Play Simpsons Game, The (eu) Online

I picked up The Simpsons Game for the Nintendo DS back in 2007, a time when licensed titles were a common sight on the handheld. Electronic Arts published it, and it felt like a natural fit for the platform, joining a library full of other cartoon and movie adaptations. It was just another game on the shelf, but one that promised to let you step into Springfield.

You control different members of the Simpson family, switching between them to use their specific abilities. Homer can turn into a giant ball and roll into things, Bart becomes Bartman to glide across gaps, and so on. The main goal is to work through a series of levels, solving environmental puzzles and fighting enemies to progress. The game plays out screen by screen, with a lot of backtracking to use new powers on old obstacles. It's not a particularly difficult game, but the pacing can feel slow when you're hunting for the right item or character to trigger the next event. Ultimately, it feels like a straightforward, sometimes repetitive tour through a simplified version of the show's world.