The Sims 4will be a decade old next year and is still going strong after all this time. However, ten years is a long time, so it’s no surprise that EA and Maxis announcedThe Sims 5last year. Codenamed Project Rene, the game is still many years away and doesn’t even have a release date yet. However, that hasn’t stopped people from speculating on whatThe Sims 5might contain.
While custom characters have always been an essential part ofThe Simsexperience, it can also be nice to jump into an existing family dynamic. Preset families also help to flesh out the various neighborhoods and add to the game’s personality. Some of these households appear in multiple games, while others haven’t appeared for a while. The latter group includesThe Sim 2’s Contrary Family, who are due fora comeback inThe Sims 5.
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The Sims 2’s Contrary Family
Maxis introduced the Contrary Family inThe Sims 2: FreeTimeexpansion. Residing in the DLC neighborhood of Desiderata Valley, the family consists of Edward Contrary, his wife Opal Contrary, and their teenage son Rick Contrary. “Opposites attract” seems to be what Maxis was going for with thisThe Sims 2family, which accurately sums up the household’s dynamic. Opal loves Nature and starts the game with enthusiasm for that Hobby. John, meanwhile, is more interested in Science. Their Interests are also a mixed bag, having some in common but many that are different. Additionally, while their personalities have some similarities, Opal is much more Outgoing than her Shy husband.
However, the two are more similar than might first appear; both follow the Oceanography Career and take up the Sports Hobby.The Sims 2players could choose to interpret the latter detail as Edward humoring his wife since she’s much more interested in Sports than he is. Still, it seems like Mr. and Ms. Contrary have much in common despite their family name. Rick Contrary is the one who really lives up to his name. A teenage gamer, he has a poor relationship with his parents and begins the game as Enemies with both. Interestingly, despite feeling that his parents don’t understand him, Rick shares his mother’s Sports Interest and ultimately follows thatSimsHobby.
TheSims 2players can influence the Contrary’s relationship and behaviors however they want. Still, the family has a built-in story for the three of them, with the household starting out different but actually having a lot in common. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it can feel likeThe Sims 2didn’t explore the concept as much as it could have.
Bringing the Contrary Family to the Sims 5
The Sims 5could bring the Contrary family back and expand on their dynamics by leaning further into the opposites attract angle.RecentSimsgamesmoved away from the Interest, Personality, and Hobby systems in favor of Traits. AssumingThe Sims 5keepsThe Sims 4Trait system, it could emphasize their differences by giving each family member diametrically opposed Traits. So, for example, Opal could retain her love for sports and the outdoors, but Maxis could have the nerdier Edward prefer indoor activities.
However,The Sims 5could keep their shared interest in knowledge and have this reflected in their jobs. For example, Opal Could keep theOceanography Career ifThe Sims 5brings it back, whileSims 4’s Conservationist Career also fits. Meanwhile, something likeThe Sims 4’s Scientist Career could work for Edward. Rick’s gaming focus would thus still make the odd sim out, despite any other similaritiesThe Sims 5version has with his parents. This complicated dynamic seems like fertile ground for the kind of family stories thatThe Simslets players tell.
The Sims 5is in development.
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