One of the most endearing themes in storytelling is romance, and none more compelling than forbidden romance between star-crossed lovers.The Simshas such a romance in its rival families of the Capps and the Montys fromThe Sims 2, which mirrors one of the greatest romances ever told by one of the greatest writers in the English canon: Shakespeare’sRomeo and Juliet. Neither their romance nor the rivalry between their families was ever resolved inThe Sims 2, leaving players with an open ending throughoutThe Sims 3or4.The Sims 5has the opportunity to set the fate star-crossed lovers right and put players' hearts to rest.
Thequaint neighborhood of fair Veronaville inThe Sims 2sets the stage for a Shakespearean romance with its Tudor-style housing on one end, and Italian-style on the other. The neighborhood is bisected by a river, obviously based on the Italian town of Verona that serves as the setting ofRomeo and Juliet. All the streets, house names, Sims, and townies are Shakespeare references in some form or another.
RELATED:The Sims 5 Has To Give The Series' Wealthiest Family Its Long-Overdue Comeuppance
The Sims 2’s Unresolved Tale
The two main families in Veronaville are the Capps and the Montys. Both families are large, and have a rivalry that goes so far back neither can remember where it began. The Capp family live in Capp Manor, which is situated on the English side of Veronaville - being a reference to the Capulets inRomeo and Juliet. The Montys live in the Italian side of Veronaville andall work inThe Sims 2Culinary track- referencingRomeo and Juliet’s Montagues. Juliette Capp has fallen in love with her rival, Romeo Monty, and secretly wants to enter a relationship with him.
As with many of thestory elements ofThe Sims 2, events following this setup rely on players' imaginations. Putting Romeo and Juliette into a relationship won’t functionally do anything to damage their relationships with their families, although players can certainly replay a version of Shakespeare’s play if they wish. But, as it is, the conflict and drama between the Capps and the Montys remains unresolved. While both families are downloadable inThe Sims 3, they’re different family members who are uninvolved in the drama.
The Sims 5 Will Have the Technology to Tell This Story
The door is still open to resolve this conflict20 years later inThe Sims 5.The Sims 4: Growing Together’s all-new compatibility system adds another layer of complexity to relationships and dynamics between Sims, making it more feasible for such a story to play out. There are many more possibilities for inter-family conflict, such as values, interests, likes, and hobbies, so maybe Romeo and Juliette are the two odd ones out with good compatibility across the two families.
IfThe Sims 5has Growing Together’s compatibility system, there are many possible ways Sims players could find closure to this turbulent story of star-crossed lovers fromThe Sims 2.Veteran players well-acquainted withThe Sims 2would be grateful to close the book on this story that has been in limbo for fifteen years, while younger generations of players would be introduced to the drama that enraptured Veronaville so many years ago. Romeo Monty and Juliette Capp deserve the ending that the original Shakespear tale never saw, and Simmers deserve closure inThe Sims 5.
The Sims 5is in development.
MORE:The Sims 5 Really Needs To Capture Magic In A Bottle
