The Simpsons Road Rage

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The Simpsons Road Rage

Developer(s) Radical Entertainment (GC, PS2, Xbox)
Altron (GBA)
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts (GC, PS2, Xbox)
THQ (GBA)
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance
Release date PS2 version
Flag of the United States November 24, 2001
Flag of Europe November 30, 2001
Xbox version
Flag of the United States December 1, 2001
Flag of Europe March 22, 2002
GameCube version
Flag of the United States December 17, 2001
Flag of Europe May 17, 2002
GBA version
Flag of the United States June 30, 2003
Flag of Europe June 27, 2003
Genre(s) Racing game
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: T
ESRB: E (GBA)
PEGI: 3+
OFLC: G

The Simpsons Road Rage is a 2001 video game based on the animated television series The Simpsons, and it is part of a series of games based on the show. The Simpsons Road Rage stars Bart, Homer, Lisa, and Marge, as well as Mr. Burns and over 25 other characters from the show. The game has often been criticized for having too many similarities to Sega's Crazy Taxi and to London Taxi.

Contents

[edit] Story

Krusty the Clown in the Springfield Mountains
Krusty the Clown in the Springfield Mountains

Mr. Burns has bought all transport systems in the city and has begun to overcharge everyone for the transportation services. The citizens of the city (managed by the game player) must earn money by driving taxis around town in order to regain control of the transport systems. The game contains 17 different drivable/collectible vehicles, 6 levels (5 are unlockable), and 10 different missions. In order to collect the vehicles and unlock levels, players must earn one hundred thousand dollars for each car or level they want to get. In order to complete missions, players must do certain things within a time limit (such as knocking down 12 baseball team mascots in 45 seconds).

To earn money, players must drive around a taxi for a given amount of time, picking up passengers and taking them to their destinations. Any of the vehicles that the player has collected can be used as taxis. Players have to avoid certain hurdles, such as other vehicles that spin out of control, rocks, flying street objects, Mr. Burns's car, Burns transit buses, and houses on difficult curves.

[edit] Playable characters

Character Vehicle 1 Vehicle 2
Homer Family Sedan "The car built for Homer"
Bart Soap Box Racer Halloween Car
Marge Canyonero Thanksgiving Car
Lisa Elec-Taurus Malibu Stacy
Grampa Shriner's Cart
Krusty the Klown Klown Kar New Years Car
Apu Sports Car Christmas Car
Otto School Bus
Chief Wiggum Cop Car
Homer: Mr. Plow Mr. Plow
Snake Li'l Bandit
Professor Frink Flying Car
Groundskeeper Willie Tractor
Barney Plow King
Moe Sedan
Ned Flanders Station Wagon
Reverend Lovejoy Book Burning Mobile
Smithers* Mr. Burns' Limo

*Smithers can be only accessed with a cheat code

[edit] Sega of America, Inc. v. Fox Interactive, et al.

The game was so similar to Crazy Taxi that, in 2003, Sega filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Fox Interactive, Electronic Arts, and Radical Entertainment.[1] The case, Sega of America, Inc. v. Fox Interactive, et al., was settled in private for an unknown amount.[2]

[edit] Reception

The game received generally moderate reviews. IGN gave Road Rage a 5.1 saying it was "a very average videogame," but felt it was "unrewarding."[3]

Gamespot gives the GameCube version 6.2 citing "While it's better than the poor GameCube port of the original Crazy Taxi, ultimately, the only saving grace Road Rage has is that it's a Simpsons game."

[edit] References

  1. ^ Adams, David (2003-12-05). SEGA Sues Fox and EA. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
  2. ^ Profile of Robert J. Yorio. Carr & Ferrell LLC. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
  3. ^ IGN: The Simpsons Road Rage Review

[edit] External links

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