Better than the Sims 3?
Either way this game has its cons and pros, I have named them (from my opinion).
Pros:
Custom Music
Upgraded Body Shop (Better than the first Sims)
Basement Making (With know-how)
Different Creatures
More Furniture
More Design Options
Cars
Upgraded Pets
Movie Making
And of course others, but no others come to mind now.
Cons:
Lots
Can't take a walk around the block
Still cannot see inside their jobs
Don't see the cars drive like in the Sims 3
Can't see what their jobs look like
And others that don't come to mind.
Overall: The Sims 2 was an instant classic and still is, I prefer to play it over the Sims 3 honestly. The graphics were good for 2004, and you don't have to have a $3,000 computer for it to work.
I love this game and will always play it, even in ten years I will still be playing it. It's that addictive.