to move your character by clicking instead of with a controller or WASD/arrow key movement.
Build Buy Aesthetic Uniqueness - 8/10
It's nice that we have more run-down, beat-up things for both urban and rural, "I'm broke as Heck" builds. We also have some hippy/bohemian and magical stuff, which is lovely.
Build Buy Usefulness and Reusability - 10/10
I can use this pack's assets in any build, any place. There are so many "broke single guy/girl" homes I can use that battered couch in. I can use the brick walls, I love the nightlight. It's so, so good.
Build Buy Quantity of Content - 9/10
One point off because I wish there was an expansion pack worth of these things.
CAS Aesthetic Uniqueness - 9/10
We don't get as many grunge/punk/rocker themed items in this game. Plus, that patchwork coat is really cool. However, we already got a cottagecore type pack and plenty of hippy/boho clothes over the years, so the items that lean more that way aren't nearly as unique in my eyes.
CAS Usefulness and Reusability 7/10
I have a lot of characters whose style leans heavily to one of the aesthetic themes or the other.
Unfortunately, there is also a major problem when it comes to customizing female werewolves in their werebeast form...as in, you have to push the hip and waist sliders to their limits, heavily manipulate the chest height and posture sliders, and make heavy use of the coat paint mode to give them a truly feminine appearance. Furthermore, tops always flatten their chests completely, ruining their side profile if you want to dress them, and certain tops (including the female track jacket with lime green default swatch from the base game) actually develop an unsightly dent at the sides of the chest, visible in 3/4 view, further detracting from the fun of designing their looks. Basically, if you want a decent-looking fem-presenting female werewolf, you have to leave her nude or topless in her werebeast form, because none of the clothing that covers the upper body preserves a feminine bust line, and several pieces even have severe graphical glitches when viewed from alternate angles. It's as if they didn't really test werewolf CAS with female sims or even consider that people would want to use anything but the pack's more gender neutral tops on a female werewolf sim in that form.
CAS Quantity of Content - 8/10
I just wish there was more of it...especially the grunge/punk/rocker stuff. I would have liked to see more than one style of mullet, more collars, spiked bracelets, etc. Splitting the theme between the two aesthetics meant some really unfortunate sacrifices in that area.
Gameplay System Uniqueness - 10/10
The fury system is an interesting concept, as are temperaments. They add the sort of gameplay-affecting traits that players have been begging for for years, and the ability to re-roll them is a nice touch.
Gameplay System Replayability - 10/10
Like most occults, I can play with werewolves over and over again.
Gameplay System Depth - 10/10
Multiple ways to become a werewolf, a skill tree that allows for customizing their abilities as you like (with immortality as an option, not a mandate), the secret tunnels in the new world with the text adventure exploration...yeah, it's probably the deepest pack gameplay-wise in a good while. If you are a junkie for involved gameplay and consequences, you'll enjoy it.
Overall Score - 8/10
The pack loses two points for the female werewolf customization issue and the navigation issue in the pack's included world, but so long as you only play with male characters and bite into that tasty gameplay, there's a lot to enjoy here.
We already have a few temperate worlds with wooded areas, so it's not too special. We also have one other world with at least one neighborhood with an industrial aesthetic, so it's not super unique. The most unique things are the moondial in the town square and the library build out of the old industrial building. Otherwise, it's not super unique to me.
World Replayability - 3/10
Because there's so much story build into the world itself, with such deeply-rooted aesthetic to it, it's just not as versatile as more generic worlds like Oasis Springs, Brindleton Bay, Windenberg, or San Myshuno. I can tell any sort of story in the more generic worlds, but for more heavily themed worlds like Strangerville and Moonwood Mill, I feel more locked into that world's in-built story and theme, so I have to be in a certain kind of mood to play there.
World Size - 3/10
Only 5 buildable lots, 3 of which are occupied by plot-important buildings, 2 of which are relatively small lots for building on. There's lots of off-lot roaming space and you can get anywhere in-world without a loading screen because it's a small world, but navigation can be tough because there are so many spots hidden by the trees or spots that look way too similar. A large area that's hard to navigate in a video game, especially one like TS4, where you have to move your character by clicking instead of with a controller or WASD/arrow key movement.
Build Buy Aesthetic Uniqueness - 8/10
It's nice that we have more run-down, beat-up things for both urban and rural, "I'm broke as Heck" builds. We also have some hippy/bohemian and magical stuff, which is lovely.
Build Buy Usefulness and Reusability - 10/10
I can use this pack's assets in any build, any place. There are so many "broke single guy/girl" homes I can use that battered couch in. I can use the brick walls, I love the nightlight. It's so, so good.
Build Buy Quantity of Content - 9/10
One point off because I wish there was an expansion pack worth of these things.
CAS Aesthetic Uniqueness - 9/10
We don't get as many grunge/punk/rocker themed items in this game. Plus, that patchwork coat is really cool. However, we already got a cottagecore type pack and plenty of hippy/boho clothes over the years, so the items that lean more that way aren't nearly as unique in my eyes.
CAS Usefulness and Reusability 7/10
I have a lot of characters whose style leans heavily to one of the aesthetic themes or the other.
Unfortunately, there is also a major problem when it comes to customizing female werewolves in their werebeast form...as in, you have to push the hip and waist sliders to their limits, heavily manipulate the chest height and posture sliders, and make heavy use of the coat paint mode to give them a truly feminine appearance. Furthermore, tops always flatten their chests completely, ruining their side profile if you want to dress them, and certain tops (including the female track jacket with lime green default swatch from the base game) actually develop an unsightly dent at the sides of the chest, visible in 3/4 view, further detracting from the fun of designing their looks. Basically, if you want a decent-looking fem-presenting female werewolf, you have to leave her nude or topless in her werebeast form, because none of the clothing that covers the upper body preserves a feminine bust line, and several pieces even have severe graphical glitches when viewed from alternate angles. It's as if they didn't really test werewolf CAS with female sims or even consider that people would want to use anything but the pack's more gender neutral tops on a female werewolf sim in that form.
CAS Quantity of Content - 8/10
I just wish there was more of it...especially the grunge/punk/rocker stuff. I would have liked to see more than one style of mullet, more collars, spiked bracelets, etc. Splitting the theme between the two aesthetics meant some really unfortunate sacrifices in that area.
Gameplay System Uniqueness - 10/10
The fury system is an interesting concept, as are temperaments. They add the sort of gameplay-affecting traits that players have been begging for for years, and the ability to re-roll them is a nice touch.
Gameplay System Replayability - 10/10
Like most occults, I can play with werewolves over and over again.
Gameplay System Depth - 10/10
Multiple ways to become a werewolf, a skill tree that allows for customizing their abilities as you like (with immortality as an option, not a mandate), the secret tunnels in the new world with the text adventure exploration...yeah, it's probably the deepest pack gameplay-wise in a good while. If you are a junkie for involved gameplay and consequences, you'll enjoy it.
Overall Score - 8/10
The pack loses two points for the female werewolf customization issue and the navigation issue in the pack's included world, but so long as you only play with male characters and bite into that tasty gameplay, there's a lot to enjoy here.
