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Great Game But Camera Angles Are A Problem

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game after checking a few reviews and seeing some clips on the Gamespot website. I really loved how you can run around the city of Springfield and check sites out between game scenarios and being able to change you're characters from Homer to Marge to Lisa or to Bart when you click on the bus station symbol in the city. Every new level of the game has you using two characters to get through the level but you can't pick which ones you want to play during these levels meaning that if the episode calls for the two characters to be Bart and Homer you have to be these characters you can't pick Lisa or Marge to play on this level. When you play single player you can switch between the two characters during situations so that if you want Homer to do something switch to him and you'll control him for the amount of time that you want while the second character has the game moving them about. The major problem is the camera angle movement it became so frustrating when you're trying to see an area or find a view during battle or a puzzle problem that either something blocks your view or it cuts back to the front view and you loose sight of what you were trying to see or do. That said I found it very entertaining watching the video clips between levels and hearing the characters and villains smarmy comebacks,wisecracks,and humorous lines in the game. The video is great as I have seen with most Xbox 360 games even though I have only a 1080i t.v and not 1080p. So all I can say is if you're a Simpsons fan looking for a great game with some minor camera
glitches this game is for you....

Exxxxxcellentttttttttt

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I agree - most of the production values were quite fantastic, and the game itself is many hours of good play.

I had several problems, but not sure if it was the game or XBox itself. After the first time and getting to about level 5, I had to completely restart the game due to "an error that corrupted the game". Also, several levels had very little explanation for what was expected and therefore I had to die several times.

These, however, were pretty minor when taking the whole picture into account.

Puzzle game in a detailed Simpsons world

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 17, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm always on the lookout for a game that my hardcore-gamer boyfriend and I can play together that we'll both enjoy. This game is probably the best 2-player game we've ever owned.

The gameplay is decent. It's a typical puzzle game. There are times when it's tough to tell what you're supposed to do next. This may be due to the game not giving much explanation, or to my inability to pay attention when the characters talk. In any event, we've always figured it out eventually, and if you get stuck there are a variety of walkthroughs available online for help.

The detailed Simpsons world is where this game really shines. The dialogue and plotline are faithful to the show, and the graphics look awesome - it's like wandering through a really long HD Simpsons episode.

The two-player gameplay is stellar. The different characters have quite different special powers, so some characters are more "easy" to play than others. This works perfectly for our situation, while my boyfriend plays Homer and fights everyone, I can be Lisa and use my "meditation stations" to solve the puzzles and kill guys from a distance.

Overall, I'd really recommend this game to anyone who's either a Simpsons fan, or looking for a good two-player game. It's especially great if you have different skill levels. We both love it a lot more than we expected!

Awesome!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game was the best Simpsons game I have ever played. I loved it, but some time the view sucked, and some places were nearly impossible to get to just like any other game. It ROCKED!

A review from a long time fan of the show who's actually played the game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: November 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The Simpsons game deserves credit for bringing the world of Springfield to life--I'll give it that much. As you run around the interactive town, going into landmark locations like Moe's or Krusty Burger and listening to the mumblings of the town's citizens you know and love you can't help but be appreciative that the experience was FINALLY put into a game. The game is also voiced by the actual cast, thus giving the game validity and making it actually feel that you're involved in an episode of the show.

That said, the Simpsons game delivers only a mediocre gameplay experience. The game features several levels (18 I believe) with various silly scenarios. You progress through the levels using two members of the Simpson family in each of them, and each family member has abilities that are useful and can help you in unique situations, and each has a collectible item (Homer has Duff bottle caps, for example) to obtain during the levels and throughout Springfield. The game also features "Cliches," which are unlocked moments when you do certain things in the game and Comic Book Guy pops out with a sarcastic comment about how boiling lava (or whatever) in video games is not very original.

The levels are mildly amusing and some of the commentary from both the Simpsons and the town's denizens is very entertaining. The gameplay, however, is lacking. Not only does the camera get annoying, since it never quite adjusts the way you need it to, but the controls have several little quirks that can drive you crazy if you play the game for any amount of time (such as Bart's aiming mechanism for his slingshot). This may not be enough to deter hardcore fans of the show, but it's something to keep in mind.

That brings me to another very, very big disappointment with the game. Sometimes the animation is great, and the 3-D imaging while you're actually playing is pretty good. At other times though, especially during the cutscenes, the game features some of the most sloppy animation I've ever seen in a game. It's tough to describe, but suffice it to say that some cutscenes look as though the characters in them were literally cut out by a 10 year old with scissors and then stuck onto the 3-D background. The result is horrible--just awful--and I cringed every time I saw those scenes with jagged lined and flat-looking characters on my high definition display.

