The Simpsons Game: Strategy/ action game (Electronic Arts for Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PS2. $39.99 to $59.99. ESRB Rating: Teen.)
Are you ready for the Super Happy Fun Fun?
We're referring, of course, to the 22nd episode of the eighth season of "The Simpsons," where Homer discovers that he looks exactly like the mascot for the Japanese-made dishwasher detergent Mr. Sparkle. That and dozens of other obscure references to the television show are buried in the Simpsons Game, which features an unusual amount of cooperation between the creative heads of "The Simpsons" and the publishers of the video game at Electronic Arts.
If only the game play matched the wittiness of the writing, this might be a classic. Yet, even with its simple action sequences and a few frustrating game play mechanics, the latest game based on "The Simpsons" is an unexpected treat for fans of the show, filled with inside jokes from the "Simpsons" universe and some entertaining satire of the video game industry.
Previous "Simpsons" titles, like most video games based on licensed characters from television and movies, were stunningly unimaginative. The Simpsons Hit & Run on PlayStation 2, for example, was just a simplified version of the arcade classic Crazy Taxi, with maybe a couple hours of work from each of the show's voice actors. It was the type of consumer rip-off (usually orchestrated by Krusty) that the writers from "The Simpsons" might make fun of in an episode of the show.
Somewhere in the past few years, the creative force behind the franchise got tired of simply cashing royalty checks for their video games and tried to make a good one. The Simpsons Game gets quality contributions from several of the show's better writers. And while many TV and movie actors deliver vocal performances like someone has a gun to their head, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria and the other "Simpsons" regulars clearly worked hard to make the game sound like the TV show.
The plot combines familiar "Simpsons" situations, including clips directly from the show, with new material - much of it skewering video games. The Comic Book Guy, for example, points out each of the game's cliches. ("The double jump. How original.") References to the Grand Theft Auto spoof Grand Theft Scratchy are also still in the game, even though Rockstar reportedly influenced Electronic Arts to change the name in a promotional video to Mob Rules.
The satirical elements are the best part of the Simpsons Game, which succeeds on the strength of its parody skills. On the Xbox 360, at least, the graphics in the game are just as good as the TV show's animation, creating a seamless experience. Just walking around Springfield and bumping into other characters will yield a few lines ("Mmmm. Calories," Homer says, as he enters the Land of Chocolate) that are bound to make you smile.
The action in the game is incredibly simple, with each character having the ability to run, jump and execute a couple of special moves. Bart has a slingshot and Marge operates a megaphone that has offensive capabilities. Homer has burping power, the ability to turn into a Metroid Prime-style ball weapon and a couple of other skills that reveal themselves later in the game.
It's a strange format, because the simple puzzles and repetitive tasks seem designed for the 8-year-old Sonic the Hedgehog crowd, and yet the Simpsons Game more than earns its Teen rating with some off-color jokes and penchant for funny, over-the-top violence.
The game is also restricted by nausea-inducing camera controls, which constantly change but are rarely very effective. For such a simple game - the instruction booklet for the Simpsons Game is six pages - making the characters move the way you want them to is much too complicated.
Still, that's a relatively tiny problem in a game that more than makes up for its shortcomings with "Simpsons"-style mob violence, Homer-related gluttony, Krusty the Clown-themed product safety violations and other assorted tasteless brilliance. Let the Super Happy Fun Fun begin.
Source: SFGate