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GreatBritney99's avatar
GreatBritney99
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago

TS4's Underrated Features.

One of my favorite things about this iteration of The Sims is the way the needs bars work. In previous versions of this game, I felt like I was spending so much time just managing needs, I could never really enjoy many of the other aspects of a sims' life. I'm glad they still have consequences for things like not getting off to the bathroom in time, but they really put that off to the bitter end; as well as making sims perform most tasks more efficiently (I understand that's not true in all situations, but I think the devs have really tried to manage that problem as well as they can).

I mostly notice this with the energy bar, especially since I spent my day raising three toddlers. Both parents are stay at home parents (a family friend gave them a large sum of simoleons as a thank you for helping them out), and by the end of the day, even with the toddlers going down for a nap in the afternoon, both of them are completely wiped, but they're able to go for an incredible amount of time before crashing into bed around midnight, and then getting up again around 5 or 6 am to tend to the toddlers again.

I don't think I let most of my sims sleep through the night either. A lot of them get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom as I do, and I enjoy that my sims can get through almost a full day without a nap on very little sleep as I do most of the time. Sometimes it's the little things that I find most enjoyable.

What are some other underrated features about TS4 that you enjoy?
funny

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  • Duhgirl2u2's avatar
    Duhgirl2u2
    8 years ago
    This is probably an unpopular view point, because it means no color wheel, but I love that they've taken CAS parts back to a more Sims 2 style so that I can easily create custom content for my own sims. I loved to do it in Sims 2 and love to do it again in Sims 4. Sadly, I am not technically savvy enough to manage it in the Sims 3 so for that I am so very happy.
  • drakharis's avatar
    drakharis
    8 years ago
    "gothprincess4ever;c-16510673" wrote:
    I'm a family player myself and I can totally relate to your thoughts and feelings concerning my Sims' needs. In The Sims 2 especially, caring for toddlers, while also trying to get closer to a promotion at work and trying to take part in various social activities, became too much to handle in multiple occasions. And there were many times when I felt underwhelmed and somewhat annoyed with the needs bar. I feel very differently when it comes to The Sims 4. As you said, I can enjoy many aspects of the game without focusing on their needs for a long period of time.

    Other underestimated features that I honestly think they deserve more love:
    - We can make Aliens in CAS
    - Pregnancy: not different stages, but a gradual growth of the baby bump (and no maternity clothes, the FREEDOM!!!)
    - In Build Mode, expanding rooms or walls with just a quick dragging (and everything in the room goes along!)
    - Various recipes of food and more details in graphics when it comes to them
    - Traveling from world to world
    - All Sims can live in all worlds (you don't have to save them and stuff)
    - Favorite Households (the ability to exclude your Sims from the culling system)
    - Toddlers! (Far better than any other generation of The Sims)
    - The Emotion System makes the Sims look more realistic (the ones in TS3 looked like robots to me, sorry)
    - Switching between Aspirations without losing progress in any of them (a VERY useful feature)

    All in all, I know that The Sims 4 has got various faults and I alternate between playing TS2, TS3 and TS4, but I love The Sims 4 for the good graphics and some options that we didn't have in the past. I can connect to my TS4 Sims more than what I felt for my TS3 ones. I'm very optimistic for the upcoming EP and I really liked the Cats and Dogs EP. (Yes, I love TS2 gameplay so much, too, no doubt there.) :D


    I like that my teens can live on their own and I love travelling world to world too. I love build mode too. We can also make Vampires in CAS.
  • agiori's avatar
    agiori
    8 years ago
    First of all, this thread has been so enjoyable to read. It's a really slow day at work, but going through all of your posts has made me really excited to go home and check out some features I haven't really appreciated/didn't even know existed (which is especially great because I've been dreading going back to the game knowing seasons is just around the corner and I won't be able to get it for a while.)

    Secondly, something I really appreciate is the way that time doesn't stop when you leave your home lot. While sims 2 is probably my favorite game in the series, I find it really hard to go back to because of little features like this. I love the fact that I can take a sim out all day and when I bring them home with low energy at 9 or 10, I can put them right to sleep like normal.

    "Siladria;c-16515615" wrote:
    The weight gain - I actually love this. I've tweaked it in my game with mods to keep it more realistic, but I love that my junk-loving sims will get bigger, and that sims who work out become more muscular. I even love that teens are slimmer on the whole and will lose weight quickly (I was like that as a teen.)


    This is something I noticed in my most recent save! I just started a legacy and put my sim in the culinary career. Over time, while trying to complete the daily tasks of making food and trying to improve his cooking skill level, he's gradually gained quite a bit of weight from eating his creations. I'm currently in the process of getting him into fitness to work it off, but I love that realism!!

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