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Written by Ian Johnston
Byline: A Simpsons game that's actually . . . good?
Games based on The Simpsons have been around almost as long as the cartoon has, dating back to the days of the NES. Since that time nearly two-dozen Simpsons games have been released, the majority of which have been mediocre at best. Considering that horrendous track record, there wasn't much reason to anticipate developer Radical Entertainment's new Simpsons game. Surprise, surprise though, it's the best Simpsons game to come out in years and is among the best ever (along with the likes of Konami's 1991 Simpsons arcade game and Acclaim's Krusty's Fun House for multiple systems).
Visuals:
Hit & Run's visual style is very faithful to the Simpsons cartoon. The game is primarily played from a third-person overhead perspective, but the perspective can be changed while in a vehicle. Everything from the characters themselves to the various locales in Springfield has a distinct look that's very reminiscent of the cartoon. There are, unfortunately, a few graphical negatives.
First and foremost, the characters don't really move as extensively and fluidly as they should. For example, when the characters are talking - which is just about all the time - they have little to no variance in facial movement or expression. Nothing intricate and complex is needed, but some rudimentary facial movements to synchronize with the speech would have been nice. Also, there's a lot of clipping and the framerate seems to drop whenever there's a lot of action on-screen. Nevertheless, fans of the cartoon will be pleased with the game's look and faithfulness to the Simpsons characters and the town of Springfield.
Audio:
The aural elements in Hit & Run are great for the most part. The actual voice actors for the cartoon do all the voices in the game, so the authenticity is definitely there. There's also a nice variety of dialogue, which is great because it cuts down on repetitiveness. Still, there are some one-liners that get old really fast, so you may find yourself rolling your eyes more than once while playing.
The sound effects are somewhat exaggerated to suit the game's obvious cartoon ambiance, but they're oftentimes humorous and almost always spot on. The music is also quite good, combining some original tunes with a healthy dose of remixed music from the cartoon. It all comes together to form a more than satisfying listening experience. The voiceovers and dialogue are definitely the best part of the audio though.
Gameplay:
If you've played Grand Theft Auto III then you know what to expect. You get to play as Bart twice, Homer twice, Lisa, Marge, and Apu. Each time you assume control of one of the aforementioned characters you have to complete seven missions. These missions usually involve collecting something for someone, chasing a vehicle of some sort, or following a vehicle of some sort and picking up items that it drops. In this sense Hit & Run is a bit of a letdown as it wouldn't have been that hard to mix-up the missions a bit more. Collecting and retrieving things can be fun, but only to a point.
In addition to the seven main missions for each character you have the option of completing a bonus mission and three vehicle races. You obtain new vehicles by purchasing them. You get money by destroying various objects such as vending machines and trashcans. Some of the cartoon's more popular vehicles, like Homer's sedan, Barney's Plow King, Chief Quimby's patrol car, and Willy's tractor are all available for the taking.
You can also collect different trading cards that are hidden throughout the town. If you get all the cards for one characters scenario you unlock the RC Pro-Am-esque mini-game. If you get all the cards in additional scenarios you unlock new tracks for the mini-game. Last but not least, there are little spy cameras all over the place masquerading as bugs; typically twenty per scenario. Take them out and you get a nice chunk of change.
While it's temping to fault the developer for so blatantly ripping off GTA III, it's clear that GTA III's gameplay suits the Simpsons. More missions and more variety are musts for the sequel, should Radical Entertainment or some other company make one.
Funfactor:
What's not to like? You get to run around an accurate, and quite large, reproduction of Springfield and do whatever you want. The gameplay may be derivative of Grand Theft Auto III, but that doesn't make it any less appealing. Being able to go on missions if you want and just roam around and do whatever, whenever is a blast. Also, having an unlockable mini game (which just happens to be a lot of fun) as well as plenty of hidden, yet optional, things to do and collect makes Hit & Run very entertaining.
Overview:
Despite a few graphical deficiencies and some redundant missions, Hit & Run is a really good game. Simpsons fans will love it, but it's also really accessible to everyone else. Plus, it's a good way to experience the excellent Grand Theft Auto III gameplay system without being forced to experience the blood, sex, and violence in GTA III. While not astounding by any means, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is the best Simpsons game since Konami's 1991 arcade masterpiece and one superb game in its own right. Definitely recommended.
| Visuals: | 3.5 |
| Audio: | 4.5 |
| Gameplay: | 4.0 |
| Funfactor: | 4.0 |
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| Overall: | 4.0 |
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