Other people will concentrate on telling you what isn't in
this game. What’s missing and what’s been left out. What should have been kept
and why cars are such a big mistake to remove. (Which I don’t understand
anyway). But ill let you read those yourselves.
Yes, The Sims 4 is
lacking pools. Which were always a fool proof way of killing off unwanted
family members. And they looked pretty. However, the build tools are a thousand
times easier to use and things like split level housing and open to below
hallways, are now actually possible without using cheats that potentially
destroy the house it’s taken you FOUR HOURS to build.
There are no cars.
But what use were the cars anyway? The cars in The Sims 3 were just fancy
loading screens. It could take literally minutes to get from your Sims house to
a location by car, simply because, in the open world that was The Sims 3, it
was so far away. So how is having a smaller world and loading screens, but no
cars, any different? To me that doesn't make the game worse. Just different.
And if The Sims 4 was supposed to be exactly the same as 3 then maxis would
just have continued to make expansions for that one instead.
The emotions system
is apparently meant to make it easier for Sims to gain skill points and
friends. So far I’m not seeing that. It’s hard to get to grips with the
emotions, and while the portrait in the corner makes funny faces at me, I’m
spending more time looking at them going ‘right you’re inspired. That’s nice. What
am I supposed to do about it?’ I’m thinking that one might take some getting
used to. There are ways around the emotions, but they require actual game-play
to find. Items like gems and paintings, all found in game, can have effects on
mood. A cut gem for example can make Sims feel focused, whereas an uncut one
makes them playful. There are also certain career objects, unlocked by reaching
level (n) of (x) career, which can enhance moods to suit the career in question.
It’s all rather confusing and I think I’ll just cheat manage my moodlets.
The lack of
toddlers does seems a bit strange to me, people in real life don’t just jump
out of their crib one day and say ‘right, that’s it. I’m a child now!’. The Sims
is supposed to be a life simulation game. They missed a step.
I am primarily a builder. When I play The Sims I mostly
build houses, so while I can say a few things about the game play: I love the
multitasking options and the new skill points available. Mischief and Video
Games anyone? I am mostly thinking about building my next house.
The building tools
are a Sim architects’ dream come true. Apart from the floors. The build and buy
modes and now one mode, making it instantly faster to access furniture for the
room you just lovingly crafted, and the ability to move entire rooms and drag
them into whatever shape and size you fancy is amazing. You also don’t have to
rely on placing columns or walls under a room upstairs, defying the laws of
physics has never been easier! The style of the game sort of leads you into
building a 1920’s style Louisiana dream house, but with some creativity and a
bit of ingenuity, it’s easy to circumvent that and build some modern
masterpiece made entirely of glass and covered in blue felt. Ok that’s a bit
far, but you know what I mean.
The biggest issue I
have with the build tools is that the floor is so hard to get right. In all
previous games all you had to do was drag a carpet tile over an area and you
had a floor, in The Sims 4 that doesn't work. At all. It seems, unless I've
missed something glaringly obvious, which is not that uncommon if I’m honest,
the only way to get a floor in your house it to use the “flat square/triangle/rounded
end thingy” tool (which I assume was meant to say floor and they forgot) and re-size it. The problem is that if you
place it after you've built the walls, it will delete them. Which gets a bit
infuriating if you’re trying to build a hallway upstairs.
The lack of create
a style is noticeable, but not game destroying. There are a few versions of
each object and wall/floor covering, enough to mix and match. Although I do
think ill be using the same sets over and over.
I think, in the
end, The Sims 4 is about compromise. If you want amazing, high resolution,
realistic Sims and an open world and fully customizable content. Then yes,
stick to The Sims 3. But if you want a Sims game that actually works, doesn't take
3 hours to load and still has all the main features you expect from a
simulation game, while also being packed with tongue in cheek gimmicks like the
rocket science skill and the ability to “take an angry poop” then this is
probably the game for you. I recommend it, and when EA bring out the first
expansions, (which I predict as being The Sims 4: Pool Party!) I’m sure it will
get even better.
I’m giving it 3 1/2 stars, because I really wanted a pool.
