It has been years since I played a Sims game which is surprising because it actually is the perfect game for me. I really like the idea of creating an avatar in my approximate image, instill it with all of the qualities that I wish I had or think I have. It sounds very tempting; an opportunity to live out some wild fantasies like becoming a rock star or if you want, settling down for marriage and live happily ever after.
The Sims 4 begins by creating your Sim through a very detailed customizable tool. You can modify pretty much everything. As well as the usual customizations in terms of facial features, body size, age, etc.
You can also specify other details like how ladylike or manly your character will be, their walk, how they interact with other Sims by way of personality type and traits, as well as their ambitions in life. But it took me a while to figure it all out.
So very early it became clear on the impediments of this console version.
While some of the buttons and controls work well, others feel unresponsive. The lack of responsiveness in the controls and the menu system that is clearly built for PC make for an early frustrating game, and building houses for Sims a particular irritation. Coupled with that, the game provides a very basic tutorial, so new players like myself, are left a little befuddled.
Because of the poor controls, furnishing my home took me up to 2 hours. Even the create-a-Sim mode is unhandy – especially when I wanted to make detailed changes such as adjusting chin or eye size… I had to ask a friend how to adjust my facial features, and that’s how I figured out this process requires dragging the cursor back and forth, and to me, it feels awkward to do with a controller. Or I am just not enough of a frequent gamer.
After I had made a house for my Sim, I started trying to understand the basics of what you actually have to do. I had her paint, let her read a book, sent her to the toilet when she needed it and let her sleep when she was tired. I felt bad for her after a few days when I realized she was lonely and hadn’t had any interaction with another Sim for a while so, in an attempt to cheer her up, I decided to invite some of my friends or acquaintances round for a party. Realizing I didn’t have any friends. This wasn’t very clear how to make them since you can’t always talk with people walking by. But after a while, I figured out I could invite my neighbors and from then on, my Sim became a happier girl.
The result is a game that’s wonderfully open, giving you the freedom to play it as you please. You might see it as a chance to exercise your inner interior designer, as you design and redesign your Sims’ home to suit your mood or get your landscape architect on in the garden. You might decide to focus on your career or hobbies, doing everything you can to develop your Sims’ talents and earn those promotions. Or, if that’s your thing, you might decide to just be a creepy voyeur and watch how things play out.
That being said, this isn’t an entirely freeform sandbox game; there are a bunch of simulation systems in place that you have to work within if you want to achieve whatever your idea of success is. Each Sim has a variety of needs that need to be kept in check, like hunger, energy, and hygiene; they tend to be able to handle these themselves, but only if they’ve got the means, and personality might see some Sims neglecting certain needs in favor of others. Keeping all of a Sim’s needs in check isn’t difficult, but you need to consider these facts and, in consequence, must take the necessary actions.
Likewise, Sims need money (Simoleons) to live, which you earn by working, selling things, and completing objectives. Without money, you can’t buy food or pay your bills, and your Sims will end up sick, starving, and ultimately… Dead. A job is the main source of income, but you can also earn it by doing things like selling artwork your Sims create. But again, this is another area that is poorly explained to new players. (Sorry guys, I’m a noob). I’ve learned over time that you can impact the effort your Sim puts into their work which has positive and negative consequences plus if you choose a job that takes them away from their house they just sort of disappear for several in-game hours which feels at odds with the idea that you are the architect of their life. Having them missing for extended periods of time with very little interaction feels out of place.
Another area of the game that feels under-developed is the neighborhoods. There are three areas that your Sim can move around in. Each area has a peculiar feel, but they don’t really feel connected to each other, and they also feel a little inadequate. There isn’t much by the way of places to take your Sim to. A lack of things like bars, playgrounds, coffee shops, or grocery stores seems like a glaring exclusion. Plus, switching between neighborhoods is a lengthy loading screen that makes movement around them a chore.
The core gameplay of The Sims 4 is a delight, watching them grow in every aspect of their life is remarkably satisfying. And the way of leveling up skills is also really engaging. The building mechanic, once you learn the systems to be effective, is very detailed with tons of customizable options, but for me, it is a shame that the developers didn’t put as much attention into making this version practical for the console. The controls and menu system are not good enough for a controller, and they could somewhat simplify it because you will find yourself either battling with the cursor or trying to remember the button prompts for different things. Similarly, for brand new players like myself, the game could do with a more comprehensive tutorial system. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in learning on the job, so to speak, but a lot of early mistakes and frustrations could be avoided if there were regular prompts on how to do certain things.
It’s great to have a game like The Sims 4 on a console, It feels like a game that will keep many people entertained for a long time as the underlying game is incredibly compelling. In this instance, though the poor attention to the fundamental ways in which players on console interact with the in-game systems means it is a difficult game to recommend. But hey, aside from some errors and control issues, the rest of my experience was smooth. I could easily flip through dialogue options and actions, or change the speed of time when needed. I enjoyed watching my Sims interact with one another in unique ways thanks to diverse emotions, such as two Sims becoming embarrassed after one confessed an attraction to the other. Emergent moments like these are part of the core appeal of The Sims, and it remains intact here. Unfortunately, while these moments are entertaining, your Sims’ emotions change too quickly, not giving you enough time to capitalize on them.
Conclusion:
With The Sims 4, the choice is yours and how you play or have fun with the game is entirely up to you. The tools are all there, but you’re in charge of how your gameplay is built. It’s worth checking out if you don’t already own the game. Although the console version features some shifty controls, it largely delivers on its promise of bringing a faithful gameplay.
