The Simpsons: Hit & Run (T)

A tamer, sillier alternative to Grand Theft Auto.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Played the game? Review it
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details
  • Publisher: Radical Entertainment
  • Genre: Video Games - Action/Adventure
  • Release Date: 10/27/2003
  • ESRB Rating: T
  • Price: $44.95

Parents need to know

Parents need to know the humor and language are right in line with the show's salty style, and while the game's animation is, obviously, very cartoonish, players can run people over with their cars, and beat and kick them. On the other hand, the plot includes both parental protesting over a controversial video game, and a soda with mind-controlling properties, both of which might encourage conversations about marketing to children.

Families can talk about marketing to children. Do you think the parents in the game have valid concerns about the game they’re protesting? Should game developers be held responsible for promoting controversial games to children, or is the responsibility of families to exercise good judgment?

Message

Social Behavior:

Like the show, not a ton of diversity beyond controversial Apu. Some edgy humor.

Consumerism:

Fictitious billboards along the way, plus the Simpsons themselves are a product.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Some Duff beer stuff, and other alcohol references.

Educational Value:

Loads of laughs, but light on learning.

Violence

Can run people over with car, or just kick and beat them.

Sex

Language

Some salty language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Kate Pavao

In this newest Simpsons driving game, players become various characters from the animated show and complete silly missions (as Homer, you might deliver Lisa's digestive tract model to school, eating the gall bladder along the way; as Lisa you might save a school of fish from graduating to the dish of the day). As players advance through various levels -- and characters -- racing and chasing, collecting and delivering items, the storylines link to reveal that something sinister is going on in Springfield.

Is it any good?

4
The missions get a bit repetitive, but the well-animated town, complete with Kwik-E-Mart and Squid Port, gives players plenty to explore, and there are side missions, wardrobe changes -- and secrets to unlock. The Simpsons writers and cast collaborated on THE SIMPSONS: HIT & RUN and there are loads of jokes and insider-references for the show's loyal viewers (favorite characters such as Mr. Burns and Ralph Wiggum appear, and players can drive Homer's Mr. Plow or dress in Lisa's lumpy Florida costume). There's not a lot of educational value here, but this racing game could provide a tamer -- and sillier -- alternative to Grand Theft Auto.

How to play

  • Playability: Medium. Easy handling at first, but the difficulty accelerates as you advance.
  • Reading Required: 10+
  • Graphics: Above average.
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 27 reviews.

5


Posted on 06/06/08 by CommonSenseRater Kid contributor, age 12

This is probably the best Simpsons game ever created. In fact, it is about ten times better then Grand Theft Auto. I've played Grand Theft Auto. All it contains is raunchy, bloody, hell. The Simpsons Hit and Run, though, is mildly bad saying all you do is collect, destroy, and find things. The replay value in this game is tremendous, and there is nothing bad to say about this game. If I was to rate the Top Ten Xbox games, this would make the Top 5. (Not including the Xbox 360. To give you a minor heads up on the Top 5 Xbox Games, here is my (opionated) list: 1. Halo: Combat Evolved 2. Halo 2 3. The Simpsons Hit and Run 4. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 5. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
5

Posted on 05/27/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

i felt like bart himself

Homer occasionally curses but bart is evil.He crashes into something in his car and says "ooh,I hope that was expesive!''THIS GAME IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5


Posted on 05/15/08 by skater_gurl123 Kid contributor, age 12

Awesome!

I love this game! It is like so addicting! It has some problems with language, no sexual contet, no educational value whatsoever, some violence, commercialism, and some references to drinking alcohol. Great game though! A child alternative to Grand Theft Auto!
5

Posted on 04/05/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 03/28/08 by the_gamer_dude Kid contributor, age 10

It's awesome!.....

Their is no blood or anything! somtimes cars explode, and you can also kick people (no one really dies) sometimes the simpsons yell out stuff liek "outa my way jerkA**", nothin' more worse then what a 10 year old would hear at a public school. there are some refeerences to drinking, but its not that bad.
5


Posted on 10/14/07 by simpsonfan Kid contributor, age 10
5


Posted on 10/13/07 by la la la Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 08/24/07 by SHARK Kid contributor, age 11

I nearly died of laughter

This A fun to play game for people with a sense of humor and a liking for the Simpsons. There is a little swearing (outta my way, Jerk@$$!)There are obstacles like giant wasps that shoot lasers at you but are easy to destroy
5


Posted on 08/17/07 by The-Edge Kid contributor, age 14

The simpsons are back on the console!!

