Life is a Video Game: The Simpsons Game

[Gary]

Well, I lie, it isnt. But sometimes I wish it was.

I wonder if anyone will particularly care that I probably wont be posting much next weekend because of a certain video game that's coming out, conveniently titled: The Simpsons Game, which is being developed by EA and Gracie Films, the actual writers for the show.

I've already speculated on how the game will be like, sort of like a preview for GameTrailers.com but I thought, maybe I should post about it elsewhere since I doubt many people read my Gamepad on GT. Here's the SMF version.



We all know how bad EA is when it comes to most games, The Simpsons Skateboarding being one of them, with poor controls and bad graphics, at least that's what the reviews say including those from a good friend of mine. So can EA right their wrong with The Simpsons Game?

At the moment, I'm saying they can.

Lets take a look:

GRAPHICS:
The graphics this time, are Cel Shaded. Thus giving a 2D look to the game, which at first I didnt like, but it grew on me, while Family Guy's graphics wasnt exactly that great, maybe it was Stewie's head. ;P But the Cel Shaded look, works much better here. In Hit and Run, Lisa had far too many spikes on her head, this time around they look much better. The only thing I'd change graphically, is show Maggie's legs sticking out of Marge's backpack.

STORYLINE:
Just like in Hit and Run, the story is written by Tim Long, Matt Warburton and Matt Selman who are writers for the show, Long was a Writing Consultant on The Simpsons Movie as well as Selman actually writing it (along with James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Reiss, David Mirkin, Mike Scully, Ian Maxtone-Graham, John Swartzwelder and Jon Vitti).

The Game involves the Simpsons realising that they're in a video game and that they somehow have superpowers even though Bart was just walking through an alley. Then Suddenly Kang and Kodos invade Springfield and start to bring havoc to the town, Homer and Bart take on Lardlad again (Just don't look, Just don't look!) Bart and Lisa take on King Snorky (Snorky. Talk. Man), and again with Homer and Bart taking on the aliens directly. Then for some reason, They're now in many other video game parodies, Medal of Homer, Grand Theft Scratchy, Neverquest and Big Super Happy Fun Fun, with the latter two being parodies of Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy respectfully. The last portion of the game isnt announced, but Matt Groening himself is revealed to be a boss.

GAMEPLAY:
Looking at the button prompts in the thought bubbles throughout the trailers, I can tell that for Playstation 2 and 3 that the X button will be used to jump, Circle to shoot, and Triangle is the action button. I'll guess that Square is used to control the likes of changing between super powers like Homerball to Gummi-Homer, the game is also built for 2 characters so you'd have to switch to the other character by pressing the D-Pad.

PWNAGE?
I have heard that there are possibilities of downloadable episodes being available down the line for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 (at least), which would be rather nice don't you think? The Wii and DS versions also have new features, the DS has Pet Homer which is sort of like a parody of Nintendogs but with HOMER being your pet! Homer can choke, get hit in the head by Bart and have a heart attack. For the Wii there's bonus games where you have an eating contest as Homer and use the Wii Remote as a spoon, sounds kinda lame though. Of course, there's Time Trial mode too to unlock.

BONUS FEATURES:
Me thinks that the only bonus feature a Simpsons Fan would care about would be the inclusion of the Simpsons Arcade Game from Konami.

I'm at the moment speculating that my grade for the game will be a B.

Hit and Run was a solid game made by Vivendi, but can EA do a better job or will the next game have to be taken back to Vivendi? (Hit and Run 2 anyone? )



PLATFORMS: Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Playstation Portable, Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360

I'll be posting an actual review of the Game for Playstation 2 when I've bought it on November 2nd at 10 am. For Americans it comes out November 1st and preorder now from certain retailers and get your own Homerball!

Laters
Gars

[Neorics]

woah cool... i dont really play movie/tv/anime based games cause they usually ruin the original but i guess this is worth trying... i hope i can laugh while playing it and not get too frustrated about doing something impossible...

[!!By-Karakulé!!]

Güzel paylaşım

[Gary]

Please speak in English.

The Game is out in the US for all platforms. It's coming out tomorrow for the PAL regions and November 8 for the Australians.

-ALM

[Gary]

SPOILER ALERT!

God wont let me destroy his Wii. (God is the Final Boss of the game I think, I cant find out unless I destroy his Wii)

[nick09]

hmm why don't you put the spoiler text in 1pt font?

[Gary]

Because I didnt want to.

[Acans]

November 8 for the Australians.

ARG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, why are Aussie's treated differently

[Gary]

ARG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, why are Aussie's treated differently

It's thee whole region coding thing. Though the game has been out for like a year and a half now. I have it on four consoles, PS2, PSP, PS3 and DS.

[Dragooon]

ARG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, why are Aussie's treated differently

It's thee whole region coding thing. Though the game has been out for like a year and a half now. I have it on four consoles, PS2, PSP, PS3 and DS.

Sometimes I have a feeling that you love Simpsons.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

What's not to love?

[Gary]

Sometimes I have a feeling that you love Simpsons.

Gee. I wonder why that is. The fact that it was The Simpsons that got me where I am today. And that I own the best Maggie and Lisa Websites around, and that I've spent over £500 on Simpsons Comics, DVDs and other merchandise.



(Yeah, I know you were being sarcastic)

[Dragooon]

Sometimes I have a feeling that you love Simpsons.

Gee. I wonder why that is. The fact that it was The Simpsons that got me where I am today. And that I own the best Maggie and Lisa Websites around, and that I've spent over £500 on Simpsons Comics, DVDs and other merchandise.

Wow...lol.

[Gary]

Meh. It's not as impressive as some of the Simps-a-crap one of my friends has. ;P