The Simpsons feature in more than 25 licensed video games. The majority of those games aren’t very popular, but there are a handful of rather good ones. If you’re looking for a great online game to play, browser-based hits like The Simpsons Game and The Simpsons Arcade are both great choices.
Seeing as the TV show is the longest-running animated series ever made, it does at least make sense that it would have the largest representation when it comes to gaming. There’s one game that did a lot better than most of the others; The Simpsons: Hit and Run.
The Simpsons: Hit and Run was released in 2003 by Vivendi Universal Games and Fox Interactive. The game received positive reviews when it came out, and has gone on to become the highest-rated Simpsons game ever made.
Plot
The Simpsons: Hit and Run takes place in the iconic town of Springfield, taking players on a joke-filled journey through familiar locations from the show. Fans of the series can relive some of the best moments from over 30 seasons of entertainment.
Hit and Run features five playable characters, and takes place in three separate areas of Springfield. Players take on the role of Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge, and Apu. Each character has their own chapter in the story, and players follow a linear campaign spanning seven chapters (Bart and Homer get two chapters each).
In Hit and Run, Springfield is facing a growing conspiracy following a number of strange incidents. After witnessing these mysterious events, The Simpsons (and Apu) decide to investigate. From mind-altering Buzz Cola drinks to robotic voyeur wasps, it’s up to the player to figure out what the cause is behind all these chaotic events.
Development
From the opening level, it’s immediately clear that this is a Grand Theft Auto-style game. What isn’t noticeable at first, is how well Rockstar’s open-world format suits the Simpsons license. In collaboration with the titular series’ creator Matt Groening, Vivendi Universal evidently used Rockstar’s formula to great effect.
At the time of its release, Simpsons: Hit and Run received a majority of positive reviews. Praised for its authentic portrayal of the show’s characters, its parody of the many GTA clones being released at the time was met with critical acclaim.
Gameplay
Hit and Run features a semi-open world where players can drive, fight, complete missions, and collect items. The aim of the game is to clear various story-related objectives. Despite being referred to as a GTA clone, Hit and Run sets itself apart from the crowd with high-quality graphics, gameplay, and writing.
The town of Springfield is divided into several sections, and each character’s chapter takes place in a different area. The variety of locations keeps environments feeling fresh, and each area of Springfield is well-designed. Missions are mainly linear in structure, with every mission leading closer to the truth behind Springfield’s woes.
Characters often break the fourth wall, insofar as they are aware they are in a video game. Self-awareness works to immerse players in the world, and the show has always been about staying relevant to the audience anyway. Usually, it takes a fair balance of humor and self-awareness to pull this off. Thankfully, Vivendi and Fox don’t take these scenes too far.
There are a few side quests on offer, but the main chunk of the game consists of well-scripted main missions. These sequences never fail to entertain, and will delight fans of the show. Most missions involve cars and racing objectives which, to be fair, makes perfect sense considering the Hit and Run title. Being on foot is a bit sluggish compared to driving, but you can punch and kick while walking around, which does make it slightly better.
There are plenty of secret collectibles to find, and some of them can be quite a challenge to discover. Collecting all of these pickups rewards the player with a currency that can be used to buy more items. These lore cards are a treat to read, and fans will be pleased to know that they all reference the world of the Simpsons.
All the famous locations in Springfield are featured here, such as Krusty Burger, Moe’s Bar, and the Simpsons’ home. The placement of these buildings makes sense in terms of the show, and they give Springfield an organic feel; every building is where it should be, and locations tie in nicely with the show.
There are a few jumping puzzles and plenty of interior environments to explore, though the movement can get a little frustrating in platforming sections. There are no weapons, and there isn’t much in the way of violence either. Running over pedestrians and causing property damage will cause a meter to rise on-screen. Similar to GTA’s Wanted level, when this bar gets high enough, Springfield’s law enforcement will do their utmost to see you put behind bars.
Though the gameplay can become a little repetitive, this type of open-world game was all the rage in the early 2000s. Open-world was a new format and gave players unprecedented freedom with its sandbox-style level design. Open-ended gameplay became a standard style of play because of these games, and their immense contribution to the advancement of video games cannot be overstated.
Verdict
With authentic voice acting, and some pretty good graphics for its time, The Simpsons: Hit and Run has a lot going for it. Though the controls are a bit stiff at times, the main activity of driving is executed sufficiently well. The gameplay is enjoyable enough on its own, but adding the Simpsons brand makes this game a must-play for any Simpsons fans.
Hit and Run is the only Simpsons game to be ported from console to PC. If you’re not a fan of the show though, this might not be the game for you. Many jokes will be lost on non-fans. Despite being a product of its time, with all the shortcomings related to that time period, the Simpsons is nonetheless a good game – especially if you’re a Simpson’s fan. If you need to scratch a Simpson’s itch, this might be the perfect game to play.
