The Simpsons Game - 7/10
Ok, so I was a little worried about this game. Having played some of the previous Simpsons games, I wasn’t really expecting much. I thought I was just getting another bid for money by using an already well-known franchise. But after playing it, I am surprised! EA have really made an effort to make a good game, they have obviously put some thought into it. However, they have overlooked some MAJOR things *cough* camera *cough*, and had they spent a little more time testing and refining their product, they would have a really good game on their hands.
GAMEPLAY: So, it’s The Simpsons Game. You obviously play the Simpsons family. I’m a little disappointed that there is no opportunity to play characters outside of the immediate Simpson family, like Grandpa Simpson, but I guess we can’t have it all. Marge acts as one character with Maggie though, occasionally deploying Maggie into small spaces to proceed through the level. I really wanted Maggie to be playable as a single character, and I think the developers could have done something really cool with her, and have missed an opportunity by not doing so.
In the Simpsons Game, the Simpsons realize that they are video game characters. They (well…you) then spend the rest of the game trying to save the world from chaos with your new-found powers.
One of the earlier levels
Each of the Simpsons characters have basic punching attacks, a special ability unique to them, and a powered up ability. For example, Homer can turn into “Homerball” or “Gummy Homer”. Marge can use a megaphone to create a mob and have them do her bidding, Bart can glide, and Lisa can use the power of Buddha to move objects.
In each level you have 2 of the Simpson family to control, and to proceed you need to use both characters and their abilities to solve puzzles. These aren’t exactly brain-bending puzzles though, they are easy, and most are solved in very similar fashion.
The game though, is still addictive, though being a Simpsons Fan makes it much more enjoyable, if you are not, it still provides a pretty good game. Throughout the, rather short game (only 16 levels), you find video-game clichés, such as “oh, how original, lava”, and “wow…a box”. The game pokes fun at a huge number of classic video games, and some new ones, with levels called “Medal of Homer” and “Neverquest”. I really liked the way the developers include that idea.
My Favourite In-Game Poster
But, the game does have its flaws. The main one being the camera. Sure, you know exactly what you need to do in a level, but the stupid camera is putting you at a funny angle so actually doing that thing can sometimes be frustratingly difficult. Many times the camera had me swearing at my PSP screen, trying to use my brain power to make it go where I wanted it to go.
The game is also far too short. Even though I am a huge Simpsons fan, and I really enjoyed the game, I couldn’t see myself playing through it again in a hurry, and I can’t really be bothered going back through all the levels to collect everything.
I also thought that some free-roaming like in the console games would’ve been nice, but that was left out for some reason, though it doesn’t really effect the game dramatically.
Really, apart from some very annoying camera issues, and small amount of levels, the game is a lot better than expected, and delivers on fun.
8/10
SOUND: The music is the sort that just fades into the background, I barely noticed it. However, there are some levels where, for some reason, the makers have put the most annoying tune they could find, and played it over, and over, and over. Still, this doesn’t happen often thankfully.
The voices of the characters in the game were done by the voice-over artists from the actual cartoon, so everything sounded as it should. I found myself turning the sound up just to hear the random comments blurted out by the characters during the levels or when doing a particular action. Some of the lines I recognized instantly from TV, whereas others were completely original. They were a very nice touch, however, nothing special.
7/10
Playing as Maggie is a rare opportunity
GRAPHICS: Some of the cut-scenes in the game were taken directly from TV episodes, where some weren’t. You could easily tell the difference. Where the cut-scenes from TV were nicely rendered, well-drawn images, the others were slightly out of proportion and made the characters look a little distorted and strange.
In-game, the world looked pretty darn good and I could see the attention to detail that had gone into the levels, even down to putting posters on the wall of Bart’s room in the Simpson house.
The characters in-game looked a little strange as well. They were in proper proportion, but the edges, the outside lines of them looked very pixilated and brought down the whole appearance.
6.5/10
OVERALL: All in all The Simpsons Game is a fun outing, albeit far too short for my taste, which keeps true to the way a Simpsons game should feel. The PSP version is caught between the DS and console versions, not as horrible as the DS one, but missing out on some vital things included in the console versions.
Apart from some niggling issues like the camera (yes I know I’m going on about the camera), The Simpsons Game is great. If only EA had spent a little more time on it, refining it, adding a few more levels perhaps, it would have gotten a much higher score from me. However, it is still a must have for any Simpsons fan, and if you aren’t, still worth a look.
7/10
By insectoid
Please leave feedback and let me know how to improve!
Submitted by insectoid
29/11/2007
13
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Simpsons Game, The
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