HAVE you ever wondered how many games have levels filled with randomly placed wooden crates, have enemies that can be defeated but never die - only to return at the end of the game? And how that last guard always seems to have the keycard for that secret elevator to the secret liar?
Well, the five-some Simpsons of Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and Bart have.
They have all these cliches, plus an extra slew of parodies, from Grand Theft Auto, Sonic to Lord Of The Rings. The cliches are hidden gems peppered throughout the game, and uncovered at the least expected moment, among other items included.
Where else can you find a game where Bart discovers the video game manual to The Simpsons Game, and finds out that each of the family has access to some pretty weird powers? Homer can burp at his enemies or transform into a giant ball to roll over others; Marge can rally support from Springfield residents; Bart can morph into Bartman while Lisa, well, she can play the saxophone and stun people.
Fine, so their abilities aren't exactly jaw dropping, but that is the nature of The Simpsons - to be goofy yet fun, which this game is.
Along the way, The Simpsons Game pokes fun at the video game industry, via the slightly evil machinations of Electronic Arts' management (they also happen to be the brains behind this game), as well as at creator Matt Groening, who cameos as an evil genius.
The game also allows the family to revisit some famous locales, such as The Land Of Chocolate, and familiar storylines like Lisa saving the trees.
You can be forgiven for treating the game as a long lost episode. After all, it does have the TV cast reprising their roles as well as a whole bunch of new animation thrown in, like when Marge catches Bart buying a new uber-violent video game, all of which are used as cut scenes between game levels.
Stripped of its hilarity and comic moments though, the game is a simple platform game that has players controlling characters to undertake various tasks around Springfield, the Simpsons' home town.
The game difficulty is underwhelming and it may be the realisation that this game is not going to alter any expectations of gameplay.
So when it comes to entertainment, The Simpsons continue to stick to what they are good at. D'oh!
