THE ULTIMATE SIMS 2 VISUAL GUIDE | (Reshade, Mods, and more!)

👋 Hello guys and welcome to my how I modernize my Sims 2 graphics!
✨ Google Doc with ALL links!: docs.google.com/document/d/1o...
💫 socials ;
twitch: / acottonsockk
twitter: / acottonsock
instagram: / acottonsockk
CC finds: / acottonsock
discord: / discord
The cute lil Bella Goth emotes are made by KawaiiMuski!
/ kawaiimuski
⏰ TIME CODES
0:00 Hey guys!
2:05 How do I install mods?
4:53 Reshade
22:11 Default Replacements (Hair)
27:15 Default Replacements (Skin)
28:50 Default Replacements (Eyes)
30:08 Default Replacements (Clothes)
31:42 Default Replacements (Makeup)
32:24 EAxis Clothing Hiders
33:31 Default Face Templates
34:58 Wrinkles
35:53 Favorite Lipstick
36:53 Favorite Eyeliner/Lashes
37:42 Favorite Eyebrows
38:13 Body Hair
40:17 CAS Sliders
42:13 Evie's Equal Genetics Mod
44:59 Build & Buy Replacements
47:42 Baby Replacements
49:13 Clean UI (White Interface)
59:42 GunMod's Camera Mod
1:01:58 Environmental Mods
1:02:05 Maxis Match Lighting Mod
1:06:16 Car Spawning Hydrant
1:08:56 Decorative Parking Spots
1:11:55 Modern Sky
1:13:18 Default Replacement Sun/Moon
1:13:50 FX Cube Triangle Replacement
1:14:58 360° Skyline
1:15:31 Skyfix
1:19:37 Road Replacements
1:25:16 Tree Replacements
1:27:19 Terrain Replacements
1:29:10 Genetically Correct Sims
1:38:00 CC/Mod Page Recs.
1:37:41 Outro
thanks for enjoying & reading this far ♡

[@acottonsock]

*Note:* For some, ReShade may only work with ReShade version 4.9.1. *If ReShade doesn't work for you using my method, try installing with specifically ReShade version 4.9.1!* 🤍 First episode in this series here! 🤍 acottonsock.tumblr.com/post/693132215186554881/this-exact-video-where-can-i-get-the-sims-2 🤍 Google Doc Here! 🤍 docs.google.com/document/d/1oOiva12kK7OXYry2z4JD4Agr51quZtyQ69F5WWCJPmQ/mobilebasic

[@Molly_0123]

Do you know if GShade would work with Sims 2?

[@hydroarchonfaker]

@@Molly_0123 it does! :D

[@ellielm.903]

Hey thank you for these videos the sims 2 is so nostalgic for me. I'm following along and I tried to download the maxis lighting and your link works but on the website the link to download doesn't. do you have any other suggestions?

[@acottonsock]

@@ellielm.903 Hey! It's working for me! Maybe try this link? www.mediafire.com/file/oiwr02wukihka2k/dreadpirate_mmlightingmod.7z

[@ellielm.903]

@@acottonsock oh thank you for responding! I’ll try it when I get home

[@heroofthyme4237]

Sims 4 sucks so much we had to make modern mods for sims 2 and 3

[@Marzanooox333]

👏🏼

[@Shinobu553]

People might get scared by the length of these videos but they're worth it! Thank you for uploading this bestie 💫⭐

[@acottonsock]

Glad you like them!

[@88kayleigh]

You may mention it somewhere in the video that I missed (I skimmed bits) but you can easily update your default replaced thumbnails by ctrl-right clicking on them. Then they’ll actually display the new hair/clothes/whatever rather than the original EA one!

[@simulationprincess]

Wow I didn’t know this! Game changer for me!

[@88kayleigh]

@@simulationprincess I think the only menu it doesn't really work in is the buy clothes windows, like if you go to a shop! But inside CAS and build/buy it should work!

