The Sims 4 Review (PC)

very good
key review info
  • Game: The Sims 4
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: No
  • Reviewed on:
The Sims 4 review on PC

Few franchises have demonstrated the potential of expansions like The Sims one, coming from developer Maxis and Electronic Arts. Each major iteration saw the appearance of many smaller add-ons, DLC packs, or full-fledged expansions that enhanced the base game.

As such, it was obvious that for The Sims 4, the next major installment in the series, the two companies had to pull off something special that felt like it wasn't a skeleton for the many expansions set to appear down the line.

Some controversies have already surfaced over key missing content, like toddlers or swimming pools, so it's going to be interesting to see if Maxis and EA have managed to make up for it and implement plenty of new things.

Does The Sims 4 manage to deliver an experience worthy of the series or should more content be added in order to justify its full price? Let's find out.

Gameplay

The Sims games have always been about the stories you can craft for your virtual sim and this ties a lot into the core gameplay, so I won't dedicate a separate section to the plot.

The first thing that any Sims veteran will notice when starting up The Sims 4 is the speed of its loading. After installing a few expansions and a few user-created mods, The Sims 3 grinded to a halt and had lengthy loading screens that practically killed any passion in the player.

After getting over the speedy loading, players are met with Create-A-Sim, the new and improved system through which they can create and customize their own Sim in all sorts of ways. After enduring the clumsy and complex systems seen in The Sims 3 or in previous titles, The Sims 4's creation mechanic appears to be the most intuitive one yet, especially since you can actually shape and mold using the mouse cursor, instead of just fiddling with sliders or numbers, although in some areas a lot of precision is required.

Create-A-Sim has been overhauled
Create-A-Sim has been overhauled
Clothing is organized in a better way, but the actual options for things like colors and makeup are a bit scarce, so expect some DLC or user-generated content to bring more choices in the future. Create-a-Style is gone so those looking to really customize their creations will end up disappointed.

While there are fewer traits in the new game, four as opposed to The Sims 3's standard five, there are quite still plenty of outlandish combinations that result in some interesting characters and moments when interacting with other Sims.

After completing the creation process, you go into the Build Mode, where you can craft a house for your Sim by using the many different tools available inside the game. While in The Sims 3 the build mode was pretty complete and required a lot of time to master, here it's much easier to design and forge your own home.

The system is great for those that want to create a basic home with pre-made rooms and get to playing the game, but also for those that want to make the home of their dreams by customizing every square foot/meter.

After creating the Sim and making sure he lives in a nice home, the third major aspect of the game kicks in – the actual life simulation. Depending on your traits and inspirations, you can do all sorts of crazy things, but also more regular ones, like getting a job, roaming the neighborhood, going to all sorts of social gatherings, and eventually establishing a family.

However one key sore point in The Sims 4 is the tiny neighborhood. As opposed to the much larger towns seen in The Sims 3, the new game's environments seem cramped, despite the fact that they feature quite a lot of different lots to visit. While the loading is fast, it's also rather often, as you're met with a transition screen when traveling between zones.

While the actual levels are small, the Sim behavior is improved in quite a lot of different ways, chief among which being the ability to multitask certain items. From reading on the toilet, to holding two drinks in their hands, Sims are much more capable of doing different actions at the same time. Sure, there are the occasional issues with paths taken by the characters, but overall, they're quite good.

Actual group behavior is also much better and pretty lifelike, especially in situations like friends hanging out in bars or at home. However, especially during such encounters, expect quite a few glitches. While I realize that The Sims 4 is a hugely ambitious game that needs to account for all sorts of situations, there are some problems that popped up during regular gameplay, such as missing babies, mistaken friends, and other such glitches, not to mention downright crashes, so save often.

Besides the technical issues, while The Sims 4 does feel like a pretty fun experience, it also leaves plenty of room for expansions and add-ons, and in some cases things are rather obvious. There are plenty of missing key items, very few options to choose from in terms of traits or aspirations, and the customization system has very generic items.

A major missing aspect of the game involves the jobs system. Whenever they go to work, your Sims just disappear from the map and you can't do anything that concerns them.

Visuals and Sound

The Sims 4 looks really impressive at all zoom levels, from the highly detailed Create-A-Sim to the fantastic Build mode, to the regular gameplay. Character models and the many items inside the game look great and animations are much more fluid. Textures are also quite good and fit the whole Sims style perfectly. The interface, which is more simple and subdued than in previous iterations, is also a welcome sight.

The soundtrack is quite varied and pretty fun, managing to complement the action on the screen in a good way, even though some of the situations you can get yourself into sometimes don't really match the generic music. Actual Sim talk is also pretty varied and won't annoy players unless they're engaging in extended sessions.

Having fun is important
Having fun is important

The Good

  • Stellar visuals and animations
  • Smarter Sims
  • Better interactions
  • Simple yet comprehensive Create-A-Sim and Build Mode

The Bad

  • Plenty of missing mechanics or systems
  • Soundtrack is sometimes a bit too generic
  • Quite a few bugs and glitches

Conclusion

The Sims 4 is a fun experience that certainly takes great steps in improving the core mechanics of the series. The Create-A-Sim and Build Mode systems are much more accessible yet offer a lot of depth for those that desire it. Sims are smart, can multitask, and interact in lots of nifty ways. However, there are still plenty of missing core items while the existing set of options are limited, to say the least, no doubt to ensure that the upcoming expansions bring lots of highly desirable things.
story 8
gameplay 8
concept 8
graphics 9
audio 7
multiplayer 0
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 
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The Sims 4 Screenshots (20 Images)

The Sims 4 review on PCThe Sims 4 screenshotCreate-A-Sim has been overhauledThe Sims 4 screenshotThe Sims 4 screenshot
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