Just recently the Sims 4 reveal trailer was released, and it caused quite a stir within the community. Many people are happy and excited (me), but A LOT of people are pretty angry. From what I've derived this anger is directed mainly at the graphics. People are complaining that the graphics are, "too cartoony" and, "less realistic than Sims 3." Some of the community is trying to calm these people by telling them that it will, "help the game run easier on your computer." I am scoffing vivaciously at this idea.
Now first off, let's compare graphics here. The first image is from Sims 2, the second from 3, and the last from the gameplay trailer of 4. Now, from my perspective, four seems like the most "realistic" looking character here. The eye's aren't bulging and anime-like, the face structure could actually...you know...EXIST, and the shading is something that you might actually see on a person, you know?
Yes, it looks more vector-oriented, but it adds a crazy-ness to it. It's unique. It's not some realistic shooter game or a new Laura Croft or something like that. This style keeps with the Sims' goofy yet beautiful art style that it's kept through its entire life span. I think the proper word for this is "artistic." This is a very fresh and artistic style.
(And when you look at this it's obvious that it will be harder to run than 3 and people are just silly.)
Yes, it looks more vector-oriented, but it adds a crazy-ness to it. It's unique. It's not some realistic shooter game or a new Laura Croft or something like that. This style keeps with the Sims' goofy yet beautiful art style that it's kept through its entire life span. I think the proper word for this is "artistic." This is a very fresh and artistic style.
(And when you look at this it's obvious that it will be harder to run than 3 and people are just silly.)
I'm also very curious as to why THIS is considered more realistic. The expressions aren't realistic, the pixelation of the hair/trees...yeah we don't have that in real life. The shading? Textures? Nope.....And let us not forget....
This image from Sims 3 Supernatural leads me to my final point. The Sims games were never really meant to be that realistic. Sure, at the beginning of the games...like Sims 1, it tried a bit more to capture a regular person's life. Let me remind you, however, that TS1 was kinda just a goofy "let's mess with something" game. It didn't have any creativity with it or any interesting qualities. I tried to play TS1 recently and was bored with how hard it tried to be realistic.
The preceding games, however, added....a style. Each game continued to add new ways you could live your Sim's life. New jobs, relationships, cars, items, skills. But they also added goofy things like aliens and random demotions/spur of the moment decisions because someone at work got set on fire or you farted on a very important client. All the book store books have ridiculous titles, you can literally grow burger patty plants, and you can become supernatural.
That being said, I feel that the quirky art style that Sims games continue to use fantastically represents the heart of the game. It's beautiful, and kind of realistic....but it's also really silly and just.....fun. It's just fun, goofy, quirky, unique, and very, very addictive. This would be less so, I feel, if the graphics were FPS tier. This style just makes it more interesting.
The preceding games, however, added....a style. Each game continued to add new ways you could live your Sim's life. New jobs, relationships, cars, items, skills. But they also added goofy things like aliens and random demotions/spur of the moment decisions because someone at work got set on fire or you farted on a very important client. All the book store books have ridiculous titles, you can literally grow burger patty plants, and you can become supernatural.
That being said, I feel that the quirky art style that Sims games continue to use fantastically represents the heart of the game. It's beautiful, and kind of realistic....but it's also really silly and just.....fun. It's just fun, goofy, quirky, unique, and very, very addictive. This would be less so, I feel, if the graphics were FPS tier. This style just makes it more interesting.
And I can say that I am very, very excited for this game and the continuation of the series.
(Except the constant expansions they put out for ludicrous prices. STAHP)
(Except the constant expansions they put out for ludicrous prices. STAHP)