[@vaskleio5479]

also, deleting the thumbnails cache also works to update all thumbnails at once. it will make the first time loading clothes/genetics a bit slower, but its only for the first time that the game is generating the new thumbnails

[@Fumbann]

I genuinely need to thank you in behalf of so many of us who wouldn't be playing sims 2 if it wasn't for you and your videos. You made the game so much accesible for new people, and it was possible for me to relive my joy as a kid with the game but now as an adult with a modern computer. Seriously, thank you

[@anishinaabae]

as someone who has been faithfully modding games since i was in middle school, you are an absolute goddess for making this video!

[@luisaabreu4028]

I cannot imagine the amount of work this video took. Absolutely incredible!!!

[@acottonsock]

Thanks a ton!

[@evest7829]

Sorry, I feel like I have to correct your genetics section: Your Sims will NOT all have black or brown hair if you play long enough - that's a myth that keeps going around because people do not understand how dominant and recessive genes work. The reason they have dominant and recessive genes in the first place is to prevent this from happening! (I believe Marticore has also made a video where she busts that myth) For example, two brown haired Sims can still have blond children if both of the parents have a recessive gene for blond hair and pass it on. "Dominant" does not mean that this gene will ALWAYS be passed down instead of the recessive one, it only means that it is the one that will show on the Sim.

[@meeloo.]

Yes! That is why İ do not use that, it is realistic to me that most of my sims are actually brunettes and brown eyed, that is just how real life is too.

[@baticeer_]

Yeah I don't know why people always say this!! It might be true that you'll have more sims with dominant genes in say, your second generation. But just like in real life, where blond haired people still exist even though brown is dominant lol, the genetics will still be varied because the sims will carry their recessive genes!

[@meeloo.]

@@baticeer_ Yeah! Sims 2's hair dye system is also perfect and wont xhange genetics, so why not just dye your sims whenever you want

[@norXmal]

Probability of inheritance

[@vamppanic]

someone needs to draw these people up a punnet square lol

[@vickylewis8558]

I appreciate you walking us through everything so slowly and clearly. My brain just doesn't compute as fast as most people's and a lot of tutorials are a real struggle. Thank you!

[@jpeg42069]

Just built a new PC after being away from the Sims for a few years… I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find all of the mods I used a few years ago, but your video covers everything! Thank you so much 🎉

[@skyeplaysgames]

thank you so much for the RPC + ReShade specific tutorial, it's so helpful and easy to follow

[@acottonsock]

You're so welcome!

[@eizthetics2693]

thanks Madi! I always get pointers from you to beautify my old sims games

[@meowrit]

Thank you so much for this guide! I was just thinking about reinstalling TS2 the other day but I had no idea where to start with CC and mods, so your timing is perfect haha

[@Wambels]

Wow i'm so happy you uploaded this video! I was just getting back playing TS2 and it's a life saver^^

[@Caterpillara]

This is such a well made video, thank you so much for all your effort 😭❤️

[@IMPGIRL]

THIS IS THE BEST TUTORIAL IVE EVER SEEN?? U SOUND SOO SWEET thank you for the note at the start :') it takes me longer to understand stuff like this

[@MaryLoveJane]

Just something small I noticed when you were explaining the Decorative Parking Spots mod: There’s 3 download options, you said to download the bottom 2, but you actually have the 1st and 3rd option. The 2nd option is downloaded in addition to 1 and 3 if you don’t have any EPs after Nightlife. If you only have Nightlife, or Nightlife and Uni, download all 3. If you have any expansion(s) after Nightlife only download option 1 and 3: “MUST-HAVE-NIGHTLIFE-maxis-ownable-cars” and “Decorative-parking-space” I’m sure anyone following along made sure to read them to be sure, but figured I’d add a comment in case someone gets confused.

