Hey folks, it’s time again to get impossibly nerdy and talk wrestling and video games all at once. As I mentioned in previous Game vs. Reality articles, wrestling games were once locked into covering a specific, narrow chunks of whatever promotion they had managed to license — a game that came out around Christmas might, if you were lucky, be based on the characters and storylines from the first three-to-six months of that year.
- Simpsons Wrestling Youtube Channel
- Simpson University Wrestling
- Simpson College Wrestling
- Youtube Videos Wrestling
So, rather than simply reviewing old wrestling titles, I’m going back, comparing the wrestling game to the specific time period it was covering, and declaring an ultimate and definitive winner. The soul-wrenching decisions continue…
Mar 26, 2017 The Simpsons decide to wrestle and Caddy decides to cry. How will he handle one of the apparent 'worst games of all time'? Los simpsons wrestling. Please don't forget to check out the new iOS Orphan Black game here. Simpsons wrestling memes. February 25 at 2:17 PM Sound on. Credit Aeonlinear from YouTube for this absolute mind blowing mash up, go check out his chanel. Mar 09, 2018 This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. This channel holds clips from episodes of the longest running animated TV show, 'The Simpsons'. I try to post authentic clips that everybody will enjoy! Nov 07, 2014 Don't have a cow, man, but this is truly one of the worst wrestling games of all-time! Brian Zane and R Felix Finch play the PS1 dumpster fire known as Simpsons Wrestling! Get your WWW t-shirts.
Before we begin, make sure to hit those share buttons. Old wrestlers! Video games! And this week, The Simpsons! You know you like all this stuff, so do it up!
I thought I’d mix it up a bit this week and look at a wrestling game that doesn’t feature any actual wrestlers. Of course there’s been countless unlicensed wrestling games made over the years, but it’s hard/impossible to do the game vs. reality comparison thing when a game’s based on nothing. In the case of The Simpsons Wrestling we at least have an established license to compare to, so to hell with it, let’s haul ass to Lollapalooza!
There have been a boggling array of video games based on The Simpsons extruded over the years, and with one exception (the original Simpsons arcade game) they’ve pretty much all been lousy. Even when The Simpsons was great the games were awful. No, trust me, go back and play that game you’re thinking of bringing up in the comments — without those rose-colored ’90s glasses you’ll realize I’m right. The Simpsons Wrestling was no exception to this rule. Boy howdy, was it no exception to the rule.
Yes, these are the game’s actual graphics.
Now, I’m not quite sure why they decided to make a Simpsons wrestling game. I suppose it was 2001, pro-graps was still popular, but some of that Attitude Era stink had wafted away, so it was okay for a respectable media franchise like The Simpsons to associate with wrestling. Also, making a skateboarding game probably would have been too hard.
The game had a passable roster of 16-characters featuring the expected faces and some quirky choices like Bumblebee Man and Professor Frink. Sadly George H. W. Bush isn’t in the game so you can’t recreate the best fight scene in Simpsons history. Also, I don’t think you can make this happen…
Simpsons Wrestling Youtube Channel
Even more painful than it looks.
…so we’re off to a bad start.
The game’s graphics are astonishingly bad. They characters look like they’ve been rendered by a five-year-old who may have never watched The Simpsons. Take a second to rubberneck at this roadkill…
To put that eyesore in context The Simpsons Wrestling came out in 2001. Halo came out in 2001. Soul Calibur came out in 1999.
The game’s controls are the opposite of most bad wrestling games, which tend toward the clunky and unresponsive. No, The Simpsons Wrestling is far too responsive, with a light brush of the d-pad sending you hurtling legs and arms akimbo across the ring. You basically have three levels of striking attacks, which you’re allowed to spam ad nauseam. I believe you can do a small handful of grapple moves, but good luck pulling them off, since they’re incredibly slow and can be interrupted by a simple punch. Ultimately though, the best move is the jump, which immediately fires your character 10-feet straight up in the air, where you’re free to treat your opponent like a big, jaundiced Koopa Troopa by bouncing on their head indefinitely. So yeah, not great, but between the uncontrolled barrelling around the ring and constant erratic jumping, it’s a pretty decent Kofi Kingston simulator.
Sorry Kofi, but I had to make at least a glancing attempt to tie this back to real wrestling.
