Summary

The Sims 4is 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 4isn’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 4is actually rather different from its predecessors, for better or for worse. Manyfeatures that were synonymous withThe Sims 3were absent from its sequel. On the other hand,The Sims 4made 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, thoughThe Sims 4players have encountered a roadblock with character customization for quite some time now.

The Sims 4 Tag Page Cover Art

The Sims 4 Fans Still Struggle With Same Face Syndrome

The Sims 4’s Visual Upgrade

It’s no wonder thatThe Sims 4looks a fair deal better than its predecessors, considering the generational gap at play. EvenThe Sims 4itself is just under ten years old now, and it very much holds up from a graphical perspective.The Sims 5doesn’t seem to be coming anytime soon, and sometimes it’s hard to see it as necessary.

The Sims 4has 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 anySimsgame, 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 inThe Simsseriesis 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 inThe 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 inThe Sims 4stems 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 withCreate 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 4has 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 benefitThe Sims 4has 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 to get the results they desire. Hopefully, updates toThe Sims 4will finally give this issue the attention it deserves.

The Sims 4

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