The Simpsons: Road Rage review:4 stars (The PC version is so much better.) - I haven't played this game much yet and so far it looks pretty tricky to get the hang of it. But I'm sure that with practice I'll get better and enjoy it more. I also have the PC version of it and it's so much better. The characters talk more and it's hillarious.3 stars (Not Quite Perfect) - This is a somewhat fun game. Whatever you do do not be deceived by the pictures at the top of the screen, the graphics are horrible. It can be a fun game if you enjoy Crazy Taxi(which I do), but to tell the truth, it is overrated. A big con is that if you get $1 million you win the game and there is nothing else to play for, and there is no reason to come back and play it.5 stars (Road Rage is a good thing) - The first Simpsons game I ever played was Simpsons Road Rage for GameCube when I rented it. I wanted to buy it ever since then. When I discovered that there was one for GBA, I desperately wanted to buy it. One day, I recieved it as a gift and immediately started playing it. My life was forever changed. I was a little disappointed at all the differences that I noticed between the GCN and GBA games, but I quickly became used to the handheld version. After a bit of work, I unlocked a few things and instinctively wrote down the pesky passwords for my game progress. It took me less than 5 days to unlock almost everything on GCN, so the differences were noticeable between the games. After some more playing,I began to focus more on the game that I owned rather than the rental. There are so many good things on the GCN, but there are just as many on GBA - maybe more. I especially enjoy the unique "Performance" mode, where you pick a passenger (I always choose either Snake, Otto, or Barney) and go out in your selected location and drive like you're delivering a donated organ to make your passenger happy. You get a new passenger after each person is fully satisfied along with a 60-second time bonus that decreases with each person (my personal passenger record in a single run is 5). Road Rage mode is different, too: instead of dropping people in front of buildings, you drop them off on targets, and get bonus money and time depending on how close you park to the target's center. I also like the option of dumping your rider overboard with the L button because their destination's a mile away and you've only got ten seconds left. You can then pick up a nearby customer and continue your rampage. Throwing someone out will cost you quite a bit of time from your time limit, though, so be careful. Also, don't dump out passengers right before the time runs out - you get $10 for every second they're in your vehicle.
There's one thing with major differences from GCN that could've been better: Mission Mode. I'm not complaining about the missions themselves; I don't like the fact that they're so stinking HARD. Not all of them, though, only some. Take mission #9, for example. Jump through fire rings on a slick watery track? ARE YOU CRAZY?!? It took me THREE MONTHS to complete that challenge! I celebrated when I finally did, though. Some of the other missions are actually easier: I could never beat mission #8 on GCN, but it took me less than ten minutes on GBA. Overall, with the only reward at the end of mission #10 being a secret car, it's a little disappointing, but the car handles and drives perfectly.
There are two things that put this game at my top slot as "Best Handheld Game Ever": The graphics and the music. The combination of 2-D and 3-D really surprised me, especially all of the slopes in the landscape. Plus, some of the environments almost match their GCN counterparts (i.e. the Springfield Dam has very high water on one side and a subterranean area on the other, even though that wasn't subterranean on GCN). But what really caught me was the music. This game has some of the best video game music ever. Ever. Better than anything. From peppy music that makes you really want to drive fast to calm "road trip" music to music that makes you yearn for the countryside, the songs in Road Rage strongly resemble the locales in which they are played (there's even a remix of each song in each level that plays in Performance mode). Even the "Game Over" music is cool. The "Sound Check" allows you to hear music without any obstructing sound effects. I enjoy hearing each song as much as I want without ever having to succumb to a time limit. Still, I find the music the most interesting and entertaining part of the game.
One other thing: The levels are astounding. They are HUGE! I still get lost in Evergreen Terrace. I can find my way around fine after driving a few people to their destinations, but until then, I have no clue as to where I started the level. There's so much to see that I can't take it all in in one sitting.
In the long run, The Simpsons Road Rage for GBA is an excellent game with surprising graphics, an abundance of great music, an amazing amount of area to explore, and entertaining gameplay. When Crazy Taxi meets The Simpsons, nothing can beat this handheld fit of digital road rage. Drive safely! |