If you're a fan of the Simpsons it's probably worth renting this game. Don't buy it, though, just because it's got the Simpsons name on it, but take it for a test drive first.

Funny & Great Looking, Sub Par Controls

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Nowadays there is no reason to put up with a game that controls badly. This games gets everything right but the actual gameplay. The cutscenes, graphics, show history, and humor are top-notch. But the camera and movements can make the most simple movement or objective a nightmarish chore. The only reason I stuck the game out was because I love the show and wanted to see it through. I laughed alot and was more amused by just exploring and interacting with the colorful Springfield recreations.

I never got the feeling of any actual flowing type of gameplay, like in other platformers like Ratchet and Mario; Every level had at least one part in it that was made unpleasant by controls alone. Nothing feels 2nd nature here; Every inch can be labored to get just that right jumping angle. If games from 3 years ago can do this thing right, EA has no excuse to 'overlook' this type of thing.

I generally don't complain alot about games, but I can't help but have an issue when everything else is so perfect, and the controls just take away alot of the potential fun.

Play at your own risk. But fans will enjoy everything else!

Definitely a treat for fans of the show!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Right off the bat, anyone who was expecting a challenging 3rd person shooter/adventure type of game should reconsider before buying this game. This game seems to be aimed at people who are devoted fans to the show. It's HILARIOUS and does a good job of doing spoofs on old video games and genres of the 80s and 90s. The gameplay is so-so and the "camera" seems to have a mind of its own no matter how much you manipulate the angle. It's a pretty easy game and I personally think this is an "interactive episode" of the Simpsons. I do admit, it's probably the funniest I've experienced in a long time. Which lets me close with this, this game was meant to be experienced - not so much as "played". The overall experience (despite the ease of how quickly I passed the game) was well worth the money I shelled out for the game (well, I guess me being a Simpsons fanatic would contribute to that claim)

Mmmm Simpsons Game.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: November 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As an avid gamer I'm always hesitant about licensed games but the Simpsons fan in me overrode my common sense, and thank god it did. While the game falls under fairly traditional platform game fair the puzzles are actually really well thought out. Using the two characters available to you per level you will be tasked with harnessing each member of the Simpsons family skills to advance. Something I found to be a lot of fun on my own but quickly became extra awesome with a friend. The comedy is spot on and all of the voice actors loan their talents to make the game feel like an episode of the TV show. The only major gripe I have is the typical platform game camera that rarely points in the right direction without your hands on control. Definitely worth the d'oh!

Best. Simpsons. Game. Ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 22 / 22
Date: November 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

when i started playing The Simpsons Game i was a little disappointed at first, mainly due to the invisible barriers in the beginning tutorial level. it didnt take long to get out of that level and into the open world springfield. this is deffinitely the largest and most complete recreation of Springfield yet seen in a game.

when you first start playing you'll probably notice the graphics pretty quickly. naturally, dont expect GoW level textures, but what you can expect is the best cell shading and transition from 2d to 3d ever in a game. nothing else comes close to this except maybe the new Naruto game for 360. this game is beautifful. a seemless transition of one of the most beloved and longest running shows of all time
into a sprawling 3d world.

aside from the huge Springfield to explore with plenty of collectables for each character theres 16 episodes to play through with plenty of collectables in them. you select the episodes from different places on the main Springfield map similar to the Grand Theft Auto games.

the game controls much like a standard platformer/brawler with each family member providing different powers. you can do double jumps, standard melee attacks, special moves and power melee attacks. the environments are semi-destructible. i just wish you could drive the cars, at leased around the main Springfield area. you can also have a second player jump in and out and any time for co op (not available in actual Springfield. lame)

Theres full voice acting from all the main characters. everyone from Bart to Disco Stu is authentically voiced here. lots of funny lines from all the characters you care about. this is deffinitely one of the funniest games ive played. theres also about 40 minutes of animated footage you cant see anywhere else.

while i enjoyed Simpsons Road Rage and Hit and Run, this game blows them both out of the water with the Springfield map alone. not many other Simpson games are worth mentioning. ill just say this is the best. something no Simpsons fan should be without.

