The Simpsons Game

I bought this game shortly after release after playing Simpsons Hit & Run practically nonstop. I didn't follow video game news at the time and just assumed it would be in the same vein. Well, it wasn't, but that doesn't automatically make this a bad game. It was more level-based, rooted in exploration and puzzle solving, which at times proved to be quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, I found the story to be pretty boring and the graphics weren't as smooth as Hit & Run's.

I would still recommend it to fans of the show who also partake in the occasional video game. Not bad, not great, but not without its moments.

A gamer who could care less about the Simpsons would probably find this to be a very bland and average game. A gamer who loves the Simpsons would probably have some trouble with some of the bad controls and horrible camera angles, but otherwise enjoy the hilarious dialogue, Simpsons characters, animation and sets. A non-gamer will enjoy the cut scenes....heck, who couldn't enjoy those. This game has about 45 minutes of new traditionally animated Simpsons material, and it's just as funny as the show if not funnier. In addition to that, there's about 30 minutes of computer animated Simpsons cut scenes, which are also great.

The game itself is unique and fun, but has some problems. Each level, excluding the Land of Chocolate, is a tag team, and both characters need to be constantly switched in order to beat the level. Each character has their special. Homer can become a fat ball and break things, and also later can become the blob, Marge can call together crowds to break and put things back together. Marge also can put Maggie in tight spaces, which features some cool animation from Maggie's point of view. Lisa uses her Buddha powers to use her hands like God and pick things up and move them around. Bart turns into Bartman and can glide around. All these characters are fun to play with, and make the gameplay less repetitive, constantly switching characters. The levels are pretty interesting, ranging from trying to save the museum from bullies, to fighting the Lard Lad donut mascot.

The problems in the game are a few glitches, and some weird controls and camera angles. Some parts that should be easy are difficult because of the camera angle that you have no control over. It can become very frustrating trying to position your character right so you can see your destination. Sometimes the controls are hard to maneuver and take a while to get used to. Bart's slingshot was tricky for me, trying to figure out how many times I had to click the O button before it finally shot. As for the glitches, only one got me, and it was annoying. Near the end of the level, Lisa the Tree Hugger, Bart was shot in the sky, giving me a sky view that could not be changed. I couldn't switch to Lisa, and the only way to fix this was to restart the level.

Coming from a moderate gamer and a huge Simpsons fan, this is a good game. The writing is the best part, game second. However it was still a good game, but with the hilarious cut scenes, it had a lot to live up to.

My rating: *** out of ****. Rated Teen for language, violence, and drinking.

Very much in the spirit of the show, this game was a lot of fun to play.

I liked also that it include new animation from the show.

I first got this game for the Nintendo DS and I later got it for the Wii. I enjoyed the Wii version much more, but the DS version had easier gameplay.

The DS version of the game is a side-scrolling platformer, and it is very fun. However, it is ridiculously easy and it only takes two and a half or three hours to complete. It also leaves out an entire level that is only available on the big consoles and the graphics leave something to be desired. But overall, it was pretty fun, even though I beat it who knows how many times.

The Wii version is much more challenging. I've had it for a while and I haven't been able to complete it yet. The bad thing about the big console versions is that the camera is terrible and sometimes it is impossible to play. The camera adjuster was mapped to the +Control Pad, which is at the very top of the Wii remote and is rather hard to reach while beating up enemies. The gameplay was not very easy as you can tell that the game was not designed for a Wii remote and nunchuk. It is still very fun and it includes the level that was left out in the DS version. It also has many more cut-scenes than the DS version.

Overall, the DS version is the most limited version of The Simpsons Game. If you want to play the complete full version, you should get it for the PlayStation 3 or the Xbox 360. The Wii version is still brilliant, though. This game is amazing and any Simpsons fan will love it.

8 out of 10 "Meta, hilarious, and surprisingly clever - just not quite 'Hit & Run'."

Released in 2007, The Simpsons Game was everything you'd expect from a show that has mastered pop culture commentary for decades - self-aware, chaotic, funny as hell, and filled with love for the franchise. It wasn't Hit & Run's spiritual sequel, but it came close to delivering a proper Simpsons gaming experience that fans had been craving.

The Breakdown:

Story & Structure

What do you do when you discover you're in a video game? If you're the Simpsons, you milk it for every last ounce of absurdity. The Simpsons Game leaned into its own fiction, crafting a plot where each family member gains video game powers, and the levels themselves became parodies of classic games, genres, and industry tropes. From "Medal of Homer" to "Grand Theft Scratchy," it was a playground of references that never took itself too seriously.

Playable Characters & Powers

Each family member brought something unique: Homer could balloon into a blob, burp, and go into rage mode.

Bart transformed into Bartman, gliding and grappling like a mini Batman.

Lisa used a giant Buddha hand to manipulate the environment.

Marge rallied mobs and swayed the crowd - seriously, underrated.

Co-op mechanics were fun, especially when switching between characters mid-level. The puzzle-platforming structure wasn't perfect, but it kept things fresh with new powers and clever objectives.

The Good Stuff The writing was top-tier. Dialogue was sharp, loaded with fan service, and packed with fourth-wall breaking gold.

The animation nailed the show's style. Visually, this looked and felt like you were inside a real episode.

Voice acting? All original cast. That's the difference-maker - no knock-off impersonations, just pure Simpsons energy.

Why It's Not a 10

Let's be real - it's not Hit & Run. Where Hit & Run was surprisingly deep with open-world freedom, cars, and an actual sense of progression, The Simpsons Game was more linear, more restricted, and often struggled with clunky controls and camera angles. Some levels dragged, and combat got repetitive. Still, its charm helped carry the weaker moments.

Final Grade: 8 out of 10

The Simpsons Game was ambitious, hilarious, and packed with moments fans won't forget - but it just didn't hit the replay value or impact that Hit & Run did. Still, it remains a cult favorite and a solid entry in the all-too-small catalog of great Simpsons games.

Bring back both. Remaster one. Reboot the other. Either way, we're overdue for another hit.