The Simpsons Game (Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, PSP, PlayStation 2)

common sense media says

Hilarious game with many inside jokes for fans.


parents & educators say
  • 43% say language is an issue
  • 29% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game is about as controversial as the television show. It includes Itchy & Scratchy blood and violence (for the uninitiated, that's the show's parody of violent cat-and-mouse cartoons), some minor curse words, a few sexual references, and so on. In other words, if you let your kids watch the show there isn't anything in the game that will raise a red flag.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Inappropriate role model behavior, but that's the source of the humor.
Violence: Some animated blood in one or two levels (later on in the game).
Sex: Some sexual references, such as saying Marge's eyes look like "boobs."
Language: Some words might offend including "hell," "damn," "butt."
Consumerism: Some references to pop culture and other video games.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A few references to drinking alcohol, smoking, but nothing major.

More on The Simpsons Game

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how The Simpsons animated TV show was considered very offensive back in the early '90s -- Bart's underachieving attitude, Homer's language (which upset his religious neighbor, Ned), and some violence and gore -- but is this as big a deal today? Does the game push the envelope as the show did in its day, or is it now seen as clever, irreverent social satire? Does the game feel like an interactive episode of the show?

What's the story?

What's the story?
With a zany story line crafted by the Emmy award-winning writers from the TV show, the Simpsons family -- Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie -- are aware they're trapped inside THE SIMPSONS GAME, and so they use their newfound special powers to live out their fantasies and help save their town of Springfield. For example, the overweight father Homer can unleash a serious belch or change into a giant ball of fat to roll over enemies, while bad-boy Bart, armed with a slingshot, can peg off baddies with ease or glide through the air with his Bartman cape. Most missions let you play as one of two characters, and in some cases you'll need to use one in particular to take advantage of their abilities. When playing alone, the game's artificial intelligence controls the other family member, but at any time a second player can pick up a controller to start playing.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
This video game enjoys smooth "cel-shaded" animation that resembles the TV cartoon, even with the move to 3-D. The game offers 16 distinct "episodes" and more than 8,000 lines of dialogue. While a fan of the TV show will get a lot more out of The Simpsons Game than someone who is not, it's evident a tremendous amount of effort and detail went into this ambitious game. The end result is an adventure that's more fun than making a crank call to Moe's Tavern.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, PSP, PlayStation 2
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Electronic Arts
Released on: November 1, 2007
Price: 29.99+
ESRB Rating: T for Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Animated Blood, Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor, Language, Suggestive Themes

This review was written by Marc Saltzman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

11
Based on 7 parent & educator reviews:
  • 43% say language is an issue
  • 29% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

ratoncomoteva
parent of 12 and 13 year old
 

actingtiger10
kid, 12 years old
 
Good for mature kids 10+
I really like this game. I have been a simpsons fan for a long time and this was really enjoyable. Though it does have some more inappropriate language towards the end, I think that simpsons fans will enjoy it.

froglegs
teen, 18 years old
 
the end is hard.

erraggarn98
kid, 13 years old
 
Fun game
Geeky, cheezy adventure game. The Simpsons fans will love it!

fishhooksfan
kid, 11 years old
 
its okay
if you watch the show there will be nothing wrong with it

ConPC
kid, 11 years old
 
This is very good. Violence: The Simpsons game includes a frequent amount of punching and kicking. Sex: Kodos says: "killing humans is like s-x" Language: there is one use of "son of a b--ch" and "b--ch" Consumerism: Bart buys a video game called: "Grand Theft Scratchy" Alcahol: Lots of drinking.

BlueCastle
kid, 10 years old
 
WORST GAME EFER
warning do not play the last level

Dohayecarumbadoh
kid, 13 years old
 
Off 9- Iffy 10-12 On 13+
Seems pretty cool, but probably not that appropriate 4 me.

Family ...
teen, 13 years old
 
A zany adventure for kids of 9 and up
This is a simple brawler clashed with an adventure game. It is really good as it easy to play. Although it does include lots of fighting (Nothing graphic) and when they die the spirit goes to heaven, Homer tries to get it on with Marge in one of the cutscenes, there is a lot of cursing including "b***h", you will notice a EA and Starbucks pop up, they portray god as a drinker and the Simpsons are very bad role models.

burpgoeztheweazel
kid, 12 years old
 
Just like the TV show
This is just as bad as the TV series. The language isn't too bad, but there are a few "bleeped" words, but you can't tell what they're saying. NOTE: This is not based off the movie, but the plot is hilarious. Not exactly easy to understand, but hilarious.

Ha10master331
kid, 10 years old
 
Seriously
My 7 year old sister has more common sense than common sense media.

Kold Duff
kid, 10 years old
 
Good For Tweens Older Kids Iffy No Little Kids
This has some things in this game that make it Iffy For Older Kids but if your at least 9 On 9+ Ages 6-8 Parental Guidance.

icematthew14
teen, 14 years old
 
Great game for mature kids
AAWESOME GAME. A little hard to play but it can easily be figured out. EA is placed everywhere where everyone can see them. A little salty language but any mature kid should be able to handle it. Lisa and marge are good role models, homer and bart not so much. Some levels have great messages. Lisa the tree hugger and Mob rules are two of them. And in the end good conquers over evil. Two thumbs up 6 out of 6 stars.

den5769
parent of 5 , 7 , 12 , and 17 year old
 
fine for older kids, but the language is iffy.
My 6 year old son really likes this game, but it wasn't until late into the game that the language got bad... where Bart says things like "Kick ass" and Homer makes references to being "too drunk". But there was one point late in the game that there is a parody of "Grand Theft Auto" where Marge says "Where's my Bitches!"... I get the joke, but my son doesn't need to hear that. If there was a way to turn off (or tone down) the language, it would be ok.

cpupro
kid, 13 years old
 

 
Best on DS
The Wii version suffers from clunky, unrefined controls which make the game a real burden to play; and had the game not have had the Simpsons brand backing it up, then I probably wouldn't have bothered persisting with this game which was obviously rushed out in order to meet its deadline. I've also played the PS3 version, and the controls are only slightly improved over that of the Wii, however the poor controls seem to be universal across all platforms. The DS version however, which was designed separately from its console brothers (even though the storyline and level locations are largely the same), is a side-scroller which plays a lot better than the meatier console versions. If you can, give the DS version a try as its technically, the most refined version of the lot. Content wise, there is frequent hand-on-hand and projectile combat in The Simpsons Game, however the violence is cartoonish and is unlikely to cause concern (although some may be concerned by violence directed at child characters, which can be perpetrated by adult characters). There is also some very mild language throughout the game which is unlikely to cause concern, and the game contains two uses of mild coarse language in the form of "b-tch", which is used in two cut-scenes in the console versions of the games, and just once in the DS version. One level, which parodies the Grand Theft Auto series of games, features cat and mouse pimps and prostitutes, however, sexual innuendo is fairly minimal and is likely to fly over the heads of younger gamers. The DS version is accessible for gamers of all ages, however, younger children may struggle with the flunky controls of the Wii/PS3/PS2/360/PSP versions. Worth a rental for casual Simpsons fans.

ambar8
teen, 14 years old
 
Perfect for older KIDS (10+)
Awesome, it is the best game the world has ever seen

dennan m
kid, 12 years old
 
completed it its vilont but funny

technologylover12
teen, 16 years old
 
not that great
An ok game!

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age