This is about my experience with The Simpsons Game.
First of all, this isn't a tie-in of said Movie, because they missed the dead line. Instead what we get is a video game that parodies other video games... and ties in nicely with the DVD/Blu-ray release of The Simpsons Movie.
OK?
OK.
The game has a nice premise, the demo wanted me to destroy a Lard Lad advertising eyesore, Hell bent on destruction. The cliché here is that the boss has a weak spot which you must discover (hint: it's on the back).
This is a decent idea, sadly, it has a few flaws.
1. You can play as Bart or Homer, but from what I played Homer was basically useless.
2. Getting behind Lard Lad is a very complicated procedure, eventually I just waited on a building until he lost me and then when I could see his rear, used Bart's slingshot.
3. The thing is awkward enough without Evil Krusty dolls running around.
4. Homer and Bart have separate health bars, sadly, the one you're not controlling at the time has a tendency to run off and get, well, killed.
5. When the hatch at the back falls down, you then have to jump on them to destroy the electronics... although, this is linked to point 1.
Basically, you can do the first hatch with no problems, sadly, the second and third don't work as well, whether through bad design or glitching, Homer can make it to the second platform from open hatch, but instantly falls through while Bart can't jump on the second one at all.
Solution: Sail from a building using the Bartman costume to land on the platforms at the back of Lard Lad.
Simple, in theory.
Sadly, the Bartman cape doesn't really allow you to glide as much as it allows you to fall slowly and a target time of 4:00:00 turned into over 26:00:00 for me. Not because I was playing particularly badly, just because I really didn't know what I was supposed to be doing. I kept hitting Lard Lad as Bart, but then figured I must have to switch to Homer to land the death blows, it was only by sheer frustration of falling through the platform, I tried gliding on to the platforms. There was nothing in game to indicate this, but maybe it's shame on me for thinking two characters = working together. I can only imagine how boring this level must be for whoever is playing Homer in Co-op... or even playing as Bart, since the goal is also quite monotonous.
The camera could also use a lot of work, it tends to not point where you want and Bart's auto aim doesn't allow you to skip or change targets. It's a lot of little things that ruin the experience a lot. The game has undeniable gameplay issues at its core and it's just not fun. Another flop in the long line of bad Simpsons games.
The cut scenes also are not up to par, they look like the show... but it's kind of a poor quality version of the show. They look bland compared to the usual episodes. Understandably, this is only a game, it would have just made the difference.... I also don't like how EA have their logo everywhere (Krusty Dolls, advertisements for "Maddening" on the stadium in the background etc.), it's just not something you want to see when playing a game about the Simpsons.
That said, it's not a complete disaster. The 2D world of Springfield has been brought well into the world of 3D, it actually looks very good, and the Kent Brockman voice over and Homer and Bart's one liners didn't repeat. It's just a shame EA didn't put as much thought into gameplay as they did into making the game look nice, but then, this is EA we're talking about.
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