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The Simpsons: The Game - Hands On Preview
Chris Leyton
26/09/2007
EA Games take on The Simpsons promises plenty of intentionally cliched gameplay...
It's been a surprisingly long four years since Homer, Bart, Lisa, and Marge's last videogame outing went onto become a fixture in the Top 40, and remained there for several years after. Shifting over 6 million copies worldwide, The Simpsons: Hit & Run proved the commercial strength of the enduring brand is still strong, even if it was yet another highly derivative spin-off based upon the most popular game of the time.
Reuniting an agreement that once brought the shameful Simpsons Skateboarding to our screens, EA has teamed up with America's first family to bring The Simpsons: The Game to every popular platform in town. With the DVD release of The Simpsons Movie following soon after "The Game's" November release, it seems as though EA are once again onto a winner, but deciding not to opt for the predictable tie-in, The Simpsons: The Game is shaping up to offer something considerably different, but at the same time deliberately not.
Since Konami first put Homer and his family into the arcades with the release of The Simpsons Arcade in 1991, fans have had to make do with a series of lucrative yet largely uninspired drivel or equally derivative spin-offs. The Simpsons: The Game makes no attempt to change this, challenging players across 18 stages of largely generic platforming action, with all-manner of collectables to gather along the way and the occasional puzzle to solve or mini-game to win.
Fortunately, it's a detail EA Redwood and the scriptwriters appear to be only too aware of, building the game around the concept that, yes, it is yet another clichéd, generic, hackneyed videogame adaptation - but as least they know it. Loaded with pastiches of various videogames, The Simpsons: The Game is one long joke from start to finish - although at this stage we're not entirely sure who they're poking fun at, themselves, other videogame developers, or the gamer for playing what amounts to little more than the same old game.
Looking past the tired gameplay proposition for a brief moment, The Simpsons: The Game could still manage something that has never been achieved with any genuine success. The intense level of polish evident in this still early code, from the authentic visual style to the structure of the plot, The Simpsons: The Game already resembles something closer to an actual episode of The Simpsons than anything that's come before.
Paramount to the game is the running storyline that ties each of the chapters together. Although it's hard to be too certain given the random assortment of chapters in this preview build, it's nonetheless apparent that the game ties together in a coherent manner (well as coherent as a Simpsons plot could ever be). Bearing the hallmarks of a classic Simpsons episode, the plotline draws inspiration from classic Simpsons episodes such as Homer's unforgettable Land of Chocolate daydream sketch and features plenty of cameo appearances, which lends the game a welcoming sense of familiarity and legitimacy.
Much of the plotline appears to revolve around the release of a videogame known as Grand Theft Scratchy. It doesn't take too much of an imagination to work out where this is all going, but it's a predictably witty touch from The Simpsons writers to cast EA executives as the evil, corporate bigwigs behind the game, literally in the hot-tub with the bribe-happy Mayor Quimby. The plot twists and turns in a style befitting an episode of The Simpsons, drawing in from the huge cast of secondary characters with further developments that include a nod towards the evil dolphins from Treehouse of Horror XI, a fight against the giant Lard Lad and the evil plans of Sideshow Bob.
This sets up plenty of parody and spoof opportunities, which the developers and writers have snapped at. Across the course of events, players can look forward to parodies of games such as Grand Theft Auto, Shadow of the Colossus, Pikmin, Medal of Honor, Everquest and many more - there's even the obligatory Frogger sketch and a nod towards Wolfenstein 3D during the Medal of Homer stage.
Bearing more than a close resemblance to the LEGO Star Wars series, The Simpsons: The Game is primarily geared around the concept of two players working co-operatively. So much so, that in the preview build at least a couple of stages proved nearly insurmountable and badly in need of some fine-tuning to the co-op AI - although Homer's never going to win any 'Dad of the Year' contests, surely he'd do something useful when his son is being fried by a 50-foot tall advertising statue.
Each of the four family members provides marginally different gameplay with a variety of abilities to tap into, along with further skills that are unlocked throughout the game. Taking full use of his donut-eating prowess, Homer can blow up into a giant ball, rolling around the stages and leaving a wake of destruction in his path. He also possesses an intoxicating belch attack that can be charged for maximum damage, along with the ability to mutate into a radioactive blob - though we're not entirely sure how or why! Bart takes advantage of his Bartman persona, gliding across plumes of hot steam to access inaccessible areas, and using his trusty catapult to dispatch playground bullies and security guards alike. Being in touch with her inner-self Lisa's stages revolve around special shrines to literally bring a hand down from the heavens above to manipulate objects on the ground below. Of course, she wouldn't be the same without her infuriating sax to hand, blasting everybody that opposes her with a lethal blast. Marge's stage certainly provided the most entertainment from this build. Drawing undeniably influence from Nintendo's Pikmin, Marge must enlist the support of an unruly mob of Springfield citizens disgusted by the forthcoming release of Grand Theft Scratchy to run amok and destroy anything celebrating the game's launch.
Each mission features a variety of objects to collect (to unlock artwork, movies, etc... yawn), along with the challenge of obtaining Videogame Clichés dotted around the level. Awarded whenever the cliché is performed during the game, The Simpsons: The Game appears to take great pride in reminding you of all the clichéd gameplay it involves such as the requisite 'Escort Mission' or falling into the water for a 'Can't Swim - Until the Sequel'. Whether the joke of collecting game clichés by performing them is clever of the guys at EA Redwood Shores or not, the fact remains it's going to be a game that intentionally feels tired, yet manages to make the most of it.
In glorious HD, The Simpsons: The Videogame is looking far, far superior to the rough 3D models that have featured in Simpsons games for the last few years. Admittedly there's times when Homer, Bart and co look a little closer to their Tracy Ulman equivalents, but generally the game's looking extremely similar to the TV show (compare screenshots with Hit & Run to see what we mean). It goes without saying that the voice actors from the TV series have worked closely with the game developers, though like the visuals, the use of dialogue is more pronounced and effective than anything seen from previous Simpsons games.
Anonymous
Date Added:Mon 14th Jul 2008 16:35
Anonymous
Date Added:Mon 14th Jul 2008 00:30
Anonymous
Date Added:Tue 29th Jan 2008 19:39
Mr Jack Random
Date Added:Sat 1st Dec 2007 03:52
Anonymous
Date Added:Wed 26th Sep 2007 13:33
Sega Boy
Date Added:Thu 10th May 2007 14:26
I'd settle for a fun adaptation that doesn't grow dull after 15 minutes!