My problem with TS4 has always been that it feels like the most restrictive Sims game. All of the new features compared to past games seem great on the surface, but the execution just falls flat (ex., better CAS? Sure, until you realize there's a 1/3 of the traits there were in TS3, and we can't really choose hair or eye color. Better build mode? In some ways, but we didn't have foundation tools until just recently, roofing is a mess, and I can't match wood tones. Emotions? Awesome concept, but others have already explained why it needs improvement). What's worse is that when people point these things out to either new Sims players, or the gurus, we're told we're just being ungrateful or that it was designed that way on purpose to be "playable". I'm sorry, but I don't see how a simple color wheel (not even a whole Create A Style tool, but a simple color wheel) is going to break a game. What's the point of people being able to play on a 2008 laptop if the game you're playing doesn't have anything to offer? Especially when it means stripping out core features that have been present in past games like toddlers (I know we have it now, but it should have been base game included) cars, pools, etc. Even a little story progression w/o the need for mods would be nice.
Also, why are there only like... 10 options for careers? WITH expansions? I'm really big on having my sims live a pretty normal life, so having more typical career options would be really nice.
Ideally, I would love a game that was a mash up of some of TS4 new features (executed a bit better) with the gameplay of TS3. I only really played TS2 very briefly, so I can't speak on that, but it seems like most people I've talked to agree that previous versions of the game had a lot more to offer than TS4.