The game does feature the real Simpsons voice actors, but they neglected to also pay any of the writers, so their lines are as generic as possible. They even got the legendarily cranky Harry Shearer, and a desultory “excellent” is all we get from Mr. Burns. What a waste.
Modes? Haha, come on now. There’s only two — a basic single-player tournament and two-player exhibition matches. It’s a near 100% sure bet you’ll run out of patience before you see everything The Simpsons Wrestling has to offer, but still, the lack of content is pretty galling.
So yeah, this game was a particularly dark mark on The Simpsons’ already badly smudged video game legacy. This game is what people who don’t play games, but hate them anyway, think video games are. This is a game so bad not even prime-era Simpsons could properly make fun of it.
Also, why didn’t they just make a Bonestorm game? Why did they never make a Bonestorm game?
The Simpsons Wrestling came out April of 2001, which means its release coincided with season 12 of the TV show. Of course it takes around a year to make a video game, so it’s doubtful the developers were inspired by anything past the 11th season.
Not to get too dramatic or anything, but, ahem, the 11th season of The Simpsons is, without a doubt, the worst…season…ever. Okay okay, there’s probably been some completely unremarkable season in the 14-years since season 11 that was ever worse, but I’ll never hate a season quite as much as season 11.
I actually physically morph into Comic Book Guy when thinking about season 11. It’s not pretty.
This was the season where you can palpably feel the writers are not only burnt out, but have really come to resent the world they’ve created. During seasons 10 through around 12 all the major Simpsons characters transmogrified into twisted fun-house versions of themselves and they haven’t turned back since. Homer went from a simple-minded everyman, to a superpowered, job-swapping, violent asshole. Lisa went from sweet, smart, misunderstood little girl, to a shrill 50-year-old liberal scold in an 8-year-old’s body. Bart went from a clever, fast-talking underachiever to a childish booger-lovin’ brat. I could continue, but suffice to say, every major character changed so radically that most ended up literally the exact opposite of who they were during the show’s glory years.
Of course we were still only two or three years removed from said glory years back during season 11, so the writers could still pick their asses up off the ground and do a good episode if they wanted to — Take My Wife, Sleaze (the biker episode with John Goodman) and Behind the Laughter are classics. Unfortunately for every good episode there were two or three all-time sh*t bombs. Like, what about that episode where they get a horse (for the second time)? Or the one where they kill Maude Flanders for no good reason? Or that awful episode where Lisa’s the president that’s so bad it makes all the past “speculating about the future” episodes look worse by association? Or that spring break episode? Ugh. Uuuuuugggghgghh.
![Wrestling Wrestling](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125616411/389366980.png)
Season 11 of The Simpsons?
Tough call, but ultimately I have to go with the one that makes me less sad. The Simpsons Wrestling was tripe, but I’d been swallowing Simpsons video game tripe for a while. Season 11 of The Simpsons was the death knell of a show I worshipped. A show that shaped my sense of humor and is largely responsible for this whole writing snarky things gig I’m doing today. The Simpsons Wrestling was a travesty, but Season 11 of The Simpsons was a tragedy. Another verdict well-rendered…
The Undisputed Unified Champion (This Week):The Simpsons Wrestling
Anybody else subject themselves to The Simpsons Wrestling or want to reminisce about lousy Simpsons games in general? Just want to fill the comments section up with out-of-context Simpsons quotes? Have at it!
(Redirected from Simpsons Wrestling)
The Simpsons Wrestling | |
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Developer(s) | Big Ape Productions |
Publisher(s) |
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Director(s) | Dean Sharpe |
Producer(s) | Dave Wisehart |
Programmer(s) | Robert Leyland Tom Schenck |
Writer(s) | Jamie Angell |
Composer(s) | Christopher Tyng |
Series | The Simpsons |
Platform(s) | PlayStation |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Sports Fighting |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
The Simpsons Wrestling is a fighting video game based on the animated television seriesThe Simpsons. Developed by Big Ape Productions and published by Activision (Electronic Arts in Europe) for the PlayStation, it was first released in Europe in March 2001, followed by North America a month later. It is also the only Simpsons video game released for the PlayStation
There are 20 characters in the game, all of whom are voiced by the same actors that provide their voices in the show, and each character executes his or her own exclusive moves and gestures and power moves in the wrestling ring. The matches take place in detailed 3D locations from Springfield. A round in the game ends when one wrestler pins his opponent for a three count. Two victorious rounds wins a match. Unlike in traditional wrestling rules, the opponent may be pinned belly-down.