[@olladyofabiker]

this is really an ultimate guide, finally this is excalty what I need. huge thanks from Italy to the creator

[@arianosekai8394]

OMG ITS FINALLY HERE, roght after i went to reinstall everything again so i dont get confused on what mod replaced what part, i can finally try and mod the whole full game! Thank you!

[@AnyFlowers.]

You’re an absolute angel! In February I got a new laptop and I went thru so many tutorials to make Sims 2 run, but at the end my game was stuck in 640x400 so I got frustrated and deleted everything related to Sims 2, I spent many days trying to fix that issue and I was unable to do it. Your tutorials are a godsend, will try to follow every instruction from the very beginning, especially because I got my Sims 2 installer from a very suspicious page. Again, you’re incredible for doing this, I’m sure I was doing something wrong before because I got confuse with the amount of information I got from different tutorials and guides.

[@jazzyg6059]

You need to search for a graphics rule fix.

[@onlyfrog]

i installed mine trough a written guide that seemed very used by the sims community, and then i opened her video to check & her instructions were basically the same. thank god!

[@nickgirdwood3082]

Your computer is shit.

[@yellowcatmonkey]

this is a masterpiece 💖🙈blinding guide✨thank you so much you are an insanely kind person to create this.. this is so much work i cannot even comprehend the amount of effort and patience and research and time it took for you to make something this wondrous..the way you made sure to be this precise in your instructions is some cosmic lvl of compassion and empathy💖🙈thank you so much from the bottom of my heart 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💖

[@ysgramorssoupspoon]

The in depth explanation is wonderful, even though I already know how to do it, it’s refreshing to see such a great description. Love your channel.

[@acottonsock]

You're very welcome!

[@Joeoie]

Thank you so much for the step-by-step guide! You really make it fool-proof by going through every step -- and I greatly appreciate that.

[@xdina8502]

YOURE THE BEST SIMS KZbinR EVER! I love your content sm, and im super greatful for this vid❤️

[@mortal-enemy]

This is incredible omg? After the bad news about TS5 this week, i was feeling really down about my future with the franchise. But this gave me so much hope, because TS2 and 3 have so much life left in them, and stuff like this just makes these amazing games immortal. Thank you so much for doing this.

[@bearudev]

real i legit play the sims 2 now because i lost all hope for the sims 5 lol

[@teamo8474]

All of your videos have such high quality and effort! Thank you so much!

[@nishiki_guy]

I can't believe I just watched a one hour video on sims 2 mods but I did. Wanted to play sims 2 because there were tons of pop ups of sims 4 vs sims 2 stuff, simply because I played sims 4. I'm a gen z-er so some of these mods were made even the year before I was born! Thought I'd try my hand on sims 2 but dang! The graphics were pretty much ancient! Watched your tutorial on how to fix the performance and all and now I'm here to upgrade the aesthetics. I'm not meant to do this in a span of one day but I'm just excited to play sims 2

[@bellasydx]

this is so amazing!! i always want to get the sims 2 but i’ve only seen the basegame characters and it was always such a turn off. this vid is perfect timing bc the other night i read into the lore for hoursss

[@alex-ro9wg]

this is the best sims 2 guide so far bro, makes my game look nice and modern!!

[@buterasbitvch8169]

Don't even have Sims 2 installed on my laptop atm I just love listening to you explain stuff 😭

[@Lanaaaaa45]

Love your tutorials!! you got me back into plays sims 2 again!

[@silly-putty]

you're the best. i gave up on the sims 4 so you really helped my sims 2 game look sexy

[@Sabah_Khan]

Finally after A lot of tears, sweat and a massive headache I've finally done everything in two days time😭🥹💕 Now I can play 🥹 Thank you Maddie 💕🌸

[@audreyatkins1192]

really, really thankful for this video series. after two years of working just fine, the sims 2 crapped out on me yesterday. i was frantic trying to fix it; i permanently deleted some saves that i thought i had backed up and reinstalled the game three whole times before i remembered that you made this video series. my game is fixed now thank god. i thought it was gonna be permanently broken there for a minute LOL thank you so much!

