Occults are one of the most popular parts of The Sims 4, and have been a staple of the series since The Sims 2. Occult Sims are Sims with supernatural talents or a different species entirely, such as Werewolves, Vampires, Spellcasters, Mermaids, Aliens, and Ghosts. As The Sims has had occults since The Sims 2, many players have been expecting certain occult types from previous games to reappear in The Sims 4. This has happened for the most part, but a glaring omission is Fairies, which first appeared in The Sims 3: Supernatural.
Fairies may finally have their day in The Sims 4, as leaks and a recent official teaser video indicate that Fairies will be making a return in The Sims 4's next expansion pack. However, there are some reasons to temper expectations based on previous releases, and it remains to be seen if the next pack breaks an established pattern.
The Sims 4's Leaked Expansion Pack Could Widen the Gap with InZOI
The Sims 4's leaked expansion pack could be what sets The Sims 4 apart from InZOI, putting them on the opposite sides of the life sim genre.
The Sims 4 Fairies Should Have Been a Game Pack
Vampires, Werewolves, and Spellcasters were all released in their own, dedicated game packs. Game packs are smaller than expansion packs, but are more specialized around implementing a new type of gameplay. The game packs themed around a certain occult type tend to give occults that have more depth, personality, and gameplay compared to occults that appear in an expansion pack.
Game Packs vs Expansion Packs
Comparing occults from expansion packs and occults from game packs shows a massive difference in depth and quality of implementation. Werewolves, Vampires, and Spellcasters in The Sims 4 all have their own skill trees, themed Build and Buy Mode items, extensive Create-a-Sim items, and extensive gameplay and socialization options. Mermaids, Aliens, Servos, and Unicorns were included in expansion packs, and either have very limited socialization options or, like Unicorns, are even just aesthetic changes with no real change from their ordinary counterparts, and very limited compared to their The Sims 3 counterparts.
Fairies have been requested by The Sims 4 community for several years now, and were one of the most popular occults in The Sims 3. While Fairies have a great deal of potential, that they're being included in an expansion pack, rather than getting a dedicated game pack, is worrying.
The Sims 4's Expansion Pack Life States are Controversial
In an ideal world, an expansion pack that includes Fairies would be ideal, as buying a nature-themed The Sims 4 expansion pack and an additional fairy game pack is incredibly expensive. However, The Sims 4's occults from expansion packs have always been shallow and received complaints from the community, and getting Fairies as a separate game pack would ultimately mean a better life state.
Fairies are the Perfect Occult for a Nature Pack
The leaks suggest that the next expansion pack will be all about gathering plants and herbs to create potions, and venturing into nature to discover new and magical secrets. This would make Fairies the perfect addition to this expansion pack. Unfortunately, The Sims 4's history of releasing shallow occults within an expansion pack means that expectations should be tempered, as the other occults from expansion packs also had potential, but felt more like an afterthought than anything meaningful.
Fairies could break the pattern by being more integrated into the expansion pack. To succeed, Fairies in The Sims 4 should, at the least, have the same levels of gameplay and socialization as they had in The Sims 3. This includes having a special connection with plants, being able to fly or float in the air, customizable wings, special CAS items, a small fairy house, the ability to change size, play special pranks, grant ordinary Sims temporary magic, and projecting different auras.
The Sims 4
-
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
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
