There Is Nothing Scarier Than Being Burgled In The Sims

The Sims may have been my first glimpse of adult life as a child. It was the very first time I experienced getting a job, falling in love, and drowning in a swimming pool without a ladder. Being set free in a relatively open world and allowed to make characters that, in many cases, reflected reality was a valuable learning experience for myself and millions of other kids. But at times, it was also terrifying.

Building a house in a new neighbourhood and moving in with nothing but the clothes on your back and a pile of simoleons earned through cheat codes, the world was our oyster. But the knowledge that I needed to learn how to cook, clean, and stay alive within this virtual take on life came with a lot of pressure, and plenty of chances for things to go wrong. I’ve lost count of how many times I accidentally burned my Sims alive by asking them to cook before they’ve read a book on frying eggs, or worked them to exhaustion so they end up sleeping within a pool of their own urine in the back garden as neighbours silently judged.

Burglars Are Up To No Good In The Sims

After taking a shower and getting back into bed on what should have been a pretty normal night, a terrifying sound rang through the computer speakers. It felt like the sound played when being abducted by aliens or preparing for nuclear armageddon, but here, a stranger was climbing through the window and preparing to steal all my hard-earned belongings. It’s been decades, but this harsh, terrifying, and unexpected sting still stays with me. Just listen to it.

What frightened me most as a child is how this game allowed a stranger to intrude on my personal space and steal things I’d worked so hard for. What if he went further and tried to hurt my character while stuffing my expensive kitchen units into his sack? As a child, there was a distinct possibility this could happen in my mind, while in real life something like this taking place meant my parents or older siblings would step in to protect me. In The Sims, I was all on my own.

But They’ve Become An Iconic Part Of Its Identity

In hindsight, it’s pretty hilarious, and the way Sims react by having a giant tantrum instead of actually calling the police or confronting the burglar fits perfectly with the slapstick identity this series is known for. But why are the sound cues so damn scary? They are loud, harsh, and designed to immediately send the player into a panic. You need to take action right away or watch as the game steals everything you love while leaving you powerless.

While future games would dial down the scary sound design somewhat and adopt a nicer and arguably more wholesome aesthetic, the concept of being burgled out of the blue can still send shivers down your spine. It almost equals the terror of aliens showing up as you look through your telescope at 3am or being stung by an unexpected utility bill. Decades later and it still gives me the willies.

Released

September 2, 2014

ESRB

T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence