The Simpsons Game - Previews - The Armchair Empire


	Platform 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PS2, PSP Genre Action Publisher Electronic Arts Developer EA Redwood Shores ETA October 30, 2007
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The Simpsons Game

After nearly two decades, the Simpson clan led by doltish dad Homer finally made their big-screen debut in 2007. Not surprisingly, there’s a Simpsons game on the horizon from Electronic Arts, simply titled The Simpsons Game. What is surprising is that this isn’t a movie tie-in title at all, being an entirely new Simpsons adventure.

Instead of following the two previous Simpsons games, which blatantly copied already proven gaming formulas (Hit & Run “borrowed” from Grand Theft Auto,

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while Road Rage did likewise from Crazy Taxi), The Simpsons Game is an action title devoid of much carbon copying. The game has 16 “episodes” (with four “chapters” in each episode) that spoofs other gaming franchises, including – you guessed it – GTA with Grand Theft Scratchy: Blood Island.

Players will be able to use four of the five

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Simpson household members throughout the game (baby Maggie is playable for brief “missions”). Each Simpson has a unique ability, from Marge’s power of persuasion using a megaphone to Homer rolling his way through and over anything in is path (also with the ability to morph into one of his Treehouse of Horrors personas as a nuclear-wasted green blob) to Bart implementing his Bartman powers to Lisa going into a meditative state and using manipulation talents. Of course all of the smart-ass attitude that’s been part of the Simpsons from the very first time Bart uttered “eat my shorts” is front and present in The Simpsons Game.

No matter what Simpson you play as, you’ll traverse familiar Simpsons locales and face off against big bosses, including the come-to-life Lard Lad doughnut sign and even a fight against Simpsons creator Matt Groening.

Another great revelation given to anyone previewing the game at this year’s E3 was that it will be a co-op game, so that two players can enjoy The Simpsons Game at once, a most welcome addition for anybody that had the misfortune of encountering the lame multiplayer “racing” in Hit & Run.

If the E3 showing of the game was any indication, Simpsons gamers that enjoyed Hit & Run and Road Rage will be yelling “Cowabunga!” once The Simpsons Game hits stores at its scheduled fall 2007 release.

- Lee Cieniawa

lcieniawa@armchairempire.com

(September 4, 2007)