Mmmmm...Simpsons Hit & Run review...(drool noises)
Written: May 28 '04 (Updated Jun 02 '04)
Product Rating:
Pros: Great voice-acting, easy controls, and hilarious Simpsons humor.
Cons: Most missions are time-based, which will frustrate some players.
The Bottom Line: GTA in Springfield? Not quite. The humor is excellent, the controls solid (for the most part), but no weapons or bloody violence may turn some players away.
shadowtiembi's Full Review: Simpsons: Hit And Run for PlayStation 2
I've been around since 1979, so I've seen quite a lot. The fall of the Berlin wall, the cloning of sheep, Alex Trebek without a mustasche. But I never thought I'd ever live to see this -- a Simpsons game that doesn't suck.
To be fair, I'm one of those guys that spent weeks playing "Bart vs. The Space Mutants" and "Bart's Nightmare" back in the day. I also spent a few days on "Krusty's Fun House." And one time, I took a good, long look at the box to "Simpsons Road Rage." But "The Simpsons Hit & Run" finally delivers the goods...so long as you're not expecting GTA: Springfield.
The similarities to Grand Theft Auto are there -- it's a fully-explorable world, where you can cause some minor mayhem by kicking people (there are no weapons in the game, other than a swift kick in the rear). And you don't drag people out of their cars, but instead hop in the passenger seat as they drive you to your destination. Yes, don't worry, you still control the cars as you smash your way through the street of Springfield. Smash too much, however, and Chief Wiggum (along with Lou and Eddie) will chase you down faster than you can say "d'oh!"
The missions fall into a few different, yet eventually tedious categories -- follow someone, get from point A to point B within the given time limit, or stop someone else from getting from point A to point B within the given time limit. There are a few original missions, but if you're strongly against the time-limit type (as I am), this game is going to frustrate you. Luckily, you'll be laughing so hard at times, you may not notice.
If you don't care much for the missions, there's still fun to be had just roaming around this virtual Springfield. Fans will recognize the many businesses and neighborhoods, recreated in a cartoonish 3-D, such as Moe's Tavern, Springfield Elementary, Cletus' farm, and even the town square, complete with a statue of Jebediah Springfield. The town is fully-explorable, in an excellent conversion from the 2-D series to the 3-D gaming world. If you recall the Halloween episode where Homer enters the third dimension, then the graphics in "The Simpsons Hit & Run" will look very familiar.
The humor in this game is top-quality. All the characters are present, and every voice is done by their respective voice actor. There are a ton of sayings for every main, controllable character, though repetition eventually sets in after playing for so long. Driving, running, and interacting with others will land you some truly great one-liners (I honestly laughed out loud after hitting another driver as Homer behind the wheel, and hearing him call out, "I have no insurance!"). The cut-scenes are also well done, with the type of Simpsons humor that's been keeping it on the air for 15+ years.
The game starts you off as Homer, and after completing a set of missions you move on to the next area, a new section of Springfield, as another member of the Simpson family. In all, you get to play as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and, despite his non-relation, Apu Nahassape...eh, you know who I mean. Playing as Apu is one of the game's highest moment, as his one-liners are all hilarious ("move out of the way, whitey!") After completing a level, you're able to switch back and forth, and in a move I wish GTA would include, you can choose to replay any particular mission.
Replay value is decent, as there are plenty of hidden items and unlockables to keep you busy. Besides, you'll want to make sure you've heard every line the game has to offer, and they're plentiful. Diehard Simpsons fans will appreciate the little things in the game that the casual fan may miss. For example, you can unlock the ninja outfit that Bart delivered his Thai menus in, and Homer can eventually drive around in the car he designed for his half-brother Herb (which eveutally cost ol' Uncie Herb his career).
If you're buying this game because you're a GTA fan looking for a similar experience, you may be let down. If you're a Simpsons fan, though, this will have you and your friends laughing for a while to come. And the bigger the fan, the more minor details you catch, and the more you laugh.
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