EA Games generously allowed us access to the upcoming The Sims 4’s Create-A-Sim demo, and boy, are we impressed. Creating Sims has always been a big part of The Sims series; after all, why would you want to play with a Sim you don’t care for? And while Sim creation has improved with each iteration of the game, The Sims 4 looks like it has hit a sweet spot.

The Create-A-Sim demo for The Sims 4 only allowed us to play around with an adult, and it was already awesome. Here’s a video of the entire process:

[fve]http://youtu.be/R5edI6mywdk[/fve]

And a brief breakdown in words, for those of you fearing your mobile data caps. It’s worth noting that this is not even the final version of the Create-A-Sim function in The Sims 4. I’m already looking very eagerly forward for the September 2, 2014 launch.

Intuitive

Goodbye, sliders! Sliders made customization of a Sim’s body, eye-width, ear size, and the like all super easy, but they were also cumbersome and an eyesore. The Sims 4 has done away with sliders and allows for click-and-drag customization. Body parts that can be tweaked are highlighted during mouseover, after which you simply click and drag them to your desired size. It makes for really intuitive customization, and leads to…

Ultra-customization

There once was a time where we only had preset features. In The Sims 4, presets still exist, but close to everything can be adjusted with the click-and-drag function. Not happy with where your Sim’s cheekbones are placed? Move them, to any logical part of her face! The same goes for the Sim’s body. Where you once were only allowed a muscle tone and body shape slider, you’re now able to thicken a Sim’s waist while keeping her calves thin.

(See: How pretty or sexy do you have to be for eSports?)

Body customization in The Sims 4 is now actually more realistic than ever, because you can create different body shapes, give your otherwise thin Sims bellies, and even embrace thunder thighs and a lack of thigh gaps. And did I mention you can also give your Sim saggy breasts?

This click-and-slide customization is actually really reminiscent of controls intuitive to the mobile platform, and I won’t be surprised if EA decides to make a mobile edition of The Sims 4 sometime down the road.

Walking and speaking

Completely deserving of a header of their own. Walking is a big deal in The Sims 4, because you can now set the way your Sim walks. While it’s not as customizable as the rest of his or her body, you can choose to make your Sim walk in anything from a perky, to a sluggish, to a goofy, and even to a feminine manner. A Sim’s intonation and pitch of voice are also adjustable via sliders, giving you more customization freedom than The Sims 3’s multiple presets.

Colors, colors, colors

As expected of each new iteration of The Sims, color options are even more extensive in The Sims 4 create-a-sim function. Goodbye, custom skin tone packs! Clothes also have more color options for the same item, and there were numerous fashionable sartorial choices, even in the demo. (Am I the only one who finds most base Sim clothes pretty normcore?)

Genetics

Want a brother, or a twin for your Sim? Make one, either from scratch, as you would an ordinary Sim, or via the game’s genetics function. You’ll be able to create an identical twin, or a sibling sharing a strong resemblance with your Sim! So much better than painstakingly moving those eyes into place again. The genetics function is a bit sparse now, so hopefully the retail version of the game will have more meat in it.

Aspirations and personality

Like its predecessor, The Sims 4 makes use of traits and aspirations to shape a Sim’s personality. The base options are already pretty numerous, and have been updated so that today’s generation can identify with it. You can make your Sim a commitment-phobe, or even a bro. Naturally, a bro Sim gets happier when watching sports! Now someone just needs to make a mod for bro Sims to enjoy certain video games, too.

The Sims 4 Create-A-Sim demo is very short, yet it was a ton of fun, and more importantly, offers a glimpse into the vast world that EA is going to drop on us with The Sims 4. With customization levels at an all-time high, I’m certain that The Sims 4 is going to be the most interactive and intuitive it can be, even without toddlers and swimming pools.

The Sims 4 releases September 2, 2014 for PC.