Let me start off by saying that I am a die hard Simmer. I have been playing this game since The Sims 1 and I have gone through this stage of feeling like the game is empty and not as fun as the last two times before this. With every game it is a shock to go back to a completely basic level. So this review is based on the bones of the game.
What I liked:
1. I really do enjoy the emotions and how they affect the interactions the Sim can have around them (I really enjoy my Sim working out when they are angry!). I like the new depth the emotions add to how the Sims interact.
2. I like how the Careers are set up and how the Aspirations are attained. They give my Sims new objects to do which I would not normally try. I always love completing checklists so it is fun to see my Sims get the little check mark when they complete a requirement. Careers are now more challenging. I actually had to use an aging potion because my Sims were not at the top of their careers yet which I never had to do in the older games (top of career by end of young adult in Sims 3).
3. I actually enjoy the simplification of Build Mode and Create-A-Sim clothes. I always got overwhelmed with all the options to choose from. Though I understand how many people are disappointed with the omission of such a tool.
4. I hated toddlers. Personally, they were just a nuisance between baby and child. (However, I can understand how people could miss them)
5. I like all the interactions the Sims can have with one another. In previous base games I remember the disappointment of having so few options to start with (especially with Romantic type interactions). I love all the options this game has to start with and I hope they continue to add more!
6. I like how fast the game loads. Honestly, the game has just as many bugs as my Sims 3 game, which at the end became completely unplayable on my computer. I can play on all High settings without any lag. (Okay, I did just get a new computer but yey!)
7. Love, love, love multitasking! That is the main feature which really enhances the game from previous versions.
8. Love all the new Skills. They will give my Sims a lot of options to try and master new things.
9. Though some people would not agree, I love how the new Sims looks!
10. I like how the new Sims are smarter and like to do activities based on their personalities. I really feel that I could leave my Sims unattended and I wouldn't come back to find one fallen asleep on the ground and the other peeing on the floor.
What I didn't like and Suggestions:
1. What happened to Story Progression??? I really took this feature in the Sims 3 for granted! I understand how this could really slow up the game, but honestly, Maxis should not have taken this extremely important element out of the game. I was completely disappointed because I thought that the game was going to expand on Story Progression even more, allowing the Sims to grow families, careers, and their skills when you are not playing them. Instead the families in the other houses just die off and get replaced by just a few Sims with no connection to one another besides being roommates. It is unacceptable that the only solution is for me to plop new families in there and watch as those families get old and die, never even starting a career or working on their skills.
2. I wish you could customize the length of each Sim Lifespan. I feel like the Medium is too short and the Long is just too long for the Child and Teen phase.
3. I've been playing the game for over 50 hours now and I am still getting tutorial pop-up boxes! There really should be a way to turn these off.
4. I miss completely random events that happen to the Sims. That was one of the best part of the old Sims! You are just sitting there waiting for your Sim to wake up and suddenly you see a bear eating out of your trash can! What happened to all those funny little things that were completely random but so funny when they happened?
5. The maps are so small with very few lots! I miss having the large and beautiful maps where I would meticulously decide where to place my house based on the best view. It doesn't really feel like a large neighborhood anymore.
6. But seriously, no Story Progression???
Overall thoughts?
This is just a base game and I think so many Simmers forgotten how it feels to start completely from scratch. I remember feeling the same way when Sims 3 came out and actually almost stopped playing. However, after a few EPs came out I began to love the game. I really hope EA gives us more DLC for our money though. The prices for the items for Sims 3 are ridiculous. If Maxis brings back the option for Story Progression and DLC becomes reasonably priced I will continue to be a die hard Simmer!
EA Staff (Retired)
