Simpsons: Hit and Run

The gameplay and control of Hit and Run is much more realistic than the goofy Road Rage. The car control will remind you of many other greatly developed car games you have played and the on foot control will always encourage you to loot away from your vehicle. With realistic yet easy-to-master control, Hit and Run creates a very pleasing interface.

Alike Road Rage, Hit and Run will keep you laughing at the voice recordings of the Simpsons cast as you crash into people, fall off of ledges and run around on foot. The lines uttered from the characters in Hit and Run are very true to the Simpsons show which gains the game much credit.

One negative aspect of Hit and Run would have to be attributed to its replay value. The game is extremely fun the first time through and becomes a challenge as the levels progress, but once the missions have all been completed, there remains little left to do. The gamer can sweep through each level again collecting and destroying certain items they may have missed. This option does grant the game credit for replay value, but not much.

The Simpsons: Hit and Run is a title worthy to be of Simpsons merchandise. The storyline keeps the gamer entertained and eager to move on. The realistic car control creates a fun, easy to master environment and the "out of vehicle" interface makes the gamer want to loot on foot. Very well orchastrated voice acting creates a humorous and unique world which stays true to the Simpsons. The Simpsons: Hit and Run is a step up from The Simpsons: Road Rage. The game will keep both Simpson fans and car driving fanatics greatly pleased. Many complain that Hit and Run is too realistic and should have used "cell shading." This point is well taken, but could never be an option considering the creators and producers of The Simpsons have always desired their show to steer clear of a comical feel. The Simpsons: Hit and Run keeps the gamer entertained thoroughly and only rarely does said gamer realise he's playing a cartoon.

The graphics are OK and true to the style of the TV series. In fact, it sometimes seems that the game looks better than the series. But of course, comic-style graphics do not really push the xbox. So I can't quite share the enthusiasm of one of my fellow reviewers.

The gameplay is pretty good for the most parts, although it does get repetitive. Overall, envision a simplified version of the Grand Theft Auto gameplay (although without shooting... violence is still there, but comic style). Unfortunately, some of the missions are hit and miss and penalize small mistakes way too much. Often, a little mistake can make you start over your mission, and often, that mistake may be caused by another car that just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I would have appreciated the level design to allow to make up for those mistakes in some way, rather than making the player start over. Also, a lot of levels can not really be finished at the first attempt, because they require that the player knows where to turn (among other things). This means that often, player skill is less important than the player's memory. It also means that one fails to complete levels without really being at fault.

This may sound like I do not like the game. I DO like the game. But it is a shame that small gameplay issues keep this game from being truly great..

Yes, the game is based on the famous Grand Theft Auto - Vice City. You can leap into cars, drive them all around HUGE maps, and explore the world in amazing detail. But that is only the beginning. The levels are based on the Simpsons show and every building, landmark and character you pass are immediately recognizable!

You get to play as a variety of characters - Bart, Homer, Lisa, Marge and even Apu. You get to earn various outfits for each person. There are the main quests, tons of subquests, and hidden secrets everywhere. The graphics are superb, and the sounds are PERFECT. The real writers from the show wrote the plots, the real actors supplied the voices. You feel like you're right in the middle of a multi-hour episode series and you'll find yourself laughing out loud at the lines!

Yes, you can 'run over' people, but it just knocks them off the road where they wave their fist at you. You're also penalized for doing that, so it's in your best interest to stay on the road and achieve the objectives set out for you. The whole plot ties in together in a great way, and you can always go back to the levels and replay them to aim for 100%.

Highly recommended! This is definitely a game we eagerly played through from start to finish, then kept playing to track down all those secrets.