The Simpsons Road Rage
Score: 70% ESRB: Teen Publisher: EA Games Developer: Radical Entertainment Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Miscellaneous
Graphics & Sound: While not a showcase title for the XBox, The Simpsons Road Rage has very functional 3D graphics. All of the Simpsons characters look true to form, as the developer's much touted Toon Renderer technology is very effective at conveying them in a convincing manner. The camera views provided make it easy to track the action except when you've smashed your car into a building or reached the end of some little side street. At those times, it can be maddening to frantically turn your car around. And there are times when you collide with other vehicles, possibly even atop them, and serious clipping occurs. Besides these relatively minor problems, the graphics are sharp and the animation is smooth. The Simpsons theme music is of course present, and during the various segments of the game, variations of the theme music keep you suitably immersed in the world of the Simpsons. All of the original cast members provide the voice talent, and even though there seems to be a limited number of lines for each character, they are well done and enjoyable. Each will say characteristic lines, like Grandpa will ask about his pills, or Lisa will tell one of her fares to not sit on her laptop.
Gameplay: As an unconventional driving game, The Simpsons Road Rage turns the various characters from the much loved TV show into glorified taxi cab drivers. You begin the game with the main Simpson clan as the available selection of drivers. Each has their own special car, and as you play the game and earn money from cab fares, other characters and cars are unlocked. You also start off with one location, Evergreen Terrace, a section of Springfield that includes the elementary school and church, as well as Krusty Burger and Kwik-E Mart. You also unlock other locations during the game by earning money. There are four different play options: Road Rage, which has you picking up fares for money; Sunday Drive, where you can cruise Springfield at your own pace, but you earn no money; Mission Mode, where you complete specific tasks to unlock rewards; and Head to Head, where you compete with a friend in Split-Screen Mode. Sunday Drive is identical to Road Rage expect there are no time limits, and you earn no money. In Road Rage, you are given a timer, and you are tasked with picking up fares and dropping them off at a given destination. An on-screen map clearly indicates the drop off point, and navigating to it, though hazardous, is fairly easy to do. Once you drop off the fare, you earn money depending on the percentage by which you beat the clock. You are given more time, and you then pick up another fare, and repeat the process. You can also earn bonuses, which adds some variety to the game. As you progress through Road Rage, you can unlock either other characters and their cars, or other locations. This definitely adds variety to the game, as there are dozens of characters and six different locations. The game is initially quite fun, but it can become repetitive, as you are required to earn 1 million dollars, which would take quite some time to do. Mission Mode presents progressively more difficult missions, and each uses a different character and car. Some of the missions are quite fun, but there are really only a few different types, so each ends up being only a variation of the others.
Difficulty: There are three different difficulty levels in The Simpsons Road Rage. Each level offers a different amount of time to start off with in the Road Rage game. Other than difficulty level, the various locations and characters add complexity to the task, as you have to learn new routes and vehicles in order to make good time in the game. In Mission Mode, you are presented with a different character, and usually a different location, each time. Each mission seems to be progressively more difficult, although what usually ends up happening is you have to learn the driving technique required to complete the task, and the locations where you can find (and usually obliterate) the objectives.
Game Mechanics: Two different controller layouts are available, and finding the correct one for your driving style is important. In addition to these controller settings, you can also toggle vibrations on and off, as well as control the level of music, dialogue, and sound effects. Lastly, you can choose from three different camera angles. The menu layout of The Simpsons Road Rage is simple and easy to use, and directions throughout the game are clear and concise. Feedback during the Road Rage game is very useful, and being able to choose new characters or locations when you've earned enough money is quite rewarding. Overall, the game provides a fun gaming experience, and fans of the TV show should enjoy the characters, locations, and the various interactions presented. While not a game that offers a tremendous amount of replay value, the sheer variety of characters and locations should prove worthwhile to most interested Simpsons fans.
-Gordy, GameVortex Communications AKA Gary Lucero
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