Frame-rate is locked at 30fps throughout, adding to the game's solid feel. Both versions run at sub-HD resolutions - 1024x576 upscaled to 'normal' 720p, but the visuals are heavily post-processed, combining to create its unique cartoon CG look. The good news is that the very solid game engine that powers the game is essentially identical on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Arnie likeness aside (there isn't one) the only thing likely to be missed is a rousing 'to hell with you!' rant at the almighty Crom himself before battle commences. Conan enthusiasts are obviously well catered for too. It's excessively blatant, completely over the top, painfully transparent, but still highly amusing. Damsels in distress are invariably topless and bend over enticingly once rescued, savage limb amputations are plentiful, and gratuitous decapitations are all-but mandatory. It's also completely shameless in its eye-winkingly ironic appeal to the baser male instincts. Both work for me, but I can't help but think that with just a little more variety in its ideas and a touch less of the basic hack 'n' slash gameplay, Conan could've been elevated from a bargain bin impulse purchase to a serious contender.Ĭertainly, it's a game that carves out a strong identity for itself with a unique graphical style: one part cartoon, one part CG render. There are two ways you can view Conan - either as a lacklustre knock-off of God of War, or else an accomplished, slick update to Golden Axe. They look the same, they play identically to all intents and purposes there's nothing to tell them apart. In short then, The Simpsons Game is perfect rental fodder but not really worth considering otherwise even at a budget price tag.Īs you might expect, with a game as technically simple as this one, both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are basically like-for-like. Play it through once to enjoy the gags, but don't expect to come back to it again unless you can find a second player to take on the co-op element of the game. The only real problem with EA's impressive effort is that while the humour itself is exceptionally well-judged, the fundamental game itself is basically a very mediocre platformer: somewhat ironic considering the targets of many of the jokes. It feels like a natural off-shoot of the original show, and from when it was actually funny to boot. Secondly, the use of the Simpsons characters and the choice of episode elements taken from the TV show are spot-on. Firstly, the choice of targets is impeccable, the gags funny even if you're not a hardcore gamer. What could have been one colossal games industry in-joke is elevated to something a lot more special, and that's down to two factors. Classic Simpsons humour is used to shamelessly send-up the absurdities of video gaming, mercilessly poking fun at classic clichés while gently mocking some of industry's most popular franchises. Despite the relatively meagre amount of actual gameplay on offer, this release is well worth checking out if only the fact that it's the funniest episode of The Simpsons we've had for the best part of ten years.
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