The Sims 4 presents a more subdued approach to in-game deaths compared to its predecessors. Notably, The Sims 3 spin-off, The Sims Medieval, introduced players to a more brutal environment, where Sims could engage in violent confrontations such as sword duels, executions, and harmful magic spells. This fantasy-themed experience could have seamlessly integrated challenging themes within expansions for The Sims 4, provided that EA chose to maintain a more mature narrative.
In contrast to the traditional style, The Sims Medieval shifted the focus away from managing multiple Sims in a neighborhood to concentrating on a single Hero Sim—the ruling monarch of the land. This change resulted in increased authority and frequent dangers, as the player’s Sim faced constant threats from rivals, raising the stakes in their interactions.
The Sims Has Toned Down Over The Years
No Chaos, No Excitement
Upon its launch, The Sims 4 adopted a family-friendly tone significantly lighter than its earlier versions. Many pre-made Sims had no established relationships, removing any potential for rivalry or scheming. Moreover, dying in-game became a complex endeavor, where simple accidents like cooking fires remained the most shocking means of demise. Drowning was accompanied by plenty of warnings, and starvation took a prolonged period to occur.
Moreover, The Sims 4 eliminated a beloved feature present since the first game: random burglaries. In earlier iterations, neglecting to secure a home with alarms invited the possibility of break-ins. Although a similar mechanic surfaced in the For Rent feature, it was vastly watered down, allowing only active Sims with the Kleptomaniac trait to pilfer items from other households.
Gruesome Deaths Can Fit The Right Expansion
Executions and Duels Could Have Been Possible
The exciting deaths from The Sims Medieval could have rejuvenated various expansion packs in The Sims 4, though the window for such updates may have closed. Nonetheless, there remains a possibility for future updates to bring more violent options to the game.
One of the more significant letdowns of the TS4: Journey To Batuu expansion was the underwhelming portrayal of lightsabers, which, despite their iconic status, failed to offer lethal capabilities—rendering them mere glowing props. Imagine the excitement of mastering a lightsaber and engaging in epic duels, perhaps to the death! However, it seems likely that Disney’s contractual stipulations limited these functionalities.
Surprisingly, neither TS4: Get To Work nor TS4: Discover University incorporated lawful executions within their detective and law careers, respectively. Instead, gameplay revolved around non-violent crimes, leaving out the darker aspects of justice. Adding a judicial system permitting players to issue death sentences could have provided a compelling twist.
Pertinently, the TS4: Dine Out expansion could have introduced lethal food poisonings, which could have sparked exciting—and deadly—drama in restaurants. While EA may have steered clear of openly causing deaths through food and drinks, Sims can still experience illnesses from restaurant meals, resulting in minor moodlets instead of fatal outcomes. Players may opt for refunds, but how mundane compared to the potential for mayhem!
Lastly, the spells offered in TS4: Realm of Magic lack lethality. Most spells manipulate mood rather than causing true harm. Even the lightning spell, Zipzap, is limited to object destruction, and the Inferniate spell can’t lead to a Sim’s death directly. The convoluted method of using Inferniate to incinerate a Sim is cumbersome and ineffective on AI-controlled characters.
Mods That Recreate More Violent and Tragic Events
Bringing In New Deaths Without EA
EA’s hesitance to integrate duels, executions, and poisoning into The Sims 4 leaves a gap that dedicated modders have eagerly filled. Standout mods such as Life Tragedies and Extreme Violence by Sacrificial Mods significantly enhance gameplay, injecting chaos through burglaries, kidnappings, gang conflicts, and even introductions of serial killers reminiscent of Jason Voorhees.
Notably, YouTuber RyanPlaysTheSims showcased Life Tragedies, experiencing overwhelming chaos in short order. His gameplay saw multiple murders unfold in Oasis Springs before chaos ensued, ultimately resulting in a kidnapping scenario gone awry. For players seeking thrilling chaos in their playthroughs, integrating mods could significantly enhance their gaming experience.
Source: RyanPlaysTheSims/YouTube
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