I really would like to get some more play time under my belt but I have formed some first impressions.
I didn't like being ushered into CAS upon opening the game for the first time. I wanted to get right to the map and start to explore.
I didn't like being forced into a tutorial. I'd rather find things out by myself. This needs an optional setting.
The partially open world was fine and I was actually able to go more places than I thought I would be able to. I do think they are a little small though. It could use more open lots.
I didn't experience the clipping that many people are talking about.
I played on two different laptops. An older one with Win7 and a newer one with WIn8.1. The game ran very well on both. On the older laptop the graphics were automatically set on low so there wasn't as much detail but it was still acceptable.
I was actually able to play in a sandbox style....which I didn't think I would be able to do.
While I was a pretty decent builder in TS3 I'm going to need more practice time here. Build mode is a learning experience.
The Sims have some pretty cute actions. Things like dropping the salt shaker into the pan or flipping a frilled cheese out onto the stove are funny.
I was surprised at how well the Sims will take care of themselves. Free will is on and they fed themselves, showered and one even took it upon himself to fix a broken toilet.
But do I think the Sims are remarkably smarter? No. They are smarter than TS3 Sims....which isn't hard to do...but terribly smarter...again....no.
Since I've been testing out intelligence and emotions I haven't gotten into careers or heavily into relationships yet. As far as traits....TS4 team...I think you missed the boat on this one. One of my favorite challenges is the asylum one. So to test the game I put 6 Sims in a house together and while they all had different traits they all had the insane trait in common. After three hours of game play I have yet to experience any kind of insane behavior. My Sims with the evil trait also failed to do anything in an evil manner.
What I think the game needs....
I'd like to see ghosts and cemeteries return. In my current game the stove caught fire and I was going to let it burn and see if I could kill off a Sim and I thought..."why bother?" if a Sim dies....no ghost. I do miss them a lot.
In CAS.....we really do need eyelashes. I didn't think I would miss them and I do.
Am I sorry I bought TS4? No, I think I'll get a lot of play time out of it.
Will I buy EPs or new content? I'm not sure about that. You're going to have to up your game.
EA Staff (Retired)