[@suneater_zeef050]

SUPER helpful! getting old games to work is a pain, so these vids rly are a saviour. used all three (yes the deleted one too tee hee) to install the game today.. hopefully it runs fine!

[@grazynawolska8160]

Madi, consider becoming a teacher! Maybe not in the states but in Canada lol (good salary and phenomenal teachers pension in Canada) but seriously, you organize and explain information so well! Love your guides for everything! :)

[@acottonsock]

This is such a sweet comment! 💕

[@sopey6238]

I've been waiting for your reshade tutorial for months!! So excited! Thank youuuu

[@acottonsock]

You're so welcome!

[@JaiLaPaulette]

@@acottonsock I’m having trouble with the reshade. When I go to launch the game it says “Failed to find DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics, adapters in the system! Please make sure you have DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics, adapter, and have installed the latest drivers provided by the manufacturer. The application will now terminate.” I don’t know what to do s help‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@sopey6238]

@@acottonsock finally got a chance to set it up and it's amazing! You are an absolute life saver! First tutorial I've seen that is made for players that use RPC

[@Aphelia.]

This really is the ultimate guide, I don't think I will ever need another video tutorial to customise my Sims 2 lol. Thank you

[@floatnh]

You're very good at explaining things!

[@Emma-xk2dd]

Your use of your Twitch stickers is so cute 😭❤️

[@LadyLaurapop]

I’m starting to believe that The Sims 2 ought to be remastered quite like this with perhaps some new expansion and stuff packs someday! :)

[@YeaNo.]

25:40 coming back when I'm done replacing each hair individually 😆 I don't mind doing that myself I like picking my own things

[@abbywatson8133]

Thank you for this! I did most of what you suggested and it really breathed life into a 20 year old game!

[@AzureBlu10]

The Ultimate S2 Guide, very detailed! Thank You❤

[@angeliukas19]

Wow, this made my ts2 game lovely looking! Thanks for making these videos

[@baticeer_]

Really helpful video! this must have taken a lot of work so thanks for making it! I already had most of my stuff default replaced (and omg it's a neverending journey) but I was intimidated by all the Reshade tutorials I found and didn't really understand how it worked so I'll follow through yours, thank you!! 🥰 Some useful alternate options for people who might want something a little different, on the UI part: if you like the old UI but want the widescreen CAS / change appearances window there are mods for just making those bits widescreen (Chris Hatch made it I think); if you want a darkmode version of Clean UI it exists and it's called Starship UI; and if you don't want to have *no* pause frame but you don't like the big ugly red one, there is a mod called "pause overlay replacement" that just replaces it with a tiny white clock symbol, I just like to have something visual that shows if the game is paused :) BTW I always thought the green baby bottles were supposed to show that like... sims don't have humans' anatomy so the milk isn't white, it's green like a plumbob LOL... after all, they did take the breastfeeding option out of the game unless you add it back in with a mod 😂

[@michellepetersson740]

Amazing video, amazing dock. Thank you for this video! Been wanting to get nostalgia with the sims 2, but with better quality. Also had no idea how to install the mods on sims 2 so this video helped a ton!

[@cherrykitty1998]

YOU ARE THE BEST SIMS KZbinR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS CONTENT!!

[@dinealone0]

Perfect this comes after finally getting enough time from schoolwork to play 😈 and also finding the CC that corrupted my gravestones… kind of… anyway i’m READY FOR YOU RESHADE!!!!!!!

[@DisneyAndSpiritLover]

I've always wanted to know how to install Reshade with RPC! Thank you so much! :D

[@Callisto171]

After getting sick of ts3/4, I wanted to try out ts2 for pc after finally buying one. I have only played ts2 on playstation so this is like a brand new world to me. You are a lifesaver!! Your series made me so excited to play ♡♡♡

[@minimosims2309]

i dont even want the sims 2 yet i love this video because i think tutorials like this are the best content online for anyone that isn't tech savvy

[@jadenisntonfire4445]

you’re amazing! i love ur content

[@kenobeanz5834]

I can't thank you enough for this series!

