Not even then, really. Everything in it is just so completely and utterly shallow even compared to comparable things in The Sims 3. It has a huge variety of things that do basically nothing with a core gameplay loop that's even more of just a "passively win" idle game than the earlier games. I've pirated it a few times over the years to see what's been added and it's always just sort of disappointing and the new content is less interesting than it sounded like.
It's really disappointing that they just kind of stripped down 3 and then just treaded water ever since instead of building on any of the mechanics 3 introduced.
totally agree. even sims 2! like LGR touches on in the video there are still aspects of the sims 2 that have more depth, more care than sims 4. it's not just animations, there are game mechanics too that have devolved since 2.
it's definitely still not "great" it is strong in some aspects like sim creation, the art is good, but like LGR touches on in many ways it is a more shallow game than sims 3, even sims 2. less heart and soul.
Building:
Install negrutiu's NSIS fork.
If building a version prior to v12, copy the files from the .\plugins directory to your x86-unicode plugins folder.
Run NSIS on .\src\TS_Web_Installer.nsi, installer will build to .\bin\Web Installer.
bro i'm a human i don't speak computer
j/k i'm just too drunk for instructions, I'll read it again later <3
I genuinely pity the poor folks who have to work on the Sims 4. EA seems to be completely determined to push out nothing but the minimum-viable product year after year, while you also have a fanbase that all care about wildly different things and the base you build your game on just isn't very technically or mechanically sound.
It's genuinely crazy to think just how ambitious and big The Sims 3 was in comparison, if sometimes to its detriment. Like just the first expansion pack added three entirely new worlds with tons of unique assets and mechanics and people didn't even like that one when it came out and it's probably got more content in it than like five Sims 4 packs combined. The later DLCs also had wild features like being able to build houseboats and actually drive them around, which is completely inconceivable within what Sims 4 can do.
Certainly doesn't help that since they ported the game to console they seemingly have to really abide by strict memory limits, where they have strict limits on how many items they can place on prebuilt lots and some of them really really feel empty.
so what? why make something new when what exists is good and can be built upon? can't imagine being mad that an American company isn't wasting money on making new treats.