The Simpsons: Hit and Run

The Simpsons: Hit and Run Description

For the first time, the famous Matt Groening universe has been fully opened up in virtual form thanks to this latest Simpsons title. Evidently inspired by the likes of Grand Theft Auto 3, The Simpsons: Hit and Run is a mission-based driving adventure, complete with platform-esque, pedestrian action, which plunges players into a faithfully recreated town of Springfield. A rather murky plot lies at the heart of the game: strange happenings are afoot, people are missing, mysterious crop circles are beginning to appear, and hidden cameras are being exposed. When Homer notices a suspicious black van outside the Simpsons' home, he decides to investigate further the odd events and soon begins to unravel a very sinister mystery indeed. Taking your pick from characters Homer, Bart, Apu, Marge, and Lisa, you embark on the adventure, fulfilling a variety of missions while exploring the familiar environments. The whole town is fully explorable and, as such, you can now peruse the interiors of an array of well-known locations, such as the Kwik-e-Mart, the Power Plant, and even the Simpson home. There are over 56 missions on offer, both driving-based and on foot, spread across seven expansive levels. Throughout you can drive as 17 different characters, including such Simpsons luminaries as Cletus, the Comic Book Guy and Principal Skinner, complete with his nagging mother as a backseat driver. More than 40 vehicles can be unlocked in total, including Homer's snow plough from the brilliant Mr Plow episode. The whole game oozes that classic Simpsons charm throughout, thanks largely to the fact that the story and dialogue has been penned by the original writers and that all the voices are courtesy of the real cast. Also, there's a host of animated gags and hidden jokes to be uncovered, as well as special pick-ups that contain episode specific bonus material from the last 14 seasons. With the inclusion of a four-way multiplayer option with unlockable driving challenges, Hit and Run will keep you both amused and entertained for quite a while - it's certainly the best game we've seen yet from the world's most famous nuclear family.