In an era where life simulation games like The Sims 4 dominate the mainstream market, I find myself very much preferring The Sims 2. As a long time fan, I continue to play this classic even today, despite the newer generations. Unless upcoming titles such as Life By You and Paralives manage to sway me, I anticipate continuing to play The Sims 2 for the foreseeable future.
The Unique Want and Fear System
So, what keeps me interested in The Sims 2? In the first place, the game features the “wants and fears” system. Unlike other games where you normally dictate your characters’ desires, in The Sims 2, your sims have instinctual wants and fears determined by their aspirations. This adds a layer of realism that I find particularly interesting. When you neglect to fulfil their wants, their aspiration meter plummets, sending them spiralling into depression and madness
For those wanting to know more, I’ve included a link here to an informative video that explores this interesting aspect of the game.
My personal gameplay style centres around fulfilling my sims’ wants, which is an experience I find thoroughly rewarding. The game also incorporates an excellent rewards system. While it has the potential to disrupt game balance, that largely depends on your gameplay strategy, making it versatile yet challenging.
Running a Lucrative Business
Another great feature is the ability to run your own business within the game. It’s surprisingly more lucrative than simply sticking to a regular job. By selling high-value items through your business establishments, you make a lot of money. Any seasoned Sims 2 player would say this is very profitable compared to other activities.
As a side note, I purposefully avoid using cheats like ‘kaching’ and ‘motherlode’ in my gameplay. They might be convenient, but they’re not true to life. The satisfaction of achieving goals the hard way, fulfilling both my sims’ wants for money and ‘earning money memories’, outweighs the instant gratification of cheats.
Game Balance and Comparison with Other Versions
When compared to The Sims 4, I find that the latter includes several game-breaking mechanics. For instance, you can form a club where sims are encouraged to paint, effectively turning your basement into an art factory with free labour. That’s ridiculous! In a realistic business setting, employees deserve to be compensated for their hard work.
Speaking of other versions, I did enjoy The Sims 3 for its open-world system. However, by 2013, the game became overwhelmingly complex and laggy, even on high-end computers. The sheer number of customisation options felt too burdensome, a far cry from the simplicity and balance of The Sims 2.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, my fondness for The Sims 2 remains strong, even in today’s rapidly evolving gaming landscape. While I have a Simblr, updates are sparse due to the demands of work, my own business, and life in general. When I do find time to unwind, you’re most likely to find me either going out or playing the Sims 2.
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