The Simpsons (video game)
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The Simpsons is an arcade beat 'em up game developed and published by Konami, based on an American animated sitcom of the same name. The game was ported to the Commodore 64 and MS-DOS soon after its launch in the arcades and was released as The Simpsons Arcade Game on those platforms. It was also released under that title on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in February 2012.
A spiritual successor of the game, known as The Simpsons Arcade, was released on mobile devices in 2009. The game has since been delisted and is therefore lost to time unless downloaded via a jailbroken Apple device.
Plot
When walking through downtown Springfield, the Simpson family encountered Smithers, who stole a large diamond from a jewelry shop for Mr. Burns. The diamond goes flying, and lands in Maggie's mouth, and she used it like a pacifier thus it made Smithers kidnapped Maggie. The rest of the Simpsons chase across the city and fought hordes of enemies to reach the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.
Why It Brings the "Fun" in Dysfunctional
- The gameplay here is something that you would expect from a typical well-done beat 'em up. Fun yet challenging. Play with four players to make the experience a good one.
- Each Simpson is unique from each other gameplaywise. Check them out right here:
- Homer's attacks mostly consist of the usual old punch and kick. Basic, right?
- Marge wields a vacuum cleaner
- Bart uses a skateboard
- Lisa uses a jump rope
- The graphics in the game are so colorful and wacky. The presentation of the game just fits so well with the show's nature, even for retro game standards! The sprites also look good as well.
- Players who have their characters stand close to each other can make a combined attack. For instance, pairing up Homer with Marge would make the characters hold each other's ankles to roll around the screen and mow down enemies.
- The items in the game are useful to use. They consist of using hammers, bowling balls, and mailboxes which can be used as weapons that are used for a short period of time or for a one-time projectile attack. Some points of the game would allow the family to use their own pets as thrown weapons.
- For an arcade game, the voice acting in the game is great, especially with the Simpsons themselves. It uses the same cast that is used in the show in order to voice the Simpsons, consisting of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, and Yeardley Smith. The quality of the sound is crisp for retro game standards.
- And who could not forget the voices in the game's title card, which uses clouds and the logo, that is used in the show?
- The Japanese version of the game is different from the North American version. You can throw small scale nuclear bombs that can clear all on-screen enemies, a life bar that can accumulate three levels by eating food beyond the first full level, and the player's life is turned into bonus points after completing a level, also will be restored when the next level starts.
- In this version, hidden items, food and weapons, appear, when you hit specific points of the screen.
- The enemy variety is very high in quantities. You got goons, door women, firefighters, zombies, barrel women, Marge clouds, power plant employees, ninjas, etc.
- Lots of bosses to take down and win against. Some bosses include Professor Werner von Brawn, Krusty balloon, bowling ball, kabuki warrior, Waylon Smithers, and Mr. Burns himself!
- Fun bonus levels. The first one is called "Blow Up Your Balloon", which is pretty self-explanatory. Then there is the other one called "Wake Up", where you basically have to button mash to wake up your character.
- The stages have a diverse selection, and it will take players to places seen in the world of Springfield. With the likes of some like Moe's tavern, Krustyland, the Springfield cemetery, Channel 6 station, and the Springfield nuclear power plant, each stage looks colorful and different from one another when it comes to the themes.
- As expected from The Simpsons, it does have some funny moments:
- For instance, a visual gag had Marge showing rabbit ears similar to the rabbits from Life in Hell. This serves as a nod to several DVD commentaries where it stated that before the show became a full series, Marge was going to have rabbit ears under her hair and reveal them in the last episode.
- Whenever your character stays idle, they will break the fourth wall, except for Homer, who yawns. Marge would reply with, "How's my hair?", Bart would look confused and say, "Who the hell are you?", and Lisa taunting the player saying, "Ha ha, made you look!"
- Who could not forget playing the game itself due to the comedic nature of The Simpsons?
- Retro, yet great sprite animation. From the characters alone, to some of the special effects, like selecting your character on the character select screen, or the intro. The cutscenes in the game look well animated in a retro-like fashion.
- Simple controls that are easy to get used to as what you would expect with a beat 'em up.
- In the Xbox Live Arcade version, you have online multiplayer, the ability to unlock the rare Japanese 4-player version of the game, and promotional content from the game's arcade launch.
- A soundtrack that is fun to listen to, fits well with the game's tone.
Bad Qualities
- For some reason, in the Springfield Butte stage, Sideshow Bob is seen with a turkey food item, and the game makes him an ally, despite being seen on the show framing Krusty the Clown. Similarly, Waylon Smithers is portrayed as an outright villain, rather than just being a toadie for Mr. Burns, who is the show's villain.
- In February 2012, the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network versions were removed.
- The attack methods are less in variety. It only just jumps, attacks, or jump attacks. Some may find it a little too repetitive.
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine listed The Simpsons on their October 1, 1991, issue as being the eleventh most successful table arcade unit of the year. ScrewAttack placed the Arcade version of the game as the best cartoon-based game.
Trivia
- The game is based off of the 1989 arcade game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which was also made by Konami and was released the same year as the debut of the original show. In fact, this game was built of the engine Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Smithers has his design from the episode "There's No Disgrace Like Home".
- Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer didn't do voices for the characters of the game.
- The rabbit enemies are from the Life in Hell comics.
- The bigfoot enemy is based on Homer when he was mistaken for Bigfoot in the episode "The Call of the Simpsons."
- The wrestler is actually Professor Werner von Brawn from Bart the Daredevil.
- In Moe's, copies of The Simpsons arcade cabinets are seen in the background. These cabinets are depicted differently than the final version. Next to it is a copy of the game Aliens, another arcade game produced by Konami, at the time. That game's attract screen features Marge as a Xenomorph, who scares off a creature from Space Mutants, a recurring film series on the show.
- Upon rising from the ground at the cemetery level, the zombies do a quick dance. This can be considered a nod to Michael Jackson's Thriller.
- Princess Kashmir, the lead dancer from Homer's Night Out appears on stage at Moe's dancing to music performed by Bleeding Gums Murphy. If Homer stands next to the stage he'll start to do his victory dance.
- The couch gag during the attract scene is similar to that used in Moaning Lisa.
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