| | Simpsons Did It!
Radical Entertainment, the company behind Vivendi Universal Games’ The Simpsons Hit & Run™, has taken the idea of the cartoon tie-in game and turned it on its head. You know what I mean—usually, a cartoon tie-in means you’ll get a driving game or a platformer that doesn’t really push the boundaries of anything, but has your familiar characters there to keep you company. At best, you’ll get a game that plays like an episode or two of the show—cool, but still, you could always just turn on the TV to get that.
The Simpsons Hit & Run does something new: Instead of slapping characters onto a game that doesn’t really fit the source, you are Homer (or, eventually, Marge, Bart, Lisa and/or Apu—what, no Maggie?). You’ll have to get the kids off to school, pick up beer at the Kwik-E-Mart, go to work—just like real life! Except, of course, Homer’s real life is not exactly like yours. In fact, for an Anytown, U.S.A., there’s some tricky stuff to look out for in Springfield. We’ve collected some handy tips for getting around town that will turn you into a regular Rainier Wolfcastle before you have time to say, “Lisa needs braces.”
“Where will my intellect take me today?”
Do’s and D’ohs
The gameplay in The Simpsons Hit & Run is almost as easy as it looks, but keep these points in mind:
Car Go “Boom”
If you’re like me (and you must be, or else why would you be here?) you’ve gotten used to racing and driving games where damage is an afterthought, if anything happens to the car at all. Well there’s no genuine automakers trying to keep people from seeing their cars get dented here; the Simpson-mobile and other cars you’ll end up “borrowing” can get the snot beat out of them and break down surprisingly quickly. If you’re stuck without a car, look for a floating wrench (repairs) or a phone booth (so you can call for a ride).
The Kids Can Call Him “HoJu”
You might be tempted to skip over some of the tutorial information once you see how easy it is to pick up the controls and gameplay in this title. Don’t. For one thing, you’ll miss some of the funniest Bart dialog since Conan O’Brien was a writer on the show, and he’s actually got some really good advice.
It’s OK, Money, Money’s All That Moneys
The designers at Radical have made it easy for you to make more than one attempt at a mission, be it a race against Seymour Skinner to Springfield Elementary (Lisa forgot her science project) or the Hunt for Maggie’s Pacifier (that might not be a real mission, but it should be). Here’s the trick, though—if the mission attempt costs you anything, usually money, then it’s gone. You can go through your whole bank account if you’re not paying attention. 
Someone’s up to know good at Burns’ place.
What’s the Number for 911?
Homer (or whoever you’re controlling at the time) can get away with a lot—Springfield’s police department is notoriously lax when it comes to things like crime (they’re usually too busy putting small animals in their pants for the purposes of gambling or hanging out at Krusty Burger). And though people will whine and complain, no one dies. But if the cops hear “I am evil Ho-MER!” too many times, the next thing you hear might be “book ‘em, Lou.”
Springfield, Springfield, It’s a Hell of a Town
With a name like The Simpsons Hit & Run, a lot of the game revolves around driving—races against other characters, races against the clock, and just plain exploring. But don’t underestimate the value of getting out of the car. There are missions and objectives all over the place, and if you don’t explore on foot as well as by car, you might miss a few.
Don’t Have a Cow, Man
The most important thing to remember is that this is The Simpsons—sure, missions are important, and the game play is tight. But half the fun is driving and walking through that swingin’ town we’ve all come to know and love over the last decade and a half. Take time to explore every corner of every building. At best, you’ll find valuable goodies and objectives. At worst, you’ll just find something funny, like “Frostilicus.” By Danny Chihdo |
