Sims Families Requiring a Retcon in Sims 5
Pre-established families are integral to The Sims’ lore, and following their progression across games is a compelling way to understand the series’ timeline. However, The Sims 4 deviated from this timeline, operating in an alternate reality, causing many beloved families to appear starkly different. This shift has sparked a demand for significant alterations in The Sims 5.
These changes didn’t resonate with all players. Some longed for the original families, while others noted that certain Sims families, lacking interesting updates, are now direly in need of revamping to sustain their appeal. These are the families that need nuanced retcons; changes sufficient enough to keep them engaging, yet not so drastic that they lose their familiar essence. The goal is to either restore them to their initial selves or endow them with characteristics that enhance their appeal.
The Sims 5 Needs to Return to Its Roots
The Caliente family rose to prominence in The Sims 2, becoming the main suspects in Bella Goth’s mysterious disappearance. Bella Goth, a highly popular townie in The Sims, had her sudden vanishing intricately woven into The Sims 2’s lore, crossing various worlds and even involving extraterrestrials. However, the Caliente family’s portrayal in the new The Sims 4 timeline fell short of many fans’ expectations. They lacked any significant connection to Bella, introduced a previously non-existent mother, and their relationship with Don Lothario was relegated to merely sharing a residence.
This issue exemplifies a common disconnect in The Sims 4, where the lore does not consistently mirror the gameplay. Household and individual descriptions in Sim establish relationships and conflicts, but the actual in-game relationships are often non-existent or neutral. The Caliente family fell prey to this system, necessitating a comprehensive overhaul to restore their portrayal from The Sims 2 that fans cherished. Katrina, the newcomer in the family tree, needs to be entirely removed as she was absent from the original timeline and displaced Nighat Caliente as Dina and Nina’s mother.
Lore in The Sims Needs to Matter Again
The Pancakes family is another household requiring adjustments. Introduced as the new standard tutorial family in The Sims 4 to guide newcomers, the Pancakes family didn’t irk fans by differing vastly from their past versions. The main issue, however, is their replacement of the beloved Newbie family, the original tutorial family since the inception of The Sims. Players had witnessed the Newbies as a wedded pair, their descendants, and even as teenagers, cultivating a bond with them; thus, their replacement seemed unnecessary, especially as they later became accessible via the official Gallery.
In The Sims 5, the Pancakes can stay, but they should coexist with the Newbies instead of supplanting them completely. Also, this family’s storyline needs enhancement, whereby the suggested conflict between Eliza and Bob is actualized in gameplay instead of being overlooked. Bob, dubbed “the least interesting Sim in the world”, should embody this given title. Moreover, his initial relationship with his wife should reflect a troubled state, aligning with their bio’s description of an unhappy marriage, rather than depicting them as above-average.
