"The Sims 4: Seasons" Expansion Pack Review

Two of my favorite things in life are the changing of the seasons and celebrating holidays. I revel in the cycle of the seasons and the changing weather, and my calendar year revolves around my favorite holidays (some of which are not even my own!). For this reason, I had high hopes for The Sims 4: Seasons expansion pack.

I'll admit, this expansion pack can be a little frustrating, but overall the creators delivered on this game expansion.

The Sims 4: Seasons does not boast a new world of its own; however, this expansion pack will have an impact in all Sims cities in your universe.

Gone are the days in which your Sims lived in what feels like a biosphere. The Sims 4: Seasons brings weather to your Sims' universe, and that weather continuously operates as a backdrop no matter where your Sim lives or where he goes.

Pros:

• It's pretty to see the seasons change; some of the scenery is gorgeous.
• Weather adds realism and variety to the game.
• The addition of weather requires seasonally appropriate clothing, so the pack has some beautiful new wardrobe items.
• Each Sim world has its unique weather patterns. For example, tropical and desert areas don't get very cold and rarely get snow.
• New seasons bring new fun activities (see below).
• There are ways to control the weather if it isn't to your liking. You can buy a thermostat to heat/cool your Sim's home, use aspiration reward traits to change how weather affects your Sim, or use a device to change the weather.

Cons:

• Weather can be unpredictable and might ruin your SIms plans.
• Changing the weather can be time-consuming and a hassle, so it may not always be a convenient option.
• Bad weather can make Sims tense and put them on edge. They may not be willing to cooperate when you instruct them to do things.
• Weather can be dangerous, even to toddlers and children. Sims can freeze to death, die from over-heating or be struck by lightning.
• While there are some warm-weather paradises, there are no winter wonderlands where it is snowy all the time.

Yes, it is so frustrating that with the Seasons expansion pack, it can rain on your Sim's parade—literally. There are times when it rains every single day, making all your Sims tense and unwilling to cooperate.

Weather can even be life-threatening for your Sims to go outside. I witnessed a blizzard claimed the lives of eight Sims within minutes. One went out underdressed for the weather and froze to death. The rest went out to mourn her and started freezing to death, too. They were dropping like flies. I struggled to keep my Sim from going out to join the mourning. The Grim Reaper had a field day, though.

It's not fun to think that weather can inconvenience—or kill—your Sim. But that's life, right? In this way, it makes the game much more realistic.

Besides, your Sims can thoroughly enjoy the weather as well. Let him kiss his sweetheart in the rain or build a snow pal with a friend, and you'll get some priceless moments.

The Seasons expansion pack provides you with a customizable calendar. The calendar marks when seasons change, birthdays for household members, and holidays. You can set the calendar on short (each season lasts one week), medium (each season lasts two weeks) or long (each season lasts a full four weeks).

Pros:

• For those who love holidays, it can be very nice to celebrate them in the Sims universe.
• Your Sims will celebrate holidays communally with families and neighbors, as everyone in the game (including NPCs) will recognize the holidays on the calendar.
• There are a lot of heartwarming holiday traditions in which Sims can engage, like decorating, holiday meals, singing holiday songs together and more.
• You can customize the holiday calendar and can remove the standard ones that annoy you. You can also add your own holidays.

Cons:

• Some of the holidays on the calendar are odd, such as "Neighborhood Brawl Day," prompting Sims to get into physical fights.
• Some of the holidays have annoying elements, such as angry gnomes that wreak havoc in your home and can electrocute your Sims.
• If your Sim doesn't do enough holiday activities, it will make them sad, and they will have negative moodlets for the next day.
• Most holidays automatically give kids the day off from school. If you were trying to get their grades up to age them up, this could set you back.
• Adults will automatically get holidays off from work. They will be paid; however, they will not be able to work towards promotions.

Gardening is a great career track in the Sims that allows you to go to work or work from home. Once reaching level four, Sims can choose the botanist career track (which involves studying specimens and writing grant proposals) or the florist track (which involves making floral arrangements).

Sims don't have to go into the gardening career, however, to enjoy or profit from gardening or floral arranging. They can plant seeds that they harvest or purchase and must care for them by watering, weeding, and fertilizing the plants. If well-cared for, the plants will evolve. Harvested plants can be sold for a tidy profit.

Sims can also make their own floral designs and sell them.