The Simpsons Hit & Run
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The Simpsons Hit & Run is a video game based on The Simpsons franchise. It was created by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal in 2003. The game is available for Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Windows-based personal computers.
Plot
The initial missions of the game involve relatively mundane events, such as getting Homer to work at the nuclear plant on time or retrieving items from various locations. Soon, however, the story mode focuses on strange happenings throughout Springfield. Mysterious black vans prowl the streets while robotic wasp-like video cameras spy on the town's inhabitants. Homer initially attempts to blame Mr. Burns for these strange occurrences, but Burns denies responsibility and fires him. Bart disappears briefly, resurfacing with no memory and mumbling unintelligibly; when he recovers, he reveals that a popular soft drink called Buzz Cola is turning people into zombies. The culprits behind all this sinister behavior are Kang and Kodos, who are desperate to increase ratings for their galactic reality show. Positioning cameras all around Springfield, they hope to erase the citizen's minds with the cola before distributing laser pistols; the ensuing destruction should, they reason, thrill interplanetary audiences. The game's final level, which takes place on Halloween, is intentionally reminiscent of a Treehouse of Horror episode; Homer finds that the only way he can stop the alien plot is by loading vehicles with radioactive waste and driving them into the ship's tractor beam.Characters
Main characters
- Age: 36
- Sex: Male
- Appears: Level 1, Level 7
- Vehicle: Family Sedan, 70's Sports Car
- Age: 10
- Sex: Male
- Appears: Level 2, Level 6
- Vehicle: Honor Roller, Red-Ferrini
- Age: 8
- Sex: Female
- Appears: Level 1(2nd mission),Level 3
- Vehicle: Malibu Stacy car, Electaurus
- Age: 34
- Sex: Female
- Appears: Level 1, 4
- Vehicle: Canyonero
- Age: 28
- Sex: Male
- Appears: Level 5
- Vehicle: Longhorn
Other characters
- Age: 10
- Sex: Male
- Appears: Level 2, Level 6
- Vehicle: Honor Roller, Red-Ferrini
- Age: 8
- Sex: Female
- Appears: Level 1(2nd mission),Level 3
- Vehicle: Malibu Stacy car, Electaurus
- Age: 34
- Sex: Female
- Appears: Level 1, 4
- Vehicle: Canyonero
- Age: 28
- Sex: Male
- Appears: Level 5
- Vehicle: Longhorn
Other characters
- Age: 34
- Sex: Female
- Appears: Level 1, 4
- Vehicle: Canyonero
- Age: 28
- Sex: Male
- Appears: Level 5
- Vehicle: Longhorn
Other characters
These people do not participate in main gameplay, but make humorous comments while driving around or talking to them.
Former Sgt. of the Flying Hellfish, now retired old coot.
Slack-jawed yokel and resident dirt farmer.
- Vehicle: Pickup truck
One of Springfield's most infamous criminals.
- Vehicle: Li'l Bandit
Seller of collectibles in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Kremlin
Springfield's town nerd.
- Vehicle: Hover car
Springfield's town toker, also the school bus driver for Springfield Elementary.
- Vehicle: School bus
Principal of Springfield Elementary and his bitter mother Agnes Skinner.
- Vehicle: Sedan (w/o the daisy)
Assistant to Mr. Burns, and (ahem) close, personal friend.
- Vehicle: Burns' limo.
Lazy police chief in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Police car
Bart's best friend.
- Milhouse starts the first race in each level.
Dumb son of the police chief.
- Ralph starts the last race in each level.
Lonely owner of Moe's Tavern.
Slack-jawed yokel and resident dirt farmer.
- Vehicle: Pickup truck
One of Springfield's most infamous criminals.
- Vehicle: Li'l Bandit
Seller of collectibles in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Kremlin
Springfield's town nerd.
- Vehicle: Hover car
Springfield's town toker, also the school bus driver for Springfield Elementary.
- Vehicle: School bus
Principal of Springfield Elementary and his bitter mother Agnes Skinner.
- Vehicle: Sedan (w/o the daisy)
Assistant to Mr. Burns, and (ahem) close, personal friend.
- Vehicle: Burns' limo.
Lazy police chief in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Police car
Bart's best friend.
- Milhouse starts the first race in each level.
Dumb son of the police chief.
- Ralph starts the last race in each level.
Lonely owner of Moe's Tavern.
Seller of collectibles in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Kremlin
Springfield's town nerd.
- Vehicle: Hover car
Springfield's town toker, also the school bus driver for Springfield Elementary.
- Vehicle: School bus
Principal of Springfield Elementary and his bitter mother Agnes Skinner.
- Vehicle: Sedan (w/o the daisy)
Assistant to Mr. Burns, and (ahem) close, personal friend.
- Vehicle: Burns' limo.
Lazy police chief in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Police car
Bart's best friend.
- Milhouse starts the first race in each level.
Dumb son of the police chief.
- Ralph starts the last race in each level.
Lonely owner of Moe's Tavern.
Springfield's town toker, also the school bus driver for Springfield Elementary.
- Vehicle: School bus
Principal of Springfield Elementary and his bitter mother Agnes Skinner.
- Vehicle: Sedan (w/o the daisy)
Assistant to Mr. Burns, and (ahem) close, personal friend.
- Vehicle: Burns' limo.
Lazy police chief in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Police car
Bart's best friend.
- Milhouse starts the first race in each level.
Dumb son of the police chief.
- Ralph starts the last race in each level.
Lonely owner of Moe's Tavern.
