So nice to finally beat this game from my childhood lol

This may partially be the nostalgia talking but The Simpsons: Hit and Run is still a surprisingly solid licensed game, especially considering The Simpsons' rather... mixed history with video games. The driving controls still feel pretty good for the most part, and it's very fun just to drive through the different hub worlds representing different areas of Springfield from the show - all complete with different setpieces from the show on top of little references and gags sprinkled around each world. This is really a game they could have easily phoned in as yet another mediocre Simpsons licensed title, but with how the game's world is set up really just feels like a complete tribute to the show up to that point, and as a big fan of the show itself, it's fun just seeing all the little gags and reference especially now that I'm older and have watched the first ten seasons multiple times at this point. Plus I also like how each chapter lets you play a different character from the Simpsons - which includes the titular family themselves but also Apu for one chapter, which was a little bit out of left field but kinda cool at the same time for giving a more 'supporting' character some time in the spotlight. Not to mention that, even outside of the main missions, there's a pretty damn good amount of replay value for those who just want to explore the different hub worlds through different cars you can collect, street races with various characters, different outfits for each character (which correspond to certain episodes of the TV show), and the Buzz Cola cards to collect. It all comes together to make the city of Springfield come to life so to speak in a GTA-styled video game with a lot for the player to interact with.

If there's anything that drags down the experience a bit for me though it's definitely just how annoying some of the later missions can be if I'm being honest. I really feel like a lot of it just comes to, more than anything else, the time limits given to do some tasks feel way too tight and essentially require you to go out of your way to traverse almost every shortcut possible to even have a chance at beating the mission. Plus, I said earlier that that driving feels good for the most part, and the reason why I say that is because some of the vehicles in this game just do not feel good to drive at all (either being way too being slippery or way too slow and stiff) - and unfortunately you're basically forced to use some of these for certain missions. The biggest example of this is Abe's WWII vehicle being forced on you for the last mission in the game and boy all I can say is that it's probably the worst car that they could've forced on you with how slippery it is while you're trying to be careful and not hit anything so the toxic waste container doesn't go flying.

But yeah, The Simpsons: Hit and Run probably won't blow anyone who didn't already grow up with it away, but all things considered, I still think it's a rather solid licensed title overall. Also the best GTA game I've played.

So nice to finally beat this game from my childhood lol

This may partially be the nostalgia talking but The Simpsons: Hit and Run is still a surprisingly solid licensed game, especially considering The Simpsons' rather... mixed history with video games. The driving controls still feel pretty good for the most part, and it's very fun just to drive through the different hub worlds representing different areas of Springfield from the show - all complete with different setpieces from the show on top of little references and gags sprinkled around each world. This is really a game they could have easily phoned in as yet another mediocre Simpsons licensed title, but with how the game's world is set up really just feels like a complete tribute to the show up to that point, and as a big fan of the show itself, it's fun just seeing all the little gags and reference especially now that I'm older and have watched the first ten seasons multiple times at this point. Plus I also like how each chapter lets you play a different character from the Simpsons - which includes the titular family themselves but also Apu for one chapter, which was a little bit out of left field but kinda cool at the same time for giving a more 'supporting' character some time in the spotlight. Not to mention that, even outside of the main missions, there's a pretty damn good amount of replay value for those who just want to explore the different hub worlds through different cars you can collect, street races with various characters, different outfits for each character (which correspond to certain episodes of the TV show), and the Buzz Cola cards to collect. It all comes together to make the city of Springfield come to life so to speak in a GTA-styled video game with a lot for the player to interact with.

If there's anything that drags down the experience a bit for me though it's definitely just how annoying some of the later missions can be if I'm being honest. I really feel like a lot of it just comes to, more than anything else, the time limits given to do some tasks feel way too tight and essentially require you to go out of your way to traverse almost every shortcut possible to even have a chance at beating the mission. Plus, I said earlier that that driving feels good for the most part, and the reason why I say that is because some of the vehicles in this game just do not feel good to drive at all (either being way too being slippery or way too slow and stiff) - and unfortunately you're basically forced to use some of these for certain missions. The biggest example of this is Abe's WWII vehicle being forced on you for the last mission in the game and boy all I can say is that it's probably the worst car that they could've forced on you with how slippery it is while you're trying to be careful and not hit anything so the toxic waste container doesn't go flying.

But yeah, The Simpsons: Hit and Run probably won't blow anyone who didn't already grow up with it away, but all things considered, I still think it's a rather solid licensed title overall. Also the best GTA game I've played.