Saturday, February 25, 2012

Beneful Reviews: The Simpsons Arcade Game

-by Ben


The Simpsons Arcade game was redeveloped by Backbone Entertainments for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. Backbone Entertainments has in passed has redeveloped other games such as the 1989 arcade Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles also originally by Konami as well, Sega’s Sonic The Hedgehog 2 game and other classic games. 

After purchasing and downloading the Simpsons arcade game on the Xbox Live Marketplace to my Xbox 360 console for 800 Microsoft points, which equates to about 9.99 U.S. dollars, I played the game through with friends online and solo a few times for few hours that day. Over all I found The Simpsons arcade game doesn’t differ from the original arcade game released by Konami in 1991 arcade release except for some sound and art quality improvements. In my opinion, that's like polishing an old car rather than dramatic overhaul, like some of the Mario games for the Wii have done. 
Back to the game,The game also comprises of 8 levels: Downtown Springfield (Stage 1), Krustyland theme park (Stage 2), Springfield Discount Cemetery (Stage 3), Moe's Tavern (Stage 4), the Springfield Butte (Stage 5), a concussion induced dreamland (Stage 6), the KBBL's Channel 6 Broadcasting studio (Stage 7), a dojo (Stage 7.5), the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant (Stage 8, the final stage) and an assortment of small enemies, mini bosses, and big boss battles.


The Simpsons arcade game version for consoles like the original arcade offers 4 playable Simpsons characters as followed; Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Bart Simpson, featuring the original voices from the TV show. The console version of The Simpsons arcade for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 offers the Japanese version of the game after beating the American version of the game. The gameplay for the console version is very simple, two button smash, hit, jump, combo, pick up, and throw with thumb joystick movement controls. In addition, this game has co-op gameplay both online and or offline with family members and or friends. Co-op play adds an additional bonus of two player playable characters only combos that differ with each playable character combinations. 

I found that the two versions of the game, the American and Japanese releases hardly differ over all in gameplay experience. The Japanese version adds content and advantage that the American version doesn’t have. For example, in the Japanese version of The Simpsons arcade game, players are able to get a bomb weapon that is thrown and cause all enemies on screen to die. Plus an added bonus of food health pick-ups that add extended health when at full health.


The Simpsons also features two mini games. Players compete against each other and or against computer players (if fewer than 4 human players) to be the first to finish a task. The mini games involve inflating a balloon shaped like their character in the first game, and waking up their character in the second game. The goal of these two mini games within The Simpsons arcade game is to be the player who pushes the their controller buttons the fastest. 
  
I recommended playing The Simpsons with an arcade style controller (many of which can be found and bought online through various websites) to get that classic arcade feel out of the console verison of the game. 

My final thoughts on The Simpsons arcade game, buy this game if you like The Simpsons and or love to play classic arcade games. But, wait until it comes on sale on the various console marketplaces. If you are a PlayStation+ member, this game is free to download and play. This game is fun to play for the 30 minutes it takes to beat both the American and Japanese versions of the game in individual sessions. Replay factor? It's almost none. I found myself only playing this game over and over for this review and to get all the Xbox achievements. Better with friends and family members. If you haven’t played the original arcade and or love The Simpsons TV show then don’t buy this game.

2.5 to 3 stars out of 5.

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