Highlights
- The Sims 4's post-launch support has been impressive, with Maxis releasing multiple DLCs and Stuff Packs to keep players entertained.
- The Scenario feature in The Sims 4 revolutionized gameplay, providing unique challenges and engaging storylines to spice up the game.
- Including Scenarios as a base feature in The Sims 5 could attract fans and provide a headstart for the upcoming title, while also offering players a break from managing an entire household.
The Sims 4 has had some of the most impressive post-launch support ever, as Maxis has been busy releasing multiple DLCs and Stuff Packs to freshen up the landscape and keep players entertained in the virtual life simulator. The community is always welcoming of new features, and in recent years, the developer has obliged with never-before-seen mechanics to spice up the latest installment's gameplay, most notably incorporating Neighborhood Stories to add some flesh to the backstories of NPCs across the worlds in the Sims universe. With Project Rene underway and The Sims 5 some ways out, one such The Sims 4 post-launch feature - Scenarios - should be part of the new title right from the onset to get fans' attention.
Maxis, and Electronic Arts by extension, have often received criticism for their perceived money-grab approach to DLCs and other post-launch content in The Sims history, as players have lamented spending astronomically higher figures on additional content than the base game. However, the allure of the new features is undeniable, as The Sims 4 looks almost unrecognizably bland without any of the dynamics from content packs, which explains why gamers continue to purchase every pack that debuts. The Scenario mechanism revolutionized traditional The Sims gameplay when it launched, and its impact on the player base makes a case for its inclusion in The Sims 5's launch.
Scenarios Need to Be a Base Feature of The Sims 5
Coming up with an idea of a Sim's life can be draining, as there are lots of factors to be considered, including jobs, aspirations, family life, and a host of other things. These choices make The Sims the premier life simulator, but sometimes, players want to unwind without having to map out goals for their virtual character. The Scenario feature was a game changer for The Sims 4, with each unique challenge requiring a specific focus from gamers to complete. While some scenarios are little more than tutorials to familiarize players with new additions like the Horse Ranch DLC and its unique quests, others create engaging storylines that can spice up The Sims 4's otherwise repetitive nature.
Scenarios touch on different areas of The Sims 4, and each comes with a brief description detailing the requirements, starting position, and potential outcomes of the challenge players should work towards. Players can create a new virtual avatar or import from the Gallery since using existing Sims to play through scenarios isn't permitted. Most of these challenges require one Sim, usually a Young Adult or Adult, but some also include toddlers in the experience. Players can also switch between playing scenarios and their regular Sim lives, but have to be mindful of the limited time to complete some challenges.
An example of scenarios is the Power Couple, where married Sims share the same ambitious dreams of becoming a CEO. There's a little catch, as the couple will be working in the same careers in The Sims 4. Whether the rivalry will take a toll on the couple's relationship is up to the player, although the romantic decay from their workaholic attitudes makes maintaining their love an uphill climb. Scenarios, despite their relatively short durations, do wonders for The Sims 4's playability, as gamers focus squarely on completing a challenge's requirements without the constant distractions of life in the numerous Sims worlds.
Fans expect the sequel to surpass The Sims 4's performance in just about every category, and this expectation is a roadblock for The Sims 5. Maxis could give the upcoming title a headstart with the Scenarios dynamic equipped in the base game, encouraging fans to invest in the title instead of hiding the mechanism behind a paywall. Players could get accustomed to the installment's mechanics by playing through temporary lives, and Scenarios also offer some much-needed respite from the stresses of staying on top of an entire household's needs.
The Sims 5 is in development.