The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants

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

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 licence has been through the hands of several publishers so it is unclear whether all the games take place in the same continuity.

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 spraypaint 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 (Spraypaint 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.

Criticism

This game was not well received but (presumably due to the use of the licence) 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 licenced 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 humour.

Notes

• This game was reviewed by the Angry Video Game Nerd.