Description
The Sims 4, the fourth major installment in EA’s life simulation series, has sparked significant discussion among players since its release in 2014. While it offers a polished visual style and accessible gameplay, it has also been the subject of mixed reactions due to its content, pricing, and evolution over time. Here’s an in-depth review based on the collective opinions of players and critics.
Strengths
1. Improved Graphics and Aesthetics
Players widely praise the visual improvements in The Sims 4. The art style strikes a balance between realism and whimsy, with smoother animations and more expressive Sims. This makes interactions feel more dynamic and relatable.
2. Build and Buy Mode Enhancements
The Build/Buy system is one of the game’s standout features. The drag-and-drop interface, room templates, and the ability to resize and reposition items provide unprecedented creative freedom. Players appreciate the robust customization options, which allow for intricate home designs.
3. Emotion System
The introduction of emotions added a new layer of complexity to gameplay. Sims’ behaviors and interactions are influenced by their emotional states, creating more varied and unpredictable scenarios.
4. Expansive Customization with CAS
The Create-a-Sim (CAS) tool received significant upgrades, with sliders allowing for greater control over a Sim’s appearance. Players enjoy the diversity of body types, facial features, and clothing options, although some argue more diversity could still be included.
Criticisms
1. Lack of Base Game Content at Launch
At release, The Sims 4 faced backlash for missing core features present in previous entries, such as toddlers, pools, and an open world. Although some of these have been reintroduced via updates, the initial omissions left many players feeling the game was incomplete.
2. Overreliance on DLC
A common complaint is the heavy emphasis on downloadable content (DLC). With over 50 expansion packs, game packs, and stuff packs available, some players feel the pricing model is exploitative. Many argue that essential features, such as Seasons or Pets, should be included in the base game rather than locked behind paywalls.
3. Limited Interactivity and Depth
Compared to The Sims 3, some players feel The Sims 4 lacks depth in its gameplay systems. The removal of an open world and reduced focus on storytelling elements make it feel more restrictive and shallow to some.
4. Repetitive Gameplay
Many players report that after the initial novelty wears off, gameplay becomes repetitive. Sims often follow predictable routines, and career or aspiration paths lack significant variation.
Ongoing Updates and Improvements
EA has consistently updated The Sims 4, adding new features, free content, and addressing community feedback. The inclusion of diverse skin tones, gender customization, and pronouns reflects the developers’ commitment to inclusivity.
However, some updates have been criticized for introducing bugs or failing to address long-standing issues.
Community and Mods
The modding community has been a lifeline for The Sims 4. Mods and custom content (CC) extend the game’s longevity by adding features, clothing, and gameplay mechanics absent from the official releases. This community-driven content is a major factor in keeping the game relevant years after its launch.
Final Thoughts
Pros:
- Stunning visuals and animations
- Robust building tools and customization options
- Regular updates and improvements
Cons:
- Expensive DLC model
- Limited depth compared to previous games
- Repetitive gameplay loop
Overall, The Sims 4 is a polarizing entry in the series. While its creative tools and visuals are among the best in the franchise, it often feels incomplete without additional purchases. Fans of the series may find it enjoyable, especially with mods, but those new to The Sims might find the experience restrictive unless they’re willing to invest in expansions.
pasder45 –
Perfect Sims version for a casual gamer!
No toddlers? Thank you, Maxis! It was always so irritating to deal with babies and toddlers so much that it was ALL you were doing and your Sim spent all their time meeting all their needs. Very realistic for sure but I did that in real life and I play games for fun not reality. I always just ended up aging them up to a child as quick as possible.
No pools? They were nice to make your property cool and pretty. But having your Sims swim in them was about as exciting as watching your Sim bicycle across a big open world map to work.
But anyway let's focus on the fact that this is Sims 4 and not Sims 3. A new direction. The create a sim is really great and easy to use. I love the cartoonish style graphics. I do admit I miss the ability to create some crazy outfits using all the patterns and the color wheel but I can manage without it and actually spend a lot less time creating my Sims and more time playing the game.
I was nervous about a loading screen everytime my Sim changed venues but it is just a few seconds and is so much better than the waste of time of watching them travel or wasting all their energy running somewhere. Like I said I am a casual gamer though.
The whole interface seems a lot more crisp and clear. I like the whole emotions idea and how it gets me to play my Sim based on how they feel at the moment. I don't have to of course but it is much more fun than always playing just to meet your needs or to increase skills or get a promotion.
Oh and my favorite part that got me stoked about Sims 4 was when my Sim was double fisting a milk and a coffee while watching tv and talking to his friend. It could only be better if he was holding two beers 🙂 The multi-tasking is a great feature. I haven't seen it yet but I sure hope my Sim can chat with someone on the phone while sitting on the toilet.
This is a fun game. Give it a chance
**I wanted to add that while I like the emotions, they can tend to shift around very quickly at times. Maybe my Sim is just overy emotional…or nuts 😛
***Update: After getting some more playing time this weekend I will add some new things I enjoyed about the game and even some issues I had.
I really enjoyed the fact that you can bake your own cake for your birthday party. I had to learn this through my own research however after searching through the items list for a birthday cake and finding nothing. I also really enjoy that you are given goals to accomplish to make your parties and dates better. It always irritated me in Sims 3 when you were given a bad party or date rating and had no idea what you did wrong.
On that same note I like that you have goals to help gain promotion at work rather than just boosting skills related to your job and going to work with a good mood. In my tech job, I have to do things like "mod a game" and I think it is very cool that I can work on job related things while chatting with house guests or even send someone a text. Also I think Sims 3 simply had a smiley face to represent your job performance. Sims 4 gives a much more clear progress bar on how things are going at work and this seems to change pretty accurately based on how you perform out of work tasks and the way you choose to work when you get there. Work hard, take it easy, leave early, etc… I didnt notice this option at first. It is a bit difficult to notice at first. Not sure if I missed it in the tutorial but i figured it out eventually.
Not sure if this is good or bad but depends on your game style I guess, but it seems like there is no noticeable affect for being late to work. If my guy is supposed to be to work at 9, he usually doesn't even leave until 9 and sometimes if I'm doing something, he doesn't even leave until 9:30. At times it seems like time flies by while at work, almost to the point you forget to adjust how you want to work that day. Other times it seems to go a bit slower like in Sims 3 and I wonder if that is related to the fact that I am clicking around looking at things. Also I noticed that you can't check your needs or click ahead on what you want your sim to do as soon as they get home while they are at work. I don't really love or hate this but it is a noticeable difference.
I had one major issue where my son had started a sim and took my sim to the gym with him. When I restarted my game, it started at the gym but I couldn't find my sim or click on anything. I gave up on it slightly angry and quit the game. When I went back to it later, my sim was back in his house with all of his needs at 100%. Also I had a ton of friends i didn't know about and some of the chicks I was hitting on were now elders. Not sure how well it works having 4 of us with different families in the same sim world and playing at different times but I know we didn't have that option in Sims 3.