Keeping your Sims happy is also important in earning Lifetime Happiness points. Moodlets are small signs that indicate your Sim’s mood, some of which are influenced by its traits. A neat Sim will have a negative Moodlet if it sees dirty dishes on the table. Finally, your Sim will occasionally get special Opportunities to earn a nice chunk of points. They can involve participating in a special event in town, bringing some extra work home, or improving a particular skill.

The second biggest improvement is that it finally has an open world. Unlike the first two Sims games, there are no longer any loading screens for when you want to take your Sim into town. All you have to do is zoom out to see the whole map and click on an area to direct your Sim to it. This seamless world enhances gameplay drastically. With The Sims 2, time stands still at home while your Sim gallivants around town, which I’ve always found unnatural. And while you could invite NPC Sims over to your Sim’s house, the reverse wasn’t possible. Now, time ticks on regardless of where you are, and your Sim is free to visit whoever you wish. Walk across the street, ring the doorbell, and say hi to the neighbors. Adding to this improved realism is the fact that NPC Sims age alongside your characters, a concept that was introduced (to a limited degree) in The Sims 2: Free Time. You’ll no longer feel weird that your Sim’s childhood friend remains 10 years old while your Sim matures into an adult.

It's odd that while this new, welcomed feature to gameplay was introduced, some actions have been altered or removed, some of which added a touch more realism to The Sims 2. For example, you can no longer bathe your toddler in a bathtub; to keep the toddler clean, simply change its diaper. But even this action was simplified by eliminating changing tables from the game. Now just spin the kid in the air and voila! Cleanliness achieved. The simple act of backing your car out of the garage and driving away has been replaced with standing on the sidewalk and the car mysteriously appearing out of nowhere. Such missing actions aren't necessarily dealbreaking, but they could have easily been left untouched.

Longtime fans of the series will appreciate not just the massive improvements to customization and gameplay mechanics, but in the little changes as well. Pathing issues have improved. Now, your Sim won’t immediately complain if someone was in the way; instead, it’ll wait patiently until the other has moved aside. Furniture can now be placed at 45 degree angles. Your Sim can use the toilet or feed itself without you having to tell it to do so. This game is a natural step in the evolution of the series. Now, bring on the expansion packs!

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