While most expansions bend over backwards to showcase their new features, its often hard to figure out what the hell is different in the latest Sims add-on.
Rather than showcasing a slew of new bells and whistles, Generations subtly brings extra depth to the different stages of development your little computer people go through. When watching over baby Sims, for example, you can now use relationship-building and a touch of science to turn imaginary friends into real-life members of the family, while new items such as tree houses and dinosaur costumes are tremendous fun to mess around with. Things get more interesting when Sims hit their teens, however, as theyll be gripped by violent mood swings and raging hormones, as well as an urge to rebel that sees them teasing other Sims with meddlesome pranks. For adult Sims, the new multitasking Daycare job is a fun diversion where you get to manage a room of sobbing kids, while extra stress comes from mid-life crises where youre given ambitious wishes to achieve that cant be cancelled.
While Generations inconspicuous additions add depth to the gameplay, this expansions biggest appeal is that it brings more humour to the experience through its rebellious pranks, satisfying punishments meted out on awkward adolescents, and the system that allows your Sims to earn a lothario reputation based on their romantic adventures. But, when viewed alongside other Sims expansions that introduced exploration and vampires to the mix, Generations is comparatively dull and wont convince the uninitiated that its worth wasting time with virtual friends.