Edit: due to the length of the game, i had to cut my score down slightly. i breezed through all the levels in 8 hours. if you love the Simpsons as much as me you'll probably be motivated to get all the collectables and achievements, rounding the time to about 15 hours. there could've been a lot more.

for Simpsons fans 9.25
for everyone else (why are you here?)8.0

Mediocre Gameplay but Fantastic Production Values

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 17
Date: November 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The Simpsons isn't new to the gaming world by any means. But it's been over a decade since they actually had a true video game. For years we've seen Simpsons games that were just knock offs of other games like The Simpsons Road Rage or Hit and Run. The Simpsons Game, however, is its own thing. After nearly twenty years of a successful television run, a blockbuster movie and having an influence on our culture as a whole, The Simpsons finally get a true video game to call their own. It isn't as good as the 90's original arcade game, but it's by far one of the best video game outings The Simpsons have had in a while. By far this is one of the better games based off a TV show to hit the video game market yet.

The first thing to get out of the way is simple. Any huge fan of the show will absolutely love this game. The writing staff hopped on board to do the writing and they do a fabulous job. It's full of all the clever wit of the show along with several references to show as a whole. Many of the levels are centered around events which actually took place in episodes. The game serves as brilliant fan service to those who have come to love and admire the show over the past twenty years. Not only that, but it's easily one of the funniest games ever made.

Just like the show, you should expect it to be full of parodies and poking fun. And in this game it does all of that. It especially makes plenty of pokes at the gaming industry as a whole. If you're a hardcore gamer this game only becomes that much funnier when you see parodies of some of your favorite games like Everquest, Medal of Honor, and Grand Theft Auto. There are also jokes about some of the other aspects of the game presented by Comic Book Guy. Moments where you discover you can't swim for example. Or Invisible walls. All of these are things that have been done in video games several times and The Simpsons Game decides to make fun of them. They even managed to get some people from the video game industry in here to do some cameos. For The Simpsons fan and gamer, it's almost heavenly the amount of humor and pop culture references that are here. You'll most certainly being dying of laughter throughout the entire adventure.

Even better. The game looks and sounds just like the show. The graphics have the look and feel of the show and the actual voice cast came on the lend their voices. In short, in reality it's like you're getting a full blown episode of the show that's well... hours long. And it works. The production values of this game make you put aside the mediocre gameplay in part because the game makes fun of itself too by being packed full of cliches they mock.

And that's where the problem with The Simpsons Game comes into play. The developers spent so much time on the production values of the game that they didn't spend nearly as much time perfecting the overall gameplay experience. That's not to say the gameplay doesn't have its merits. It certainly does. It's just that the gameplay only meets the standards, it doesn't try to exceed them.

Throughout the game you'll play as The Simpsons family. In every level there is at least one other Simpson to control and you can switch between them as often as you like. And you'll have to considering some of the puzzles you'll be doing. Each level is fairly open ended with bad guys coming at you left and right. Every Simpson has standard attack and a fairly special one. Bart, for example, can use his slingshot for standard attacking, but he can also become Bartman and glide all over the place. Some characters have downright zany powers, though. Lisa, for example can summon a giant hand, and she uses her saxophone to fight off baddies with music. It's a little over the top but then again, The Simpsons has never been a show grounded in reality.

There's also co-op play but it feels like a last minute thought at times. This is because in some levels it is more than obvious that certain characters aren't really needed for anything other than pummeling your enemies. Only certain characters are suited for certain tasks. It's fine on single player, but on co-op your partner can sure feel useless at times. Just the same, however, the AI isn't really all that bad. While it's pain to have to keep an eye on both health gauges for those who have a go at single player, your partner can really hold his or her own in just about any situation. So it's nice that you don't have to constantly babysit an AI controlled character.

There's not much to the gameplay, but at least it's simple and easy to pick up on. But there's so much more that could've been done with it. It gets repetitive in many areas. At the very least, however, each new level you go to is distinguished from the previous one. And while the objectives are not by any means difficult to reach (it's a pretty easy game) you'll have some fun. There are also a lot of collectibles to uncover throughout the game. Each level is just teeming with items for The Simpsons clan to obtain.

As I said, however, it's a game that meets the standard but doesn't really try to exceed it. The good news is that the humor keeps you going through the game, even when the gameplay gets tiring. Simply because a laugh out loud video game. This game was definitely made for Simpsons fans and gamers alike. And despite the gameplay the humor and production values really make this a unique gameplay experience.

If anything, The Simpsons Game is worth a look just for the production values alone. It's funny, it carries the look of the show, it was written by the writers of the show and even includes the voice cast from the show. What's not to like about the production values for the hardcore Simpsons fan?

Pros:

+The production values are some of the best to ever be done in a TV gone video game. The clever witty writing of the show comes out. The clever parodies come out. It's just an all around funny game filled with gaming culture references.

Cons:

-The other thing we must face, the gameplay could've been so much better. It's not bad by any means, but certainly isn't as good as it had the potential to be.

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