1up has posted their review of The Simpsons and while they give the game credit for the way it presents itself as a Simpsons game with the actual voice actors, it actually looking like a Simpsons cartoon and such, they just didn’t find the gameplay itself too compelling. In the end they give the title a 7.0 which is slightly lower than I had hoped the game would score as it looks like so much fun.

Here’s a quote going over some of the good:

he town feels like Springfield, which is one of the most impressive things about this game. This is due in part to the crisp, cartoony graphics, but all of the recognizable locations and characters strewn throughout help as well. You’ll pass by Planet Hype, the Aztec movie theater (showing Julia Roberts in Love is Nice), and the First Church of Springfield and its “Quit st3aling our l3tt3rs” sign, all while bumping into such big- and small-time characters as that kidder Gil, who quips, “Please don’t sue me,” or Bumblebee Guy, who lets it be known that “El yo-yo es grande.” The town mostly serves as a hub for the levels proper, but it also has its share of secrets, including character-specific pick-ups to keep completists scouring. It’s just a shame that the characters’ movement speed isn’t very fast, and oddly, they can’t use vehicles, meaning you either gotta hoof it across town or use the handy bus-stop warp points (though you skip the charm that way).

And now for the bad:

With all this going for it (and that’s not to mention the beautiful and hilarious cut-scenes), the gameplay itself feels bland in comparison. Comprised mostly of pedestrian beat-em-up and platforming elements, the game’s not helped by the sometimes-frustrating camera. That leaves the brunt of the work on the level design, and the game fares a little better there.

…

Another problem with the design is the co-op play. Like most games, The Simpsons Game is a lot more fun when playing with a friend. The trouble arises when you go solo. Since a fair amount of progression is based on the paired characters working in tandem, it can degenerate into a pain in the ass when you want your A.I.-controlled companion to do a simple task so you can complete an objective. It’s mildly frustrating at times, and coupled with the merely adequate gameplay, it hurts.

Well, it will be worth a rental at least in my book. I enjoyed what I played from the demo on the PS3 and am sure it’s just as zany on the Wii.