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X'07: Hands-on with The Simpsons photo

Sometimes I feel like the last person on Earth who stills loves watching The Simpsons, but after seeing what Electronic Arts has done with this amazing cartoon franchise, I expect to see a lot of past The Simpsons fans coming home to Springfield.

With the knowledge that previous The Simpsons games where merely other game concepts with The Simpsons name slapped on just to sell it to fans of the show, EA developers decided to make this game truly a monument to The Simpsons culture.

Each character, background, and item was created with cell-shaded cartoon graphics to make it look more like the show, rather than some game with 3D modeling and amazing Halo worthy graphics. Homer shouldn't look like he got stuck in that 3D world from one of those "Tree house of Horror" episodes.

You generally get two characters to play with in each chapter or episode of the game, which you are able to switch between at any time. Each player has their own special powers or moves, like Homer, who can inflate himself to roll over enemies, or turn into a jelly mold when he finds a Gummy Venus De Milo. The game does offer co-op play, and a family or friend can join the game at anytime, but the co-op is only for offline play.

The game will have online leader boards so you can compare your scores with friends and the community. It would have been nice to take it online for some good old co-op play, but it’s still nice to see how you're kicking your friends' butts at the game.


Each chapter takes a theme from a movie, the show or a videogame. We previewed the "Metal of Homer" level where Bart and Homer travel back in time to World War II to fight along side the Flying Hellfish. There are objectives to complete and enemies to fight in each level, and certain areas or items can only be reached by using a specific character in the level (like Bart using his Bartman flying ability to reach higher or farther ledges).

The controls were pretty simple to pick up on. Each character had basic punching moves, two special moves, a jump move, and a pick up move. Pretty standard stuff. Items in the game seemed to fit the theme of the game, like Gummy Venus De Milo or food for Homer to eat.

I really loved how the developers worked closely with the show's creators to make it Simpson-fan worthy.  Over 8,000 pieces of dialog were worked into the game, and every character is voiced by the original actor from the show.

The best part of the whole game is the video game cliché feature. Every time you find a videogame cliché in the game like an exploding red barrel, Comic Book Guy will appear and sarcastically comment on the cliché. Best. Feature. Ever.

Remember to look for other videogame gags in the game like God of Warf seafood advertisements in Day of the Dolphins or Grand Theft Scratchy posters.

Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





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32 comments | showing # 1 to 32

Jerkbutt47's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:15
Jerkbutt47
D'oh!!!!!
i cant believe this but might the game actually be good?
Krayven's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:16
Krayven
Doesn't look that bad to be honest.
slorojo's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:21
slorojo
I am amped about the comic book guy feature!

God this game could redeem 10 seasons of crap show
DJDuffy 's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:22
DJDuffy
this looks good, nice read! Thanks Faith for getting juicy X07 coverage for us, my fellow Canuck ;)
bluemeep's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:25
bluemeep
I rather enjoyed the last two games (Hit & Run and Road Rage). Hopefully this'll continue the trend of Simpsons games that don't totally suck.
Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:27
Oni
It's still good! It's still good!

slorojo, I don't think the game will be THAT good.
ttaylor's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:30
ttaylor
This game looks like it's got some great potential.. Awesome!
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:31
Eschatos
Looks surprisingly decent. Could it be? A decent EA title? *gasps*
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:34
Mxyzptlk
After 5 or 6 levels does the game become an unfunny parody of itself? :P
UNDERSTAR's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:36
UNDERSTAR
Mmmmm....doughnuts!
Zero Iscariot's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:41
Zero Iscariot
looks fun, but might be a rental. Online co-op would've justified a $70 buy.
kwaselow's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:49
kwaselow
I still love them

This game has a chance of joining the arcade beat'em up as the only Simpsons games that don't suck
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 19:57
Neonie
I still watch and love the simpsons. It's always stayed original, and it's always stayed fresh. Even the re-runs still make me laugh.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 20:03
Velt
I would like to see it coming to the PC.
ShinSennju's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 20:06
ShinSennju
@ Neonie:

The re-runs are what the show is about! sweet golden comedy moments, but I'm not gonna start ranting about the new episodes...

Anyways I hope that this game turns out awesome =)

Is it for every console like EA usually does or what?
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 20:22
Fading Star
I hope that this game doesn't suck... Good luck EA guys.
BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 20:27
BahamutZero
did anybody play simpsons hit and run? that game definitely did not suck. this will probably be even better.
nosinging's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 21:19
nosinging
@Mxyzptlk
Booooo. true, but still, booooooo.
geronimo's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 21:19
geronimo
Hit and Run was all right. For a licensed game.
Roryzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 22:00
Roryzilla

"looks almost as cool as me."
kawitchate's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/29/2007 22:34
kawitchate
yeah i'm sorry... there's just no reason why co-op these days doesn't automatically mean ONLINE co-op. i'll be picking this up in the bargain bin.
Teta's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 01:04
Teta
No Simpson game could compare to the glory of the 4 player arcade game. Now THAT was a good Simpsons game.
SourGr8pes's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 03:12
SourGr8pes
I just hope I can have the opportunity to run over Hans Moleman...
flameon4444's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 03:26
flameon4444
@ slorojo and Mxyzptlk

CBG: Last night's Itchy & Scratchy was, without a doubt, the
worst episode ever. Rest assured I was on the internet
within minutes registering my disgust throughout the
world.

Bart: Hey, I know it wasn't great, but what right do you
have to complain?

CBG: As a loyal viewer, I feel they owe me.

Bart: What? They're giving you thousands of hours of
entertainment for free. What could they possibly owe
you? I mean, if anything, you owe them.

CBG: Worst episode ever.



Garbz's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 06:24
Garbz
*prays for this game to be worth buying*
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 06:50
brainderailment
For the simplicity of the style, the graphics truly look amazing. I love the visuals. Seeing the demonstration at E3 actually made me want this game. Luckily it's not a movie tie in.
Snaileb 's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 08:15
Snaileb
"Homer shouldn't look like he got stuck in that 3D world from one of those "Tree house of Horror" episodes."

Too true, this looks fantastic.
V3r1n's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 10:30
V3r1n
Best. Simpson's Game. Ever.
fetusmilk's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 11:44
fetusmilk
i hope grand theft scratchy if part of the game and not just some poster on the wall.i hope you play as itchy and all the pedestrians are scratchy.
spree4free's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2007 12:12
spree4free
The graphics is nice, looks interesting to play too. I am putting this on my shopping list for the holiday. :D
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/31/2007 01:18
Samit Sarkar
Looking good. I mean, I really enjoyed Hit and Run on PS2, and that one wasn’t even cel-shaded.
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