The Sims 4 Lovestruck Expansion: Unveiling Depth and Realism

The Sims 4: Lovestruck is the latest expansion in the popular simulation game series, and it has certainly captured my attention more than any other recent expansion. While Cottage Living was the only one to come close, Lovestruck exceeded my expectations with its captivating features.

This expansion is perfectly suited for players who love creating dramatic love lives for their Sims. It includes some of the classic, cheesy traits and features reminiscent of earlier games, with nods to The Sims 1. The inclusion of the vibrating love bed brought back nostalgic memories of countless hours spent playing the original game.

In the character creator, however, I found the options somewhat lacking. While the nose and cheek blush in the make-up section were a nice touch, it seemed like there were several missed opportunities. For instance, there was no lingerie for either gender, which felt odd for a romance-themed pack. Although the party outfits appeared more like lingerie and seemed more appropriate for indoor scenarios, a dedicated lingerie category would have made sense.

I really appreciated the new hairstyles introduced with this pack, and I can see myself using them even without custom content. Overall, though, the clothing and accessory options for both men and women felt limited, leaving room for improvement.

The new interactions added to the game were delightful. I loved the range of interactions, from cute and cautious to bold and daring in attempts to woo someone. The new dating system is a welcome addition, allowing players to choose the type of date, whether a friendly outing or a romantic rendezvous to keep the spark alive. You can also set goals for the date to earn awards if successful, adding a fun layer of challenge.

Compared to expansions like Get Together and Get to Work, Lovestruck successfully injects realism and depth into the game where other packs have fallen short. Relationships feel more dynamic, whether they develop organically or through player prompts, offering a more realistic experience than the repetitive interactions typical in the game.

One major drawback in The Sims 4 is how empty the cities can feel. While visually appealing on the map, there’s a lot of unused space. Ciudad Enamorada suffers from the same issue, with a noticeable lack of starter homes. Considering that new Sims start with only 20,000 simoleons, the absence of affordable housing options seems like a missed opportunity. Although lavish homes for wealthier Sims are appealing, most expansions include a few starter homes.

Another feature that didn’t quite hit the mark for me was the dating app, Cupid’s Corner. Although the concept was interesting, it didn’t fully deliver. You could highlight two traits for your Sim on the app and take a selfie, but the selfies often appeared awkward, adding unintended humor.

I tried using the app for my Sim, but she found more success interacting with people in person, such as randomly meeting someone at a bar, than using the app.

Considering this expansion centers around love and romance, I was disappointed with the lack of new traits. Only one new trait, focused on being romantically closed off, was added. While it enhanced conversations and relationships, the absence of additional traits was noticeable.

Additionally, the expansion only included one new career. I understand the challenge of creating new jobs for this theme, and I enjoyed the Dating Consultant role, where your Sim offers unsolicited dating advice. However, the lack of aspirations was another missed opportunity. There was potential for fun aspirations or traits, but it fell short.

Overall, The Sims 4: Lovestruck does a commendable job of refreshing the game and making it more dynamic, similar to Growing Together. However, some features were lacking, and there was room for more additions to make it truly worthwhile. While I enjoyed the new interactions, the expansion felt a bit flat beyond that.