The Simpsons (DS)
Animated family sit-com The Simpsons has had quite a year in 2007 with a Movie release, a 20th year anniversary and reaching its 400th TV episode.
To start with, EA did a wise thing and took their time in releasing the game after the movie had its run in the cinema as opposed to rushing a release. Whilst saying that however; the game itself is not actually based on the movie and presents itself as its own independent adventure.
So here is the DS version of The Simpsons game: A side scrolling adventure featuring co-operative play between the Simpsons, video clips, clichés, and lots of interesting level puzzles ...
Much like the Wii game, the first level starts off with Homer having a dream set in a land made of food. The objective is to travel through the dreamland and pretty much eat chocolate, hot dogs and other fatty foods along the way whilst tackling some baddies on the side. The level itself is a nice easy going start to the game and is a much more pleasant remediation of the Wii version, as this translates better as a 2D platform game experience with the jumping parts especially being easier to judge.
After Homer's stint in the land of sugar, he and Bart team up together to take on a museum based level. The level itself is overrun with security guards and various other goons including Jimbo Jones and the evil mastermind who is unveiled at the end of the stage. The bad guys in the game have a great system in that they don't actually die and stay knocked out instead of doing the old video game cliché of re-spawning (clichés are collectable items too). Considering the characters you fight against as regular 'storm troopers' are the likes of Ralph Wiggum, Otto and other familiar faces it makes sense not to clone them and kill them (another cliché!).
Bart and Homer work great as a team. Later levels will have other Simpsons pairings. However, unlike the Wii version you cannot switch between two family members at will. Playing these characters involve taking turns to provide level access for each other, such as: Homer sitting on button panels, Bart going to high up places to move switches and Lisa using her 'hand of Buddha' gimmick to move platform objects (via the stylus) to rearrange them on the screen.
The controls are really good and easy to pick up. The regular baddies are tough and always get a shot in so it is always good to find power up goodies as often as possible. Each ending of a level rewards the player with a video epilogue of the stage you've beaten; these video clips can be watched over again at the cinema stage which is accessible at anytime on the Springfield map screen.
The Simpsons game is a good challenge and presents itself with some interesting gaming ideas and to comic effect acknowledges its own clichés. If you like platform games, whether they are Simpsons flavoured or not, this is a good title to invest in.
4/5 - Ken Flatt
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