Game: The Simpsons Hit n’ Run
Console: Xbox
Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Developer: Radical Entertainment
ESRB: Teen
TORONTO (djc) — Some executive must have heard the cash registers ring with a heavenly chorus when he heard the pitch for this one: “It’s Grand Theft Auto…but with The Simpsons!” But the good news is that unlike previous Simpsons games, which ranged from the passable (Road Rage) to the less-said-the-better (Simpsons Wrestling), Hit n’ Run is a goodie that will hook gamers who love the show.
You play through Hit n’ Run as Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge, and Apu, driving and running around a fully 3D Springfield trying to solve the mystery behind a mind-controlling soft drink that’s appearing around town. You’ll get to drive by (and occasionally, right through) recognizable locations such as the Power Plant, Burn’s mansion, Moe’s Tavern, and many more.
Play is alternated between the five characters over seven large levels representing different parts of the town. Each level contains a series of story-based missions: Race that guy here, collect a bunch of objects before time runs out, smash that car before it gets away, etc. You’ll interact with dozens of Springfieldians, and occasionally ride shotgun with them — Principal Skinner, Chief Wiggum, Snake, and my personal favourite, the Comic Book Guy (who, if run over, incorrectly declares this the “Worst video game ever.”). The characters are voiced by the actual actors, and they even recorded original dialogue for them.
The game does not have quite the freedom or depth of GTA…or the violence, which has been cartoonized, and nobody dies. Though you can hop into just about any car on the road, this does not reveal hidden missions, as commandeering a police car does in GTA. However, this is somewhat made up for with lots of hidden stuff and unlockables. You can search for collector’s cards, bonus missions, racing challenges, and hidden gags to interact with. Each character also has a variety of costumes you can buy. So if you want to run around as Homer in a muumuu or Marge dressed as a cop, there you go.
There are many cars to find, buy and unlock too. Each vehicle has its own specific characteristics (handling, acceleration, toughness, etc). You of course get the pink family sedan, but there are more exotic vehicles to find, such as the Mr. Plow Truck, Professor Frink’s hover car, and that Springfield answer to the Edsel, the Homer.
Hit n’ Run disappoints in the multiplayer mode, which is a Super Sprint-like racing game, complete with top down view of the tracks, when they should have gone for something more interactive, and using as much of the city as possible. At least it supports up to four players though. Also somewhat aggravating is that some of the missions — particularly those near the end of the game — feel like they set the time limit by seeing how long their best tester took to complete a mission, and then shaving 10 seconds off their time. Yeah, they can be really hard sometimes, using multiple stages and giving you so little time to complete that one mistake effectively means you lose. Fortunately, you get the option to skip after five tries.
One thing that makes this a great game is that it manages to capture that cynical Simpsons humour perfectly. Like the show, the game isn’t afraid to make fun of itself. Bart moans that he’d be in better shape if he didn’t play so many video games, and Apu wonders why certain collectable objects are hidden in the most ridiculous places, as we gamers all have.
In the end, it’s the mix of interactivity, smooth control, lots of stuff to play with, and the distinct Simpsons humour that wins through. If you can keep from laughing while Homer crashes through an intersection, sending signs, lampposts and pedestrians flying everywhere while singing “I am evil Homer!” then what’s wrong with you?
Digital Journal reviewed the Xbox version of The Simpsons Hit n’ Run, but it is also available for PS2, and GameCube. It will be coming to PC in November.
Jason MacIsaac is Digital Journal’s expert video game reviewer. Check back each week to read more from our gaming guru.
