I’ll admit that EA dropping an overpriced re-release of the first twoThe Simsgames for the iconic series' 25th birthday felt a little out-of-touch to say the least. After releasing a number of decent, but often too low-value DLCs forThe Sims 4and announcing that there would be noSims 5to everyone’s dismay, including myself, fans needed something to pick them back up and show them that EA knows what it is doing when it comes to one of its most beloved franchises. Yet, in typical EA fashion, it left everyone disappointed.
It’s not an understatement to say thatThe Sims Legacy Collectionbombedat launch, garnering warranted negative reviews for being expensive repackaged games that players got for free just over a decade ago. Everyone who has criticized it is valid in doing so, especially as the hardcore fans who have found crafty workarounds or invested in older tech to play the disc versions of these games can still access the exact versions everyone is now shilling $40 for. However,I am nevertheless excited that there is now an easy and accessible way to play these amazing games authentically.
The Sims Legacy Collection Is Authentic
It Offers The Original Experience
When I was a lot younger, I had the great fortune of owningThe Sims 2 Double Deluxeon PC. It was an eye-opening experience, one that not only introduced me to the tantalizing world ofamazing life simsbut also thoroughly entertained me for hours on end.I must have sunk several hundred hours, if not more, intoThe Sims 2, creating family after family and rather sadistically burning them alive with the HottCorp Burning 8-R Series Fire Jet. As I got older, I transitioned toThe Sims 3and then eventually abandoned the franchise altogether.
There was something aboutThe Sims 4that never clicked with me, even despite itsrevolutionary changes and improvements. Perhaps it was the hundreds if not thousands of hours I’d already invested in dozens of Sims families that were either dead or left to live out their days in digital purgatory, forgotten on my now-extinct off-white PC which had a slot for floppy disks. Regardless,ever since those summer days playing endless amounts ofThe Sims 2with a smile plastered on my face, I’ve longed to relive those memories and give the game another go.
Unfortunately, I no longer own a PC with a disc drive, and even if I did, I have little desire to cobble together a playable version ofThe Sims 2through fan patches. As a result, I have always been at the mercy of EA, waiting for it to eventually re-release this classic game. I’ve never wanted a remake or even a remaster that slightly tweaks the visuals or any gameplay elements, asI want to experience the game I loved so much growing up, flaws and all, not a reimagined version of it.
That’s why I am so happy that EA has finally provided me with a somewhat convenient way of playingThe Sims 2again- even if it ismissing content packs- in the most authentic way possible.The Legacy Collectionallows me to replayThe Sims 2exactly as it was back in 2008. It allows me if only for a brief moment, to be a kid again who is able to create a million different realities far better than my own. That is a priceless gift a remaster and especially a remake would be incapable of giving me.
I Finally Can Experience The First Sims
I Missed It The First Time Round
More importantly,I now finally have a way of playing the originalSims.The Simswas released when I was but a little baby, which meant that I missed out on it completely. I never grew up experiencing TheSims’supposedly impossible difficultyor any of the wonderful quirks that have since been ironed out in the later entries. There is something special about experiencing the game that started it all, much like how I so desperately want to play the originalAnimal Crossing, which is why I’m grateful EA simply made the originalSimsgame playable on modern hardware.
Of course, I completely empathize with those who would have much preferred a remaster or a full-blown remake, especially those who aren’t fond of its antiquated visuals or lack of convenient features fans have grown accustomed to. However,a playable port that will hopefully stick around forever is great for game preservation. It keeps alive a legendary game that could have very much stayed buried, destined to remain on old dusty and scratched discs until it eventually became a part of a museum exhibition on the death of physical media.
If The Sims 1 Is Too Hard, You’re Probably Making This Rookie Mistake
Buying the cheapest items in The Sims 1 is the fastest way to have a hard time, since the Needs bar decays so quickly for Sims with careers.
It also means that everyone who missed out the first time around has a chance to play it without needing a degree in modding and the guidance of forum posts explaining how to get it to run on Windows 11. I agree that it is far too expensive, and theLegacy Collection’sbuggy stateat launch is unacceptable. EA has proven once again that it hasn’t figured out the balance between giving its fans what they want and prioritizing its finances, butI’m still nevertheless grateful to finally have a working version of two of the bestSimsgames.
The Sims 1 & 2 May Get Remakes In The Future
EA May Finally Understand What Fans Want
Of course, it is clear that a lot of people would have much rather had remakes than overpriced re-releases, and I absolutely understand that. However, I suspect that EA is not done with its legacy titles and likely has remasters or potentially remakes in the works for these olderSimsgames. While theLegacy Collectionwill serve as a good entry point for those who want to experience what it was like to play these classic games all those years ago,remakes would allow newcomers who are used toThe Sims 4to still appreciate all their ingenuity and creativity.
There is also the possibility that EA could add official mod support for theseLegacy Collections, allowing players to implement their own fixes and changes. Naturally, this may take some time, and a remake may be further away than some had anticipated or hoped. However, it’s certainly possible that in good time - perhaps the 30th anniversary - fans will get a remake of these beloved classics. Until then, at least there are theLegacy Collectionsfor fans to enjoy.
Every Pack Included In The Sims 2: Legacy Collection
The Sims 2: Legacy Collection brings the base game and most packs to Windows 10 and 11. But, some content is missing and glitches are still present.
I’m not going to tell people to go out and buy theseLegacy Collections, especially if they were hoping for something more ambitious. The many bugs and glitches, resolution problems, and lack of decent settings options, among many other significant problems make it abundantly clear that not only did EA massively fumble its launch, but it has a long way to go in understanding what its fans want and deserve. However, I am very happy that, at least down the line, I will have an easy way to replayThe Sims 2and get back to burning my Sims alive.
