Howdy, and welcome to my shrine for, if we're judging by playtime, my all time favourite video game: The Sims 2.
Now, why The Sims 2? The biggest draw to me over the other games is the amount of control you have. In TS2, you can change every aspect of the game. Maybe not 100% out of the box, but if you want to change something, you can. This means the life sim is full of endless possibilities, hence why I have been playing it for 15+ years. Ditch technology and set your game in a bygone era where sims have to scavenge for food. Play a closed off community of only vampire and werewolves who set up camp on a deserted fairground. Play a suburban neighbourhood in present day with a dark secret.
While TS3 and TS4 do have features I love and wish I had in TS2 (some QoL stuff - I yearn for TS4's search bar all the time haha), the open-endedness keeps me coming back. TS3 and TS4 have bigger worlds but at the cost of player control - you can't ditch all your tech, or make sure your community is only vamps and werewolves. Oh, and TS2 is also the only game where you can place lots wherever you like rather than having fixed plots.
The other thing that keeps me coming back are the Sims themselves. I always find myself quickly disappointed when I try to play TS4 because all the sims feel the same to me. In TS2, I have grown attached to certain sims. I have been surprised by twists and turns. I've had rivalries form, and enemies made. Hearts broken, and romances bloom outside of my control. And that's just with the default personalities! The sims are even richer when you get the traits mod.
My TS2 Simmer Bio Favourite Hood(s): Pleasantview, Strangetown, Twikii Island Favourite Lifestate(s): Witch, Alien Favourite Premade(s): The Goth Family, Lilith Pleasant, Olive Specter, Ophelia Nigmos, The Smith Family Favourite EP(s): AL, FT, OFB, Seasons Favourite SP(s): Ikea, TSS, M&G
Thursday , September 23, 2004
How To Play TS2 In The 2020s
Thanks to the TS2 Starter Pack by osab, playing TS2 is easier than it was back in 2004. Everything you need is on the github page. No seriously, it really is that simple- the installer even takes care of extra stuff like clean neighbourhoods and TS2 RPC for you. Don't forget to read the provided Google Doc guide while you do! It also walks you through graphic tweaks, and installing reshade if you so wish.
Garden of Shadows- the monthly themes (found in "Pixelated") are a fun treasure trove, and the downloads section is great if you like 2000s goth, or urban grunge aesthetics
Plumbob Keep or "PBK" is the go-to for historical gameplay. Primarily medieval, but you can find some other eras on there.