The Sims 4 begins like most other The Sims games; players must create a Sims character and find a home, job and begin living life in a virtual simulation. It's here where the new improvements start showing up in The Sims 4, because the game features an intuitive new create a character tool that is more advanced than anything seen in previous installments to the series. The feature goes really deep in detail this time from eye color and hairstyles down to the size of the character's chin or the broadness of their shoulders. Players can spend multiple hours creating their Sims characters alone, so as long as newcomers don't feel overwhelmed by the plethora of options available for creating Sims, the new create a character is a welcome change indeed.
Sims characters in The Sims 4 look different, but the characters now feature a full range of new emotions and reactions based on those emotions that will change the way players experience the game. Characters will now feel happy, sad, energized and more, and the emotions will be reflected at the bottom of the game's heads-up display. The emotions a character is feeling will make the Sims react differently to certain situations. Fatigued Sims will fall out and sleep on the floor, while energized Sims will perform more tasks than usual. The reactions to the new emotions makes the game more realistic and a more enjoyable experience overall.
Some other big changes for The Sims 4 includes improvements on older features. Sims will now be able to perform multiple tasks at one time. Now, a Sims could be talking to another Sims in their home while simultaneously cooking a meal. The feature is a nice change that saves players times and allows their Sims to grow and progress through the game more efficiently. Another big change is the enhanced build mode that allows players to completely customize certain items in the game including Sims' homes. While the new features don't exactly make The Sims 4 an architect simulator, there are plenty of tools available to tweak houses to the exact vision players have for the home. The only real problem with working on a Sims' home is the isometric camera that sometimes makes it difficult to make changes in the corners of rooms, but it's not impossible to get around this problem.
After players have got their Sims characters modeled to perfection, players can head to The Gallery to share their creation online with other players. The Sims 4 features an online share tool where players can share and download Sims characters, homes and more. It's a neat feature that makes the game a more social experience, and gamers will love having a chance to see what friends are doing in their own game, since The Sims 4 still has no true multiplayer features.
The Sims 4 produces some disappointments, primarily, through the removal of older features that are left out of the new game. Sims characters can no longer be seen in their Toddler phase, so players looking to create baby Sims will need to revisit older games in the series to do so. Some items have been removed from the game as well including swimming pools, though there are plenty of other exciting items included in the new release that help make up for the loses. The Sims 4 will likely see several expansions over the next few years, so there is still plenty of time to see the game improved and have new content added to an already fun game.
The Sims 4 is available in a digital deluxe version that includes the Life of the Party, Awesome Animal Hats and Up All Night content packs. Life of the Party adds a flaming tiki bar and plenty of party clothes. Up All Night provides more party items including a laser light show, decorations and party clothes. Awesome Animal Hats needs no explanation, but it's worth noting the hats are pretty awesome indeed. Players that purchase The Sims 4 Digital Deluxe Edition will also gain access to the game's official soundtrack to make this a good deal for fans of the series.
The Sims 4 is easily the best looking game in the franchise. The game can push medium to high end PCs to their limit with graphics settings cranked up, and the game looks fantastic as a result. The improved graphics make the new animations and reactions couple with new emotions for Sims to create a really immersive and enjoyable experience. Other nice presentation features includes a nice sound design with new themes that perfectly match the action in the game and plenty of garbled speech Sims characters have been known for.
The Sims 4 reaches an exciting new high for the Sims franchise. The game adds plenty of new content and enhancements that is plenty of fun on its own but also shows a promising future for the new game as more expansions arrive. Fans of the series may be disappointed with some of the items and features that have been stripped from the new release, but the new create a Sims tool is extensive and a magnificent new feature for the game, and the new Gallery is a great way to allow players to share content with friends that also play The Sims 4. Gamers shouldn't hesitate to pick up a copy of The Sims 4 on PC today.
The Sims 4 is now available exclusively for PC and can be purchased for $69.99. The Sims 4 is rated T by the ESRB for Comic Mischief, Mild Violence and Sexual Themes. For more information on the game, check out the official The Sims 4 website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- New Emotions and Personalities
- Enhanced Sims Creator Tools
- Share Content in The Gallery
- Life of the Party and Up All Night Bonus Content
Game Information:
Developer: The Sims Studio
Publisher: EA
Available exclusively for PC (reviewed)
Release Date: September 2, 2014
