First of all, the game is great. I am very happy with the direction chosen for The Sims 4. This is my favorite Sims game (and I have played them all). The game is very well designed, and actually fun to play.
So, should I brake it down like everyone else does? Let's start with the good things (which are the most anyway).
-On the technical side, performance and stability are an all time high for a Sims game.
-The new Build mode and CAS are amazing. The new build mode is the primary reason I changed my mind and got this game despite the fact that even before TS4 was announced I had decided I am done with Sims after 3 (I didn't like that game to be honest). Needless to say I am not disappointed. Also, creating Sims is fun for me for the first time, it always left like a chore in previous games. Plus, sims themselves look good, and they all actually look different from each other, while they were basically pretty identical in previous games.
-The game seems more difficult than TS3 and this is an absolutely great thing. The Sims 3 was just too easy, and so too boring. Keeping sims happy was so ridiculously easy that the game lacked point and substance.
-The humor and all the cool stuff from Sims 2 and original are back. Career unlock rewards, stupid but fun things like the cowplant, these are things that make a Sims game a Sims game for me. TS3 was just bland for some reason.
- The emotions system is very nice (if not a little underused), and for the first time sims actually feel like having a character instead of just some pointless extra interaction (TS3) or just minor stats differences (TS2/1).
-Lack of story progression and open world and all this TS3 stuff. All TS3's "live worlds" and story progression and all this stuff did for me was cause headaches (and more headaches). I for one, I am glad they are gone. The Sims feels like The Sims again (another reason I decided to purchase this game).
- The gallery is a very good little addition, it is very nice to be able to share your creations with the world and even see those of others. Personally I especially like the ability to share single rooms as my primary interest in The Sims was always decoration. Although I should add that it would be nice if you could think of some more ways to improve discoverability in the gallery. The game has been barely released and browsing the community content in the gallery is already starting to feel a little like the App/Play Store, and that is not a nice thing.
-And finally no store (hope I am not speaking too prematurely in this). Seriously don't do that ever again. Release EPs and SPs and all these things but even monetization has too stop at some point. I would not have purchased TS4 if I had heard of a TS3-style store. Again, I hope I am not speaking too early. Against my better judgement I put faith in Electronic Arts/Maxis with this game, I hope I am not made to regret it.
And as so, I will list some other things I don't like.
- The lots. Only two empty per world, come on, that's just not right. Plus, yes, the game needs bigger ones. Let players decide if their computer can handle them, and anyway the game is amazingly light. I bought it as a gift for a friend with an old computer and was a little worried whether she could play it at a decent frame rate even in low-mid settings. I still can't believe she's running it on ultra (it lags of course but not anything unplayable). Point is, the game is light enough already so bigger plots shouldn't make it too heavy, even for mainstream market segment "casual" players. SimCity 2013 was ruined by this factor. Stop it with these decisions, it's seriously not cool. It's certainly not that bad in this game, but surely it is at least annoying.
-The careers. Too few and too, let's say, "eccentric". Including more "normal" careers would be nice, and anyway, the game needs more of them.
- And finally, the game could use more content with free updates, it is a little on the light side for the price tag, but this has been already said again and again, so I will not repeat. I am just saying I somewhat agree, although I do support your decision to do fewer things but do them right, it's certainly much better than the TS3 "everything and the kitchen sink" approach. You should just add more things with free updates as soon as you are ready.
So summarizing, I am very excited with this game. I feel like playing the Sims for the first time again since the TS2 days. I was cautiously optimistic when I decided to buy the game, but after all I am actually pretty impressed (and believe me, I don't say that often). I though I was done with The Sims, but you won me back. That in itself is an achievement in my book. Congratulations guys.
In fact I don't usually post on public forums but decided to brake my rule this time because of all the negativity that has taken over by a loud fraction of the userbase. I have said many negative things about Electronic Arts products and the company's management culture in the past, but this time I feel you guys did a great job. Again, congratulations.
EA Staff (Retired)