Assistant to Mr. Burns, and (ahem) close, personal friend.
- Vehicle: Burns' limo.
Lazy police chief in Springfield.
- Vehicle: Police car
Bart's best friend.
- Milhouse starts the first race in each level.
Dumb son of the police chief.
- Ralph starts the last race in each level.
Lonely owner of Moe's Tavern.
- Milhouse starts the first race in each level.
Dumb son of the police chief.
- Ralph starts the last race in each level.
Lonely owner of Moe's Tavern.
Lonely owner of Moe's Tavern.
- Vehicle: Sedan
Stereotypical Scot who is the janitor for Springfield Elementary School.
- Vehicle: Tractor
Ol' Gil
Pathetic salesman who can't seem to get a break.
- Gil sells extra (non-required) vehicles in all of the levels.
Gameplay
The game employs the "sandbox" format seen in the later Grand Theft Auto games, featuring a third-person view, an explorable environment, and drivable vehicles. Hit & Run, however, eschews the graphic violence and mature content of the GTA games, focusing primarily on driving missions. Also, while some cars can be stolen while not on a mission, the NPC's drive during many missions. The game also features a "mayhem meter" that brings the police after the player if it gets too high; if the player is captured by the police, he is fined 50 coins.Progressing though the various story levels allows the player to control Lisa, Homer, Marge, Bart, and Apu; many other Simpsons characters such as Chief Wiggum and Professor Frink appear in non-playable roles, also driving you in some missions.
In addition to the story missions, players can optionally participate in "bonus" missions or races which typically award coins for successful completion. Coins are also acquired by hitting objects such as trees or mailboxes, destroying wasp cameras or Buzz Cola machines, or simple collection (many coins are simply scattered throughout each level). Players can use coins to purchase new vehicles or outfits for the current character; many of these can be traced directly to specific episodes of The Simpsons (e.g., Bart's Space Shuttle-shaped "Honor Roller" soapbox racer or Marge's police uniform). Many of the cars come from The Simpsons Road Rage.
A number of "collector cards" depicting objects, characters, or scenes from the series are placed in each level, usually in hard-to-access areas. Collecting all of these cards in a level unlocks a track that can be played in a slot car-like racing game, and collecting all of the cards in the game unlocks an original Itchy & Scratchy short, "500-Yard Gash".
List of Vehicles
Level One Vehicles
- Family Sedan - starting vehicle
- Plow King - can be purchased from Barney
- Surveillance Van - can be purchased from Gil
- Duff Truck - can be purchased from Gil
- Electaurus - won if you complete all three races
- Cletus' Pickup Truck - received if you complete the bonus mission
- Rocket Car - found parked in front of Chester Lampwicks solid gold mansion
- Burned/Broken cars. Can get them when you crash around the cars too much. When you drive it, it is slow.
Level Two Vehicles
- Honor Roller - starting vehicle
- Mr. Plow - can be purchased from Homer
- Moe's Sedan - won if you complete all three races
- Grandpa's - received if you complete the bonus mission
- Limo - can be purchased from Gil
- Fire Truck - can be purchased from Gil
- Monorail - found on Monorail track - front car can be driven
Level Three Vehicles
- Malibu Stacy Car - starting vehicle
- Book-Burning Mobile - won if you complete all three races
- Skinner's Sedan - received if you complete the bonus mission
- Otto's School Bus - can be purchased from Otto
- Donut Truck - can be purchased from Gil
- Nerd Car - can be purchased from Gil
- Boat Car - found in box on ship
Level Four Vehicles
- Canyonero - starting vehicle
- Willie's Tractor - can be purchased from Willie
- Curator - can be purchased from Gil
- Krusty's Limo - can be purchased from Gil
- Clown Car- won if you complete all three races
- Comic Book Guy's Kremlin - received if you complete the bonus mission
- ATV- In the trailer parked behind the trailers at the end of the park nearest the barn
Level Five Vehicles
- Longhorn - starting vehicle
- Cola Truck - can be purchased from Gil
- Police Car - can be purchased from Gil
- Car Built For Homer - can be purchased from Homer
- Professor Frink's Hover Car - received if you complete the bonus mission
- El Carro Loco - won if you complete all three races
- Monster Truck - Next to the stadium; use the fountain to boost your jump to the truck's platform
Level Six Vehicles
- Red Ferrini - starting vehicle
- 36' Stutz Bearcat - won if you complete all three races
- Globex Super Villain Car - can be purchased from Kearney
- Armored Truck - can be purchased from Gil
- Chase Sedan - can be purchased from Gil
- Snake's Li'l Bandit - received if you complete the bonus mission
- Cadillac - found in the hole in the wall at the Planet Hype accesible from the roof
Level Seven Vehicles
- 70's Sports Car - starting vehicle
- Zombie Car - can be purchased from a zombie
- Hearse - can be purchased from Gil
- Hover Bike - can be purchased from Gil
- Open Wheel Race Car - won if you complete all three races
- Mr. Burns' Limo - received if you complete the bonus mission
- Remote Controlled Car - found on top of Krusty Burger
Reception
Hit & Run was well received by critics [link], and it was regarded as a vast improvement to other Simpsons video game titles, sometimes considered to be the best Simpsons game ever made[link], along with the arcade game.The game sold over 4 million copies [link], entering the "best-sellers" of each console: Greatest Hits (PS2), Player's Choice (GameCube) and Platinum Hits (Xbox).
Trivia
Fanfiction.net, a real website, was mentioned by Comic Book Guy in the second level.External links
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