The Simpsons Game (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

Like most of the planet I'm a Simpsons fan and while they did take a decade or so to land on terrestrial TV here in the UK there was always another way to catch Springfield's first family in action. Obviously with the success of any TV series now, there's always talk of a film and, while it would be inconceivable to even attempt a big screen outing this late in any other TV series' life cycle, this never aging, yellow colored family appear to be an exception. The movie was a worldwide hit and enjoyed by both fans of the show and the general public; but what of the computer game spin offs. Like most publishers the associated games' release is closer to the DVD's release rather than the cinematic one but The Simpsons (like Star Wars) have not had much success with their games. The last decent outing on a Nintendo handheld was a colorized version of the Tree House of Horror on the Gameboy Color (we'll try not think about the awful Road Rage conversion on the GBA). Let's hope this DS version has been worth the wait.

Gameplay

The game kicks off with Homer doing what he does best: sitting at home, watching TV in his underwear. This is the 'Virtual Homer', about which much has been written but we'll talk more about him later. Feed him, from the sidebar menu, and he'll fall asleep taking you to the game's first level. Matt Groening, the series creator, said in a recent interview that none of the Simpsons can ever be aware of their fame and while that's still true here, they do realize that they are part of a video game, which is quickly getting out of control. For the main part this plays out as a stereotypical platform/puzzler over both screens. The only real difference is that most sections require two characters to work together in order to reach the level's end.

Outside of this there are a number of, very frustrating, chase levels and a fair bit of simple combat some of which must be cleared in order to progress. In most platformers there are collectables and The Simpsons is no exception. They include items like Duff Beer Caps, which unlock trophies in other areas, and comic book covers, which can be unlocked with Bart's collectables. Better still there's Comic Book Guy's Video Game Clichés which are not only plentiful in a platform game, movie tie-in but also very funny and well worth seeking out. These collectables are the only reason to replay the main game and it's only by seeking out every item that you'll fully complete it, but given that this simply means retracing your steps it's probably for perfectionists only.

In addition to the main game you also get a 'Virtual Homer'. This is a kind of cut down Nintendog where you must feed and entertain the couch-bound Homer. On the subject of feeding you really need to choose your foodstuffs wisely; while he'll munch anything that's bad for him (beer, donuts etc) don't expect any interest in vegetables. It's all about experimentation though and while it's not as complex as it first appears, it's certainly entertaining while it lasts. Finally there are a handful of multiplayer games which include Bart Match which is a simple FPS Death Match, Hungry Homer is a kind of eat-a-thon and Golden Doughnut challenges you to hang on to a doughnut whilst other players attack you from all directions.

Controls

Very standard stuff, as you'd expect from a platformer, and you can almost guess the control layout. Elsewhere the collision detection is well above average regardless of which character you are playing.

Graphics

While some people have commented that the visuals are a little disappointing they look much better on the DS screens and the animation is very good indeed with all the lead characters moving in a fluid and realistic manner. The real highlight with the visuals though, has to be the 20 minutes or so of original FMV footage, which links the levels together perfectly. This has all been lifted from the console version and although it's all very compressed the quality is still high.

Sound

Obviously the dialogue is something people watch The Simpsons for and this DS versions contains over 200 lines of dialogue expertly performed by the show's original cast. The only problem is it does tend to repeat a little too often kind of ruining the desired effect. Elsewhere there's some decent incidental music and, of course, the classic TV theme as you travel around Springfield.

Dual screen

Your stylus will come into play in almost all of the levels thanks to some well-integrated mini-games. There's nothing really complicated here though and it's a shame that the microphone has been ignored altogether. Outside of the main game there's the 'Virtual Homer', which is completely stylus driven but as for the 'controls', well, you'll just have to figure that out yourself.

Final comments

There's certainly a great deal to celebrate with The Simpsons DS. It has a great storyline, features amazing sound and video and really is accessible to all. The big problem with it though is the gameplay. Some is far too simplistic but other parts are completely the opposite and gamers will struggle to discover what is required to progress. Fortunately though this does little to harm the overall enjoyment of what is a very polished package and while there's little replay value in the main game, you'll be showing off your 'Virtual Homer' well into next year.

Pro: Great Storyline and FMV Cut Scenes.
Con: Not Very Original, Can be Very Frustrating, Little Replay Value.
Final score: 7.8

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