Firstly I would just like to say that I didn't like the original. I had a family of three in the original and the only bed sharing the father would do, was with his daughter! Plus anything they did, they did because I told them. So I really didn't have much fun at all. And I could never understand why it was 2D, even then.
In contrast with The Sims 2 I don't need to be in front of the computer for my Sims to function. They can make themselves food, go to work, got to bed, get out of the way of other Sims, have a shower, clean the shower, interact positively with each other, make friends, go to the toilet and most importantly flush the toilet! All by themselves!!!
I started by setting myself the challenge of having a gay couple and from thinking it wouldn't happen, to seeing both David and Alex go into the bedroom all by themselves and both WooHoo with each other. Five hours after starting the game, I have to say I am impressed.
It's just a really great, fun game. You can try having an objective, but it's too much of a good sandbox game for anyone to want to play it competitively. The only thing I with they had done differently is the sex. Frankly I find the kissing more erotic than WooHoo. And that has shattered dreams of selling pictures of my Sims as porn.