The Simpsons Arcade Review
PROS
- Great looking visuals bring Springfield and the characters to life.
- The control scheme is simple and easy to use.
- Players can create their own iPod playlists.
CONS
- The MIDI soundtrack is an uninspiring addition.
- The gameplay is very repetitive and can get a bit boring.
- The game takes a lot of its cues from the ‘91 arcade game, leaving very little original content.
VERDICT
The Simpsons Arcade is a great throwback to the arcade beat ‘em up genre but as for lasting appeal and value, it’s just not here. The game runs through the motions but doesn’t put anything extra into the equation.
- Full Review
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It’s been 20 years since The Simpsons made their initial television debut and since then there has been no shortage of merchandise, fan canon and video game adaptations. One such game was the ‘91 side scrolling beat ‘em up aptly named The Simpsons. Well now EA has put their time into developing similar arcade madness into a readily available iPhone game.
The Simpsons Arcade puts players in control of Homer as he begins an epic chase after a tantalising looking donut. What he doesn’t realise is that the donut is the tip of the iceberg in a top secret conspiracy. In typical beat ‘em up action players use the on-screen joystick to move and combinations of the attack and jump button to fight your way through a number of henchmen.
The game does a great job in capturing Springfield’s atmosphere through the detailed, attractive visuals but the MIDI style soundtrack seems ugly and an unnecessary choice on behalf of the developers; in which case players might want to use their iPod as an alternative. Much like the original arcade game, players work through a main story mode with a few small mini games along the way to break things up.
While The Simpsons Arcade isn’t a direct port of the original arcade game, just about everything is tweaked enough so that it’s different by technicality. Regardless, the game is a decent experience but might be a single run game. Diehard fans might enjoy what’s on offer but much like the later seasons of the show, it lacks that special something.
Screenshots
$0.99
