The Comparison Thread
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Forum Discussion
A nice effort you put into this comparison. Of all the stuff I consider missing the most is a decent attraction and gender preference system. By my hazy memory, TS3 had some absurdness in that aspect - once you had enough money, you were attractive to anyone. TS3 also acted seemingly on random, especially with Generations - sometimes I had an NPC of the same sex hit on my sim during the prom events - which is a nightmare for a generational player like me (when my primary goal of playing is to secure the next generation, something that can realistically be only done by heterosexual relationships).
On the other hand, I think zodiac signs are overrated nonsense and so is them having an impact on attraction.
You're right on traits being a weak point of TS4. Not just because the mood can be 'outvoted' by objects around but also by a much lower amount of traits and much lower trait-based gameplay. In TS3, the 'lucky' trait could lead to promotion a bit sooner than filling the bar. Brave trait gave better chances to win against a burglar (which is completely missing in TS4) or to extinguish a fire. 'Loves the outdoors' had a direct impact on gardening. Etc.
Then, all the sims in TS4 (unless you have the storm chaser reward trait) react to storm all the same (by tense debuff), there's no variance. I have yet to find whether there's any logic to when a sim comes from work with the tense debuff (at varying magnitude) or if it's pure randomness.
So, yes, of all the issues with TS4, lack of depth is the major one.
On the other hand, I think zodiac signs are overrated nonsense and so is them having an impact on attraction.
You're right on traits being a weak point of TS4. Not just because the mood can be 'outvoted' by objects around but also by a much lower amount of traits and much lower trait-based gameplay. In TS3, the 'lucky' trait could lead to promotion a bit sooner than filling the bar. Brave trait gave better chances to win against a burglar (which is completely missing in TS4) or to extinguish a fire. 'Loves the outdoors' had a direct impact on gardening. Etc.
Then, all the sims in TS4 (unless you have the storm chaser reward trait) react to storm all the same (by tense debuff), there's no variance. I have yet to find whether there's any logic to when a sim comes from work with the tense debuff (at varying magnitude) or if it's pure randomness.
So, yes, of all the issues with TS4, lack of depth is the major one.