This game rules!! I thought this game wouldn't be all that good, that it would be a cheap imitation of "road rage". How wrong was I? This game kicks so much ass, it could be mistaken for Rocky Balboa! The story is just pure genius! I couldn't think of a better plot for it if I spent my entire life on it! The freedom and just utter madness of it had me HOOKED! The range of cars is phenomenal, the characters are incredibly detailed and realistic, it blows me away! The missions sometimes didn't make sense, but then I remembered, this is the Simpsons we're talking about!!! The areas are so highly detailed and plays so much homage to the show, like the school bus crashed into the DMV, or the garden on top of the KWIKY-Mart, amazing! Theres only one thing wrong with this almost perfect game, and thats the way the characters talk when talking in between missions, its so out of time but who cares, this game rocks so much its like Iron Maiden with Metallica and Black Sabbath!
4

Posted on 08/14/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

great game10 and up

great game i think if it came out later i think it would have be rated everyone 10 and up.

See all 27 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

5


Posted on 01/10/07 by Mr. Strong Adult contributor

Good for teens and up!

Good for teens and up!
3

Posted on 11/29/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Fun game

i like this game. if you like destroying lampposts and mail boxes ect. this game is right for you. if you don't like long and hard to beat games this is not the one for you. it is not completely like the show, but you have a pre-driving lesson because your car can explode so you have to drive carefully. fasten your seat belts.
4

Posted on 05/31/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 09/26/04 by gidge Adult contributor
4


Posted on 01/06/04 by baleighsdad Adult contributor

Great game for me - questionable for pre-teens

If you love the Simpsons, you'll love Hit and Run. If you think the Simpsons is appropriate for your kids to watch, you'll probably be okay with Hit and Run.<p>H&R is task driven (drive here, pick this up, drive there, talk to this character), with the missions being fairly amusing and simple for the most part. Players can also examine the various areas of Springfield when not on missions.<p>Be aware that the characters can do things that may not be appropriate (run over characters, kick characters, destroy property). I thought these were hilarious, but might not be the best thing for pre-teens. The good part is that nobody gets hurt -characters that get knocked over get up and make a comment - it's definately Bugs Bunny type violence. <p>Some of the language can be salty - the worst is Homer uses "jerkass" quite a bit. So YMMV.

Kids Reviews

There are 22 reviews.

5


Posted on 06/06/08 by CommonSenseRater Kid contributor, age 12

This is probably the best Simpsons game ever created. In fact, it is about ten times better then Grand Theft Auto. I've played Grand Theft Auto. All it contains is raunchy, bloody, hell. The Simpsons Hit and Run, though, is mildly bad saying all you do is collect, destroy, and find things. The replay value in this game is tremendous, and there is nothing bad to say about this game. If I was to rate the Top Ten Xbox games, this would make the Top 5. (Not including the Xbox 360. To give you a minor heads up on the Top 5 Xbox Games, here is my (opionated) list: 1. Halo: Combat Evolved 2. Halo 2 3. The Simpsons Hit and Run 4. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 5. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
5

Posted on 05/27/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

i felt like bart himself

Homer occasionally curses but bart is evil.He crashes into something in his car and says "ooh,I hope that was expesive!''THIS GAME IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5


Posted on 05/15/08 by skater_gurl123 Kid contributor, age 12

Awesome!

I love this game! It is like so addicting! It has some problems with language, no sexual contet, no educational value whatsoever, some violence, commercialism, and some references to drinking alcohol. Great game though! A child alternative to Grand Theft Auto!
5

Posted on 04/05/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 03/28/08 by the_gamer_dude Kid contributor, age 10

It's awesome!.....

Their is no blood or anything! somtimes cars explode, and you can also kick people (no one really dies) sometimes the simpsons yell out stuff liek "outa my way jerkA**", nothin' more worse then what a 10 year old would hear at a public school. there are some refeerences to drinking, but its not that bad.
5


Posted on 10/14/07 by simpsonfan Kid contributor, age 10
5


Posted on 10/13/07 by la la la Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 08/24/07 by SHARK Kid contributor, age 11

I nearly died of laughter

This A fun to play game for people with a sense of humor and a liking for the Simpsons. There is a little swearing (outta my way, Jerk@$$!)There are obstacles like giant wasps that shoot lasers at you but are easy to destroy
5


Posted on 08/17/07 by The-Edge Kid contributor, age 14

The simpsons are back on the console!!

This game rules!! I thought this game wouldn't be all that good, that it would be a cheap imitation of "road rage". How wrong was I? This game kicks so much ass, it could be mistaken for Rocky Balboa! The story is just pure genius! I couldn't think of a better plot for it if I spent my entire life on it! The freedom and just utter madness of it had me HOOKED! The range of cars is phenomenal, the characters are incredibly detailed and realistic, it blows me away! The missions sometimes didn't make sense, but then I remembered, this is the Simpsons we're talking about!!! The areas are so highly detailed and plays so much homage to the show, like the school bus crashed into the DMV, or the garden on top of the KWIKY-Mart, amazing! Theres only one thing wrong with this almost perfect game, and thats the way the characters talk when talking in between missions, its so out of time but who cares, this game rocks so much its like Iron Maiden with Metallica and Black Sabbath!
4

Posted on 08/14/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

great game10 and up

great game i think if it came out later i think it would have be rated everyone 10 and up.
See all 22 kids reviews >
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