Review - The Simpsons Arcade Game

Those of you who are of a certain vintage will no doubt have fond memories of The Simpsons Arcade Game, a side scrolling beat ‘em up from way back in 1991 that managed to liberate an entire generation of arcade goers from their loose change for countless summers. Given the fact that the Simpsons brand is one that has successfully managed to endure the test of time, still arguably going as strong as ever (although there are many who would argue that the standard of the show has taken a considerable turn for the worse in recent times), it’s not surprising that Konami has sought to rerelease the title on Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network in a bid to capitalise on that good old nostalgia bug we all love to love.

Given the fact that the game is now a staggering 21 years old, it’s a title that was really going to have its work cut out if it’s going to make the same kind of impact as it did first time around. With gaming making such a progression in the past couple of decades, surely gamers have moved on from the crude side scrolling action that forms the backbone of this title...

Surprisingly, the game hasn’t actually aged all that badly. It’s a real testament to the original game’s design that it doesn’t feel as hackneyed and dated as it could have, particularly when you consider that once the nostalgic thrill has worn off, most games of this kind start to buckle under the strain of modern expectations.



Perhaps the real reason why The Simpsons Arcade Game is still as enjoyable as it was back in those more innocent days is the fact that it was originally structured around the communal gameplay experience. As a four player title, it offers its most rewarding experience to those who take on the challenge with others, either locally or online.

Our initial play through was in single player mode, and while it certainly did bring back some fond memories, the way the game is structured really doesn’t lend itself to the individual. Repetitive enemies and the lack of any real complexity to the gameplay quickly turn what is initially a fun experience into a bit of a chore. As you progress through the game’s seven levels, things really start to grate, and the lack of variety among your enemies becomes quite tedious. Nevertheless, we forged ahead, completing the game using surprisingly few continues as Bart.

Feeling a little underwhelmed, we decided that it was perhaps best to rope an unwitting colleague into the fray for some two player action – and this is where things really start to kick off. Although the basics of the game remain much the same as in the single player experience, the level of intensity is ramped up considerably, with players relying on each other for cover and cooperation while they unleash their attacks on their way to saving Maggie from the clutches of a bizarrely nefarious Smithers and Mr. Burns, adds an incredible amount to the depth of the gameplay.

With yet another play through under our belts, and even less continues used this time (although we must point out we were playing at the normal difficulty, if you like a real challenge you’re able to crank things up quite a bit), it was time to take advantage of the one true difference offered by this port – online play.



While we noted that there was a little lag between our inputs and on-screen actions, it wasn’t anything that was truly game breaking. With four players taking part in the game, things reached fever pitch levels in terms of the number of enemies to bash our way through. To say that it’s hectic is a hell of an understatement, but the game really excels under these circumstances. Things often descend into uncoordinated button mashing, but that’s part of the fun at the end of the day – and that’s exactly what this title aims to be; fun.

For a game in its 21st year, The Simpsons Arcade Game still looks surprisingly tidy. Yes there’s plenty of pixilation, but that’s to be expected given the technology that was available at the time of its original release, and there’s surely a case to be made that Backbone could have reworked the whole thing visually, giving us a glorious 60FPS title playing in full HD, but that wasn’t to be for whatever reason, and it’s something of a shame. That said, there’s something quite satisfying about the original visual style that would perhaps have been lost in process of a true HD visual upgrade.



The sound is a little ropey, with noticeable glitches in places, but we’re in a kind mood today (that’ll be all the nostalgia) so we’re willing to accept that the developers could only do so much with the source material, and it would probably have been a little too much to ask to get the voice cast in to record the meagre handful of lines their characters spout throughout the game.

The Simpsons Arcade Game, despite all the fun, is still a rather limited experience. Once you’ve fought your way through the game a few times, either locally or offline, and then checked out the Japanese version of the original arcade cabinet ROM, there’s not really much that’s going to bring you back. We have no doubt that it’s a title we’ll break out occasionally should we have similarly aged, game interested friends over at any point, and there’s definitely scope for the odd quick blast when we can’t think of anything to play, but ultimately you need to ask yourself whether you’re nostalgic enough to warrant the outlay for such a short-lived game.

On the other hand, if you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, it’s free, so why wouldn’t you pick it up? It’s not even a big download!