[@Sn_SS95]

You made my Sims 2 game better then ever thanks acootonsock 😍😍😍😍

[@xblackx9927]

You are an absolute legend thank you so much for so detailed video ❤️

[@acottonsock]

No problem! 👍

[@nala9750]

This is really cool!! Thank you so much, I'm not even done yet..lol Sadly reshader was a bit much for my computer, didn't make my game look pretty at all was washed out instead, I like it better has is.. also it kept freezing. BUT the hair, skin and eyes YES! they all look so much better now, I will continue with the rest, but for now great Tutorial in doing all this, so easy to follow! Thanks again!!! :)

[@taliyahali4113]

You have definitely changed my game forever. Thank you !

[@acottonsock]

Happy to hear that!

[@matthewbanda816]

16:48 It Almost looks like sims 2 on console!!!!! That's the one i remeber the most- and still play! But your tutorials have opened awhole new set of Sims 2 for me!!! Most defenitely thankyou for exposing me to a better sims experience on pc !

[@annieg2863]

Wonderfull vid. On defaults, the last one to load will show. So, if you put in defaut hair a and for the same maxis-hair you put in hair z, hair z will show. That goes for any and all defaults.

[@__MPires__]

Amazing! Will watch this video as soon as I go back to Sims 2 😊 Now missing is a video on how to make Sims 4 kinda enjoyable 😆JK, that comes down to personal taste. I like the expansions of sims 4 but I can't enjoy the game itself :(

[@scarlethara1]

Such a great in-depth video! Thank you for this 😁

[@acottonsock]

You're so welcome!

[@teehee3657]

Thank you so much for this!! I was wondering how to install the camera mod and now I can beautify my custom hood

[@lagritsalammas]

I used to be an avid Sims 2 player for years, and was using default replacements of all kinds ever since my late teens half my life ago. I have grown to really enjoy The Sims 4 though despite all the negative feedback it's been getting, and I'm honestly so glad all the graphics feel so fresh and modern and I don't have to fiddle with all those upgrades anymore. Great video though, a really valuable resource for anyone looking to refresh their game's look and feel.

[@ohayo1570]

Thank you for going slow! As someone with ADHD I prefer faster tutorials/guides but I was watching this with my sister, we play sims on separate laptops and she has a hard time catching things so this helped

[@thatcreativebeauty]

Thanks so much it was such a great video and it helped so much 💖💖

[@Itzaric]

Oh god I usually skip out on mods if they look too complicated to install like the skybox one, but now I regret how much time I went without it out of laziness because you made it so easy for me lmao

[@kourtneykardasim4645]

Words cannot express how happy I am after getting Reshade 😭!! Tysmm for this

[@itztoru330]

KOURTNEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE

[@danielle5684]

great video so crisp! I love the TS2 is still relevant! Can you share how you got a live wallpaper for you desktop too😍

[@yusufoztokatl8415]

yess ive been waiting for this

[@nonsensicalpixels]

thank you so much for the guide Madi! it turned out lovely, this will be perfect for newcomers to ts2

[@acottonsock]

Thanks for the tip! I'm using version 5.4.0 as I installed in this video and it worked for me. 🤔 I will make a note in a pinned comment though!

[@determineddi2044]

I follow you for Sims 3 and now I'm getting nostaglia for Sims 2. If I can get it to play nicely with my computer I might go play for awhile because back then I could afford EVERY EP (unlike with Sims 4).

[@bea9631]

tysm I've just followed the reshade tutorial and it still works as of May 2023! the only difference was the extension file that generated after installing the reshade program was called something different, it was a different jumble of letters for me so I'd recommend anyone make note of the files already in that folder before you install the reshade program so you know which one is the new one that you need to rename!

