Summary
- The Sims 4's clear graphical upgrade over its predecessor has been well received, but character customization has some problems.
- Create a Sim in The Sims 4 has sparked controversy among players due to issues like "same face syndrome."
- Many Sims turn out with oddly similar faces, despite fans' best efforts to distinguish each character.
The Sims 4 is nearly undisputed at the summit of life simulation games. In fact, the legacy standing behind it speaks to the series' impact on the genre as a whole. However, The Sims 4 isn't without its faults, and has often drawn comparisons between itself and its predecessors. In fact, one of these distinctions has led to a renewed round of criticism.
The Sims 4 is actually rather different from its predecessors, for better or for worse. Many features that were synonymous with The Sims 3 were absent from its sequel. On the other hand, The Sims 4 made a number of breakthroughs for the series, and has even improved greatly upon some initial sources of criticism. One design choice that has often received acclaim is the game's clear graphical update, though The Sims 4 players have encountered a roadblock with character customization for quite some time now.
The Sims 4: 10 Ways To Break Same Face Syndrome
Tired of Same Face Syndrome in The Sims 4? These tips should help solve the problem.
The Sims 4 Fans Still Struggle With Same Face Syndrome
The Sims 4's Visual Upgrade
It's no wonder that The Sims 4 looks a fair deal better than its predecessors, considering the generational gap at play. Even The Sims 4 itself is just under ten years old now, and it very much holds up from a graphical perspective. The Sims 5 doesn't seem to be coming anytime soon, and sometimes it's hard to see it as necessary.
The Sims 4 has a number of features that would seem unthinkable to cut from future titles. Its system of portraying the mood of Sims is just one example among many. However, one feature stands head and shoulders above all others in any Sims game, and it's one that players are still finding trouble with.
The Sims Lives and Dies by Character Creation
The Sims 4's visual differences from its predecessor haven't always been well received. Although the positives now far outweigh the negatives, it wasn't uncommon to hear plenty of criticism about the game's character design at the time of its launch. However, the most persistent issue for players lies within the very act of character creation itself.
Every game in The Sims series is famous for lending players the ability to make quirky representations of real life. Players first craft their Sims within a mode called "Create a Sim". Create a Sim is foundational to the series' reputation, and quite possibly the most important feature in The Sims.
Create a Sim Sparks Controversy Among The Sims 4 Players
Customization is essential to any Sims game, and this fact alone makes the ongoing issues all the more unfortunate. Players have long reported an issue which the community refers to as "same face syndrome". Same face syndrome is typically a criticism of an artist being unable to draw diverse faces among the characters they illustrate. Same face syndrome in The Sims 4 stems from the exact same principle.
Many players find themselves crafting a number of Sims only to be taken aback by their striking similarities, and this is disheartening for a number of reasons. For starters, many players can get lost in character creation for hours in all sorts of games. This goes doubly so with Create a Sim, considering it is so strongly to the object of the entire game. It is understandably frustrating to pour so much time and effort into reasonably hard work, only to come out with an end result that is opposite to the original intention.
The Sims 4 has always prioritized diversity, and this has most definitely been for the good of the game. Any game that seeks to portray life should likewise put the full range of human experience on display. This simply helps more players feel included, and is perhaps the biggest benefit The Sims 4 has contributed to the series so far. However, same face syndrome has remained as a hurdle for players to clear since launch.
There are a number of steps players can take to avoid same face syndrome, and all the frustration that may follow. In some ways, this means pouring even more intention and effort into character creation than the game already demands. However, for some, it is a worthy trade-off in order to get the results they desire. Hopefully, updates to The Sims 4 will finally give this issue the attention it deserves.
The Sims 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 26%
- Released
- September 2, 2014
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Cross-Platform Play
- Xbox, PlayStation, and computer versions of Sims 4 are all separate games incompatible with each other
- Cross Save
- no
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
