Great cast of characters in an average platformer...
by Helmetz Aug 19, 2009, 2:26 PM PDT
The Simpsons Game is a 3D platformer created by EA Games. It stars none other than America's most famous prime time cartoon family the Simpsons as well as the entire supporting cast found within Springfield. I have to say I had a few laughs when I bumped into the Spanish Bee (whom is one of my favorite characters on the show). Graphically the game isn't anything too impressive (like other next-gen titles) however all cartoon character models emulate their respective television counterparts very well. All voice actors and actresses bless the game with their presence and deliver a performance as if they were working on one of the weekly shows. The music and atmosphere of the game are great as well. Combine all these aspects together and you will feel fully immersed within Springfield.
Without giving the whole plot of the story away you start out as Homer in a tutorial level that explains the basic mechanics of the game. You'll learn the various moves and begin to explore the city collecting character specific items. The sole purpose of these items is to receive character specific trophies after collecting a certain amount. Collecting items is okay and a necessary part in a good platformer, but it's better when said items lead to some sort of character upgrade. Once discovering the 'limited' role these items played in the game, I began ignoring them and proceeding with the game...but I digress. After Bart finds a 'The Simpsons Game' game guide, he and his family soon realize they all have special powers (minus Maggie of course). They discover that they are in a videogame of their own and proceed through the game with the ultimate goal of figuring out why they have powers. Not much of a plot if you ask me but the game is filled with that quick-witted Simpsons sense of humor we all know and love, which really helps to save the game. There are about 18 episodes (levels) which are all joined together by a weird story arc, but the Simpsons are known to getting into crazy situations that don't necessarily make sense.
In addition to having a weak story and platforming for non essential items, the camera can be a pain, especially when playing co-op. True it is fun to tag team with somebody and run through Springfield, but the camera can get in the way and hurt the overall value of the game in the end. Load times further complicate issues as you'll be waiting for the game to load if you keep dying or in between cut scenes and gameplay.
The game can take you about 9
