Electronic Arts released The Simpsons:
Tapped Out earlier this year, and players summed up the experience
with a collective, "doh!" Although its developers had their hearts in
the right place, with exclusive Simpsons cut scenes, multiple characters
spouting humorous one-liners and a user-friendly interface, multiple bugs
forced the publisher's hand, with the game on the receiving end of a Hulk
Hogan-sized leg drop. Tapped Out was just that, as the free-to-play title was
promptly removed from the App Store in what amounted to a Homer-sized
catastrophe.
Of course, longtime Simpsons fans know that when it comes to
the show, everything works out in the end, and with that being said, The
Simpsons: Tapped Out made a surprising return to iPhone and iPad last week,
instantly joining the best freemium offerings on iOS. With this in mind,
there's a great chance you've played this type of game before, as it does
nothing to separate itself from the competition play wise. If anything, the
presentation is what makes it a pleasant distraction from the stresses of ordinary
life.
Similar to the original version, Tapped Out tasks you with
rebuilding the iconic Springfield following a nuclear meltdown at the Power
Plant, kicked off by (of course) one Homer Simpson. From there, EA provides you
with a relatively small plot of land, and it's up to you to erect buildings,
decorate as you see fit and send a plethora of famous characters on a variety
of missions, with the rewards being virtual money and experience points (XP).
To that end, EA didn't reinvent the freemium concept with
this reboot. Both construction and missions take different amounts of time to
complete, with the option of speeding the process along with donuts. When those
useful and tasty-looking treats run out, you always have a choice of buying
more via in-app purchase. You can even exchange donuts for money, which comes
in handy for buying more land and other useful items. To that end, it doesn't take
long for things to become super expensive, leading you to go the IAP route, or
simply put the game down for a few hours and come back to it later.
By now, everything about The Simpsons: Tapped Out should
seem familiar, as EA reused the same formula that creeps into these types of
games on a weekly basis. The developers also let players invite and then visit
friends' towns to collect rewards and vandalize property, but again, nothing
new to see here; you'll need an Origin account to do this.
Considering the facts, it's obvious that what makes Tapped
Out so appealing is the license. There's a scavenger hunt of sorts, where
players track down characters, and the list runs the proverbial gamut, with the
entire Simpsons clan on hand, along with Apu, Ned Flanders, Krusty the Clown
and Hans Moleman, along with famous landmarks, like the Simpsons' home,
Springfield Elementary and Willie's shack. Throw in animated scenes and, as we
said, authentic voices, and there's plenty to love. We also like how, when a
character gets assigned a job or mission, he or she changes outfits and/or
animations that users can see on-screen. It helps add personality to the
experience.
What did EA fix? Much of it was behind-the-scenes, stability
tweaks that prevent purchased goods from disappearing, along with better
multitasking. The most obvious, perhaps, is Retina display support for the new
iPad.
On that note, The Simpsons: Tapped Out does nothing new when
it comes to freemium gaming, but the opportunity to create one's personal
Springfield, along with trademark Simpsons humor, makes it hard to resist. It's
less "doh", and more "woo hoo."
