Review: The Simpsons Game (NDS)

While The Simpsons continues to win awards and maintains a high standard on television, the same cannot be said for the video game license.   After all these years Gamestyle is still waiting for the release that really takes advantage of the possibilities offered by Springfield and its cast of characters.  Admittedly Simpsons Hit & Run certainly had its moments, although the game blueprint was lets say inspired by releases already on the market.   The potential for an original adventure remains unfulfilled as The Simpsons Game manages to take us back in time to when game play was nothing more than jumping and punching oncoming lifeless characters.

Initially things seem promising as Electronic Arts have taken advantage of the dual screen layout of the DS and crafted a faithful representation of the cartoon show.  Having the real voice actors from the show and the scriptwriters certainly adds to this feeling of familiarity, and to any onlooker The Simpsons Game looks impressive.  Then when you pick up the Nintendo DS and take control, it all goes wrong, terribly wrong.

Before we jump into the game itself its worth nothing that this release includes a ‘hilarious plot’ backed up by ‘over twenty minutes of new animation’, so in other words that’s about 21 minutes in total for the price of a DS title.   A pretty expensive exchange for any Simpsons fan looking for more interaction than passive viewing.   Despite the high quality of the humour and the animation, this does not make for a videogame, nor should it ever.   Anyone buying this on the basis of animation or plot really needs to reconsider why they play games or similarly anyone recommending as such.   Gamestyle could argue that EA Redwood Shores actually overlooked the most important of all aspects and included an actual worthwhile game.   Instead in an ill-fated move they opened up the license box of tricks that we thought Electronic Arts had locked away since the awful Catwoman.

The plot is pretty basic but allows the development of various common Simpsons themes and humour.  The Simpsons family are somehow the last defence against chaos spreading through Springfield and beyond.  Although normally they are the source of most disturbances, this time only they can save the world!  You take control of Bart, Homer, Marge, Maggie and Lisa over a series of levels.  Unquestionably each character comes with their own unique abilities, each of which lack imagination and fail to add some much-required variety to proceedings.   

Everything falls apart when faced with the linear levels that involve a variety of gaming clichés (nicely highlighted by the game itself), as you jump across a series of gaps and press those familiar buttons.   The experience fails to develop as more characters are added to the mix, despite the excellent use of audio the whole experience fails badly as a game.   Some sections are purely trial and error, lacking a coherent explanation or tutorial, so you have to stumble around trying out different approaches to unlock the way forward.

The levels are littered with collectables if you wish to pursue these pieces of additional content, mostly for use in the Pet Homer mode.  Here this mini-game offers the chance to annoy and influence Homer himself by feeding him various items.  Unfortunately hitting Homer with the stylus on the head failed to provoke any response, as this would have in part made up for the poor nature of the main mode.  As with everything else on offer in this package, there is a fundamental failure to develop a promising idea into a fully-fledged mode.   A multi-player option is also offered, extending the life of what is a short game.  You can enjoy a slingshot competition or eat everything Homer style, or even try to grasp the Golden Donut, if you wish to prolong the agony.

Remove the excellent presentation and engaging audio, and you have a video game that is not fit for purpose.  The Simpsons Game is yet another missed opportunity from a series that has become a corporate juggernaut.   It may be as colourful and graphically impressive as the latest Zelda release, but there the similarities end and all too abruptly.

Rating: 4 / 10

Words by Jason Julier