The Sims 4‘s new expansion pack Blinded by love piqued my interest and I started a new run in the life simulator game. I thought the added polyamory options would come later in a run, after I had settled down and found a sweetheart of my own, but to my surprise the dynamics of the game changed immediately. If you have other expansion packs installed, such as the supernatural or fame-related updates, the events and interactions of these packs can make dating even more complex. My new sim, Elise, moved into a crappy apartment in the big city and was immediately embroiled in non-stop drama.
I started with the usual tasks: decorating Elise’s new apartment, getting her a job as a barista, and helping her make some friends. Immediately, the neighbors, a married couple, came over. Elise was having a great time with them, but I was shocked when the mood immediately turned flirtatious. This man and his pregnant wife weren’t just welcoming Elise into the building; they wanted to let her know that they’d seen her move in and that they really liked her vibes.
Luckily, other neighbors came by and Elise got chatting to a nice young man named Raj. The mood became a bit flirty and I soon forgot about Elise’s lusty, married admirers.
Image: Maxis/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Just when I thought it was going to happen Milhouse, Raj’s mother called Elise and asked if she could stay with Elise in case of emergency. Sure, said Elise, who is always eager to be a helpful host. To my horror, she came of Raj. The guy Elise had flirted with at a housewarming party was now her roommate, along with his mother. They both lived in the same building, just a floor away! What could have happened to them that made Elise’s one-bedroom apartment an ideal place to crash?
In retrospect, I can only assume that this was an extreme courtship. Maybe Raj is a supporter of the DENNIS systemOr maybe he decided that the best way to sell himself as a romantic partner was to be in Elise’s personal space as often as possible. Maybe it would have worked better if Raj wasn’t such a slob, while Elise is programmed to be neat. Soon, Elise’s pristine but eclectic apartment was a total pigsty.
The dynamics in the household were rough. Elise slept on the couch, while Raj and his mother shared the single bedroom. Raj’s mother was also fascinated by Elise’s DJ equipment, playing the stereo and the booth at all hours of the day. Elise missed her first day as a barista because she was so sleepy. She woke up late, furious, and then started fist-fighting Raj’s mother in the living room.
Blinded by love introduced plenty of romance options, even as my character was caught in a Cinderella-esque situation cleaning up after an ungrateful mother-son duo. After missing work, Elise’s friend invited her to the Romance Festival downtown. Fun! Elise ended up painting a beautiful portrait, eating expensive food, singing karaoke, and meeting a handsome young DJ named Jacques Le Chien.
Just as Elise was getting into a groove and flirting with Jacques, another Sim turned into a wild werewolf and stormed onto the dance floor. Another romantic moment, thwarted by circumstances beyond my control! Frustrated, Elise came home, immediately punched Raj’s mother again, and kicked them both out.
I thought that was it until a few days later. Elise started cooking a small meal, but Raj showed up at her door and asked if he could join us for dinner. I reluctantly let him in and to my surprise Elise was still receptive to his romantic advances. I like to use the ant farm approach to play The Sims 4; I make the big decisions, but I let the Sim act as he wants at that moment. Personally, I wouldn’t want to cuddle on the couch and kiss a guy who moved into my apartment with his mother and took it over, but I think Elise is more forgiving.
Image: Maxis/Electronic Arts via Polygon
After a romantic evening with Elise’s new love interest, I started to feel like things were getting better. But then Raj called Elise the next night and confessed that he had his eye on another Sim, and asked for advice on their next date. Another cruel barrier between Elise and happiness!
Both Blinded by love and the base game update that came with it makes romance and dating more nuanced. Sims have turn-ons and turn-offs, but also jealousy triggers and personal boundaries. Jacques Le Chien was thrilled to flirt at a music festival, but in broad daylight, in front of his friends, he rejected Elise. Before, romance could be a little awkward — you found a target, developed some basic chemistry, and then flirt, flirt, flirt, flirt, known attraction, first kiss, hug, flirt, flirt, flirt, flirt your way to a partnership. Now, things are much trickier.
So far I’m really enjoying the nuance this gives to the start of a new game The Sims 4 run. I plan to continue to pursue Elise’s professional success and personal happiness — I just hope I can find Elise a more compatible partner than the sloppy, mama’s boy, unmotivated Raj, since his horrible mother still hangs around outside Elise’s apartment and screams insults at her every time they interact.