[@ouchiesgotme]

hi i have a question for you! I had to instal it using the vulkan option and didnt get an extra extension file installed

[@FaibaFury]

Thanks,❤ u deserve 1M subscribers!

[@sweetbeagaming]

This has been so helpful in getting me restarted with TS2 thank you

[@Tony-lq1zp]

FINNALY I WAITED THIS LONG

[@SmartySkirt]

I have most of these already but maybe I’ll try my hand at reshade for the first time ever. Great video!

[@acottonsock]

It’s so worth it!

[@charly.s96]

You're a life saver, thanks so much!

[@le96g]

Thank you sooooo much for this video!!! 🥰🥰

[@houseoffrogsdogs6770]

I so appreciate you for this!!!

[@HonourableLoli]

thank you sooo much for this video and links!!!

[@acottonsock]

Of course!!

[@toshj177]

Omg thanks! now I default replace the hat hairs I hate. Also, there really cute babie onesies on modthesims for sims 2. I have a purple llama outfit for female and male babies :p.

[@NathyLume]

So great!! Thank you so much!!

[@loyael]

Thank you so much for all your videos, it helps so much. I've noticed a slight mistake at 1:22:24 -> You dragged the file meant for Mac users

[@buddywriggles]

I played the heck out of Sims 1, Sims 3 and Sims 4. I have modded sims 3 and sims 4 to death and have started making both CC and Mods for Sims 4 (bad ones, it's great). That is to say, I'm definitely at least one notch higher than ''doesn't work'' on the modding knowledge scale. But Sims 2..... it's not the complexity, it's the god damn reading - and assumed knowledge. No shade to anyone, it's completely on me, the resources and guides are fully available. I just open them and stare blankly. Anyway, THE POINT IS, thank you so much for this massive, maaaasive series. I can't imagine how many hours and days were actually spent on each video and each step. Just incredibly hard work and dedication to helping us dip our toes in this game! You are a hero and a blessed gift!

[@buddywriggles]

Aaaand I broke it. 😂

[@sharielane]

With default replacements, just like anything else placed in your Downloads folder, it's all about the load order. The last one loaded will trump all others.

[@sayitshay]

could u explain proper download order?

[@dianagonzalez5113]

Thank you Madi! 💓

[@banyanyo]

Thank you for your clear instructions.

[@KinhaRibeiro]

obrigada sz amei as dicas

[@iheartbagelzzz]

this is so useful u r a godsend

[@robertaadrielly3286]

Algum brasileiro faz um vídeo assim,com essa riqueza de conteúdo em um único vídeo. Queria muito entender tudo o que ela fala,mais não entende. Todo caso amei o vídeo,e já deixei meu like. parabens. amei. beijo do Brasil. 🇧🇷🥹🫰🏽

[@MagnumPatrol]

Thank you so much for this!

[@xdoriandanger]

Thank you so much for thisss

[@catthefanatic5551]

ty so much i actually feel like playing sims 2 again,,, real,,,, tty!

[@Jewel45615]

This is amazing and helped so much, but I can't figure out where to put my mods folder as my setup looks different than yours! Will need to do more digging, but thank you!!!

[@Ropm02]

THANK YOU for this 🤍🤍🤍

[@acottonsock]

You’re welcome 😊

[@colouringbooks]

Thank you for all of the effort you put into these videos and how well you explain everything. Do you happen to have your computer specs somewhere?

[@acottonsock]

Yes I do! It's in my channel "About me" section. 😊

[@Nayiyareyare]

I LOVE YOUUU thank u so much 💓💓

[@theasherst]

I basically went through the start to finish of this video, thank you

[@acottonsock]

Glad I could help!

[@Blackwolf37100]

You are such a gift to every Sims 2 fans ! The game is like updated and i'm so grateful ! I just have a problem with the skintones tho, it looks like the darker skins have "holes" like vitiligo almost, any idea what i can do to fix that ?