The Simpsons Hit & Run Review

Developer	VU Games
Publisher	Radical
Genre	Action Adventure

Of all the games based around The Simpsons kooky world, Hit and Run is probably the best of the lot. If you’re a Simpsons aficionado, you’ll likely eat this up. And even if you aren’t a fan though, you can still enjoy this game immensely. And why, you may be asking? Because it copies from one the most influential games of this generation, that’s why. With only a few faults, Hit and Run proves to be a top-notch Simpsons title, and if you’re an admirer of the television show, it’a dream come true.

Gameplay – Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Could be, as Hit and Run is a blatant carbon copy of Grand Theft Auto, only in the Simpsons universe. Everything, right down to the open-ended free-form gameplay to the mission-based advancement system, Hit and Run is almost offensive in it’s replication. But instead, the game comes out quite charming, with it’s real hook being it’s genuine Simpsons innuendo, including all the voices, characters, and personality from the hit TV series. That in itself makes the game it’s own, which is why a Simpsons game can get away with it.

The freedom allowed in Hit and Run makes it a game that can be played at almost any pace desired, which is nice for gamers of all varieties, as you don’t have to do anything specific at any one time. You can tackle a plethora of objectives in any order you desire, or you can just cruise around Springfield on foot, or in one of many different vehicles, and check out the scenery.

The dialogue is hilarious, just as would be expected, most especially from Homer (again, as expected). As if ripped straight from the show, all the voices are spot-on, and expertly executed. Also, there is plenty of it to satisfy even the most hardcore Simpsons fanatic. In addition, there are a nice variety of unlockables that can be attained by collecting coins hidden or just laying about throughout Springfield. From cars to costumes, there is an actual incentive to collecting money.

The only thing that really mars the experience is that this has been done before, and has been done better. The missions are boring most of the time, resulting in a lot of very basic objectives that involve driving from Point A to Point B within a time limit, and other equally-irritating tasks. Most of the fun revolves around the freedom to explore, but once you’re done snooping around, you’re left with the missions, which as a whole, aren’t very rewarding.

Graphics - Other than seeing the Simpsons in 3D, there is nothing here that is awe-inspiring, but it certainly doesn’t look bad at all. For the most part, the game’s visuals are quite crisp. The framerate dips just a tad when driving fast, but it isn’t very noticeable. There are a few distinct weird moments you’ll find yourself scratching your head at, or just calling cheesey. For example, when you leave a car you just jacked, the driver of the car is still inside, at the wheel! And when you walk away from the car, the Springfield denizen doesn’t leave, but just sits there, as if the person is a part of the car. Talk about goofy. Otherwise, everything looks like it fits.

Sound – The sound makes half this game, as Simpsons fans wouldn’t enjoy this without authentic voices and music. Hit and Run has this in spades. The music is there, the sound effects and voice overs are there, and so is the side-splitting dialogue. And what’s more, it’s all over the place, so you’re never without hearing something funny and familiar.

Overall Value - Hit and Run isn’t going to win any awards for originality, but it’s fun, and in the end, that’s what counts. The game is put together well, and despite some sore spots, it’s still the best Simpsons game on the market. We could’ve did with some better mission variety, as the objectives provided are a bit stale (especially since it’s been done better before), but overall, any Simpsons fan should give this a go, even if it’s just a weekend rental.

Review by Brendon Hivner