The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants

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The Simpsons: Bart v. the Space Mutants
Bart vs. the Space Mutants
Developer(s) Imagineering/Arc Developments
Publisher(s) Acclaim/Ocean Software
Designer(s) Garry Kitchen
Platform(s) NES, Atari ST, IBM PC, Commodore 64/128, Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Mega Drive/Genesis
Release date 1991-1992
Genre(s) Action/Adventure
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) n/a (released pre-ESRB)
Media Cartridge or floppy disk

The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants is the title of a video game based on the cartoon series The Simpsons.

Contents

[edit] Game platforms

Initially released for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga and Atari ST by Ocean Software and for the NES by Acclaim, the game was later released for the Sega Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis and handheld Game Gear console under Acclaim's "Flying Edge" label. There is also an LCD game of the same name.

Acclaim would produce two official sequels to the game: The Simpsons: Bart vs. The World and The Simpsons: Bartman Meets Radioactive Man for the NES. Many more video games would be released featuring The Simpsons characters - there are twenty two games in the series up to and including 2007's The Simpsons Game, although the license has been through the hands of several publishers so it is unclear whether all the games take place in the same continuity.

[edit] Plot and game objectives

In the single player game, Bart Simpson is the only one who knows of the aliens' secret plan and he has to stop them from collecting the items they need to build their weapons to take over the world. In each level, Bart must collect a certain number of a specific item, i.e. purple objects, hats, balloons, exit signs or nuclear rods, before he meets up with a boss at the end of the level.

The bosses, like the levels, are familiar to fans of the Simpsons animated series and some of the television humor does appear in the game: in the first level Bart can make a prank call to Moe in order for him to run outside so that the player can spray paint his purple shirt.

Bart is only able to withstand two direct hits, and after three lives it is Game Over (if there are no continues or passwords available). Collecting Krusty icons can provide an extra life, and there are a variety of juvenile weapons to collect and use (Spray paint in Level 1, Slingshot in Level 3, Dart Gun in Level 4). Bart can also collect coins to purchase weapons or to gain an extra life.

The major defensive weapons are x-ray glasses that reveal which of the Springfield citizens are human and which are aliens in disguise (similar to the film They Live). Jumping on the aliens will force them to flee the human body and leave behind an icon that begins to spell one of the Simpson's family names (i.e. Homer, Maggie, Marge or Lisa). If Bart manages to jump on enough aliens to spell out the family member's name, that family member will appear to assist him in defeating the boss. However, if Bart jumps on a human being, he will take damage.

Although Bart fights aliens in this game, he does not fight Kang and Kodos, the two aliens that appear regularly on the show in Treehouse of Horror and other episodes.

[edit] Levels

[edit] Springfield

Bart first must collect or destroy all purple things he finds: trash cans, flower pots, doors, hydrants, and signs. Special appearances are made here by Homer's dad, Moe, and Jimbo. The final boss of the level is Nelson, and Bart is aided by Maggie if he collects enough evidence. Bart also rides his skateboard halfway through this level.

[edit] Springfield Shopping Center

Inside the mall, Bart collects all kinds of hats, from tophats, to helmets, to magic hats. Unlike the previous level, there are three mini-bosses. Each one is an alien that attacks Bart in sync with the floor he is on (the first attacks him with candy, the second in a shoe, the last one with magic cards). Ms. Botts, a thief disguised as a babysitter, is the boss. Marge helps Bart in the mall.

[edit] Krustyland

Bart must collect balloons in the amusement park. Some are stationary, others are flying. Here Bart can play carnival games and make lots of extra lives. Lisa is Bart's helper in this level. The boss is Sideshow Bob, who Bart defeats by stomping on his feet.

[edit] Museum

The museum is comprised of museum displays-some of which hold useful items. Like the mall, the museum has three mini-bosses that correspond to a specific display. The first is a giant plant in the jungle area. In the Egypt display, there is a mummy, and a Tyrannosauruses is at the end of Prehistoric. Dr. Marvin Monroe is the boss, and Homer will help Bart defeat him with enough evidence.

[edit] Power Plant

Bart must collect a number of rods which he puts in the nuclear reactor. They are scattered all over the plant. In this level, all the Simpsons help Bart out in various ways: Lisa gives him door combinations, Marge carries rods to the basement for him, Homer stomps all enemies if fed donuts, and Maggie wins the game.

[edit] Criticism

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This game was not well received, but did meet with fair financial success. Its nonsensical plot and deviation from the Simpsons franchise did not help it garner fans in the long run, while others felt that the game was too hard, with its harsh deaths (sometimes jumping at an alien inhabited body from the wrong angle could kill you), the pixel-perfect jumping which it often demanded and the lack of continues. However in comparison to many licensed properties the game was not considered a complete disaster by reviewers, who were at least pleased that the game attempted to capture some of the show's unique humor. The Game Gear version has been a little more well received by fans because of slightly less difficult gameplay (it would be easier to hit birds and window shades with fire crackers and to jump on platforms) and that the graphics were much closer to the style of the animation of the show.

[edit] External links

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