Eeeeeexcelent.
User Rating: 8 | The Simpsons: Road Rage GC
Well, after a long time of Simpsons games that were nothing more than forgettable platformers, they finally managed to come out with this game. And all I can say is: Eeeeexcellent. I truly love this game. That said, it does have it's share of flaws. Still, it does manage to be a good game, especially since it's a Simpsons game. Well, first of all, it can be noted that the gameplay in this game is highly derivative of the Crazy Taxi series. Basically what you have to do is pick up a charachter and deliver them to the location of their choice. The only difference is that this is done with Simpsons characters. Of course, that does make a big difference if you're a Simpsons nerd (like me, heh). But aside from that, there are some things about the game that are worth noting. For one, the characters and their destinations get a wee bit repetitive. Drive the Sea Capitan from the Box Factory to the Frying Dutchman. Drive Groundskeeper Willie from the Frying Dutchman to the Tattoo Parlor. Drive Lisa from the parlor to King Toot's Music Store. Then drive Jasper to Planet Hype. Drive Professor Frink from Planet Hype to the Bowl-a-Rama. Then drive Principal Skinner to the Box Factory, where you find the Sea Capitan again. How he gets back there, and why he wants to go to the Frying Dutchman again is a mystery. Still, driving all around Springfield and smashing into things while different characters yell at you is a lot of fun. But there is another issue with the gameplay besides the repetitiveness. The game's physics, while cartoony and fun at times, can be a real problem when your car comes into an immovable object, such as a building or a car that has been immobilized. Sometimes the player can become stuck on such an object and not be able to move themselves at all. There is a feature to instantly move you back to the road, but that does kind of take up some time, and it can result in the complete loss of wherever you are. Also, it can be noted that the game's physics can also be problematic when making jumps, as the cars can end up on their backs or their sides and become immoveable. As you can imagine, that can be quite troublesome. As for the game's graphics, well... they could be better. The characters and environments that look so good in the show don't exactly translate so well to the third dimension. Of course, it's not as though they couldn't have been done better. But it's sad to say that they weren't. For starters, the colors are all blurry, and when the camera switches to a view of a large area, the things far off in the distance become blocked by an odd fog that completely blocks them from view. Also, when certain background objects are viewed from an unusual angle, it can be noticed that they are completely two-dimensional. Which is quite odd despite the fact that the game is based on a cartoon, because the rest of the environments are in full 3-D. And the game's sound. Well, it is the game's saving grace. A ton of dialogue was recorded specifically for this game by the very actors who give voices to the characters on the show, and it results in one of the best-sounding games that I have ever heard. Heh. There are a ton of lines for each character, some new, some from the show, and they all fit right in with the game. You'll hear such classics as "My cat's breath smells like cat food", along with new lines like "Hrrm... to the antique store please. Finally, a place where I belong." Yes, the sound in this game is truly a marvel to behold. So anyway, it's worth concluding that this game will be a lot more enjoyable if you're a huge fan of the show. I mean, really, all of the different lines and references to the show will have you in a fit of glee every time you pick this game up. Still, it's worth noting that all the other problems with this game kind of drag down what could have otherwise been a masterpiece. Pick it up if you love The Simpsons. Otherwise, just rent it if you must.
