Simpsons: Hit & Run, The

GamingTrend

The little details like glass shattering, reflections and shadows, and even exhaust, are meticulous enough that it just took my breath away. I love how this game looks, period.

GameNow

While hardly original, Hit & Run offers lots in the way of solid gameplay, excellent controls, and pure unadulterated fun. [Oct 2003, p.57]

Village Voice

This delightful, deep, and detailed (but unfortunately not cartoon-style cel-shaded) rip on the "Grand Theft Auto" series critiques itself better than any untenured academic could.

GameSpy

Very fun and very funny; it deftly satirizes "Grand Theft Auto" while being almost as entertaining, and even improves on several gameplay aspects of GTA (instant mission restarts, a superior guidance system, and an easily accessible collection of vehicles).

GameZone

I spent a LOT of time just listening to Barney on the sidewalk! I still can't believe he gave up drinking! If you need a fun escape from shooters and uniformed sports action, give this a try.

Official Xbox Magazine

It's a bafflingly well-done license that not only does justice to the show, but turns out to be a brilliant "Grand Theft Auto" clone in its own right. And one that isn't violent or scary, but is addictive and genuinely amusing. [Oct 2003, p.82]

Armchair Empire

The game should last an average player quite a while with plenty of hidden secrets and bonuses for completion.

GameReviewer

If you can take the idea of spending about 20 hours driving around and only occasionally hoofing it for some alternate mayhem, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is perfect. It's infused with a great sense of humor, and there are plenty of things to do.

Game Informer

The results are nothing short of astonishing. It's nice to see Springfield get the respect it deserves. [Oct 2003, p.134]

GameBiz

There are a lot of side missions and secrets to find too, as just playing through the missions for each level will only see the level with about 30% completion.

Gaming Age

All the Simpsons references in the world would be a waste if the game play were trash. Just ask "Simpsons Skateboarding" on that one. Thankfully the game play is very tight, responsive, and easy to maneuver for rookies or vets.

Play Magazine

Essentially the show in real time, Hit & Run is so grandiose in its expanse and artisitic rendering it appears altogether more appealing than TV allows - the mark of a truly great cross-over product. [Sept 2003, p.78]

GameSpot

It creates the most accurate representation of the world of Springfield ever put into a game, and it manages to make the gameplay surrounding it quite a lot of fun. Additionally, the game's overall sense of humor is delightfully self-referential.

Game Chronicles

This game oozes with the same quality and professional presentation values as any episode shown in the past decade thanks to quality writing and an outstanding performance by the original cast.

Next Level Gaming

The best thing about this title is that it was clearly made for the fans of the show.

GamingWorld X

Equal parts hilarity and biting social commentary, the game grafts "Grand Theft Auto" gameplay onto the material from the TV show and does it extremely well.

Game Over Online

A solid script, good gameplay and a huge dose of humor makes this game stand out as a nice platformer. Unfortunately, technical issues prevent this game from truly standing out as exceptional.

Yahoo! Games

While the missions in The Simpsons: Hit and Run can take on an air of sameness after a while and the pursuit scheme is less than completely thought out, the most startling thing we can note is that the gameplay stands on its own, Simpsons or no Simpsons.

Xbox Nation Magazine

Smooth controls top this delightful meal and tons of replay value make Hit & Run, dare we say it? Ehhh-xcellent. [Oct/Nov 2003, p.91]

Cincinnati Enquirer

What it lacks in originality it more than makes up for with its fun and easy-to-pick-up game play that will appeal to fans of the long-running comedy.

Team Xbox

A few gameplay issues and graphical shortcomings keep the game from being an A+ stellar title, but hardcore Simpsons fans will be more than happy with this baby.

Deeko

Though there are issues with the camera and some slight graphical hiccups, the easy control, extremely fun missions and number of unlockable goodies simply make this title a game that people need to have.

Cheat Code Central

The game looks, plays, sounds and smells just like the real thing. It may not be long on replay value but this is one game that shouldn't be missed no how.

IGN

Hit & Run may have swiped nearly all of its gameplay ideas from GTA, but the combination of the vast Simpsons universe liberally applied to the GTA formula is pure brilliance.

Weekly Famitsu

8 / 8 / 7 / 8 - 31 silver [Vol 785]

Game Revolution

In all three console versions (which are identical), A.I. glitches aren't uncommon and the on-foot camera tends to get persnickety. The game looks and plays better while driving.

Entertainment Weekly

If some of the missions seem repetitive, others stand out, like the one that has you confiscating copies of a particularly violent videogame (wink, wink) corrputing Springfield's youth. [5 Sept 2003, p.L2T 22]

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Hit & Run is so good at capturing the show's spirit and copying a great game ["GTA"] that it turns out to be real, honest-to-God fun for anyone who digs the show. [Oct 2003, p.140]

TotalGames.net

Grumbling aside, Hit & Run is a decent stab at doing something different with a The Simpsons game, but it still can't help being very, very unoriginal and dragging everything down to the lowest common denominator - collect stuff!

games(TM)

There's just not enough to do besides the main tasks to justify stealing the GTA concept ... the distinct lack of content reduces the amount of enjoyment you'll get out of it. Better than you'd think, but still very basic. [Nov 2003, p.118]