The game was widely panned by critics, and is considered to be one of the worst video games of all time.
Gameplay[edit]
The game is loosely based on professional wrestling games, but more closely resembles a beat-'em up. The game can be played in two modes: a tournament style single-player game or a grudge match where two players can interact. The matches take place in ten different detailed 3D locations from Springfield, such as the Simpsons' house, the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, the Kwik-E-Mart, and Moe's Tavern.[1] Letters float around in the wrestling ring, and if a wrestler collects enough of them, they can taunt and temporarily become invincible.[2] A round ends when one wrestler pins their opponent for a three count. Two rounds are needed to win a match.[3]
Each time a successful attack is performed on a player, their health meter depletes. Players with low health stay stunned for longer when knocked down. A player can increase their health by picking up food items that randomly appear in the ring. Running and attacks drain stamina. If a player does not have enough stamina to perform a certain move, it becomes unavailable until they recover. Stamina is regained through not pressing the actions buttons or picking up certain items. Attacks which require more stamina are generally more effective. The stun meter only appears when the opponent is knocked down. It depletes gradually, but the stunned player cannot move until the Stun meter is completely drained. A player can reduce the stun meter faster by pressing the action buttons, or by receiving certain attacks. If a player is low on health, the stun meter will normally be higher, making pin attempts harder to resist. Once a player's health is completely depleted, it will only take one hit to stun them. Certain attacks to a stunned opponent will actually reset the stun meter.
Homer and Bart fight in the wrestling ring. Homer is only three letters away from being able to taunt his opponent.
During matches, wrestlers have a health meter that drains as they perform special moves, and gradually refills when they are not attacking. Different moves use up different amounts of energy, and certain characters can win any match by repeatedly using a particularly damaging move that does not require much energy.[2] Several different power-ups are also available in the game, including a donut that increases speed, bowling pins that can be used as clubs, and bubble gum that slows players down.[4]
In addition to health items, the letters A, N, U and T appear randomly in the ring. If either player collects enough to spell the word 'TAUNT', they can then perform a taunt. The taunt will completely drain the opponent's stamina, making them unable to attack for a limited time.
Characters[edit]
The game features 20 characters from the show, all of whom are voiced by the same actors that provide their voices in The Simpsons. The player begins with only 8 of the 12 main characters to begin with. Others can be made playable by unlocking them, or unlocking a certain game mode.
- Homer - Homer is the most balanced character in the game, but relies particularly on brawling.
- Bart - Bart is a faster character who uses toys (skateboard, catapult) to make up for his lack of strength.
- Lisa - Lisa is another smaller character who uses her speed to make quick strikes on opponents. Her saxophone attack can hit an opponent anywhere within the ring.
- Marge - Marge has good reach but lacks strength. She uses household items as weapons. She can even use Maggie to limit an opponent's movement.
- Barney - Barney is one of the stronger characters, but lacks speed and stamina. His attacks are based on beer (including throwing beer glasses).
- Krusty - Krusty is a balanced character who uses a combination of brawling and typical clown paraphernalia.
- Apu - Apu is a brawler with moderate strength, but has good speed and stamina.
- Groundskeeper Willie - Willie uses gardening equipment to either keep opponents at a distance or to limit their movement.
- Bumblebee Man - (Unlockable) Bumblebee Man is a balanced brawler.
- Moe - (Unlockable) Moe is one of the faster characters who relies on fighting dirty. To that end, he carries a lot of makeshift weapons.
- Ned Flanders - (Unlockable) Ned Flanders is a weak character with very strong special attacks. His prayer attack is the most damaging in the game as it causes high damage, stuns instantly and hits repeatedly anywhere in the ring. He also fully recovers when pinned, so opponents must beat him twice just to win one singular round.
- Professor Frink - (Unlockable) Frink is a hard to control character who relies on gadgets to wear down opponents.
- Mr. Burns - (Boss Character) Waylon Smithers fights on Mr. Burn's behalf while Burns stands outside of the ring. Their strongest attack involves Mr. Burns throwing explosives into the ring that do not affect Smithers. They are only playable in the Mr. Burn's Office level.
- Kang and Kodos - (Boss Character) Kang battles on behalf of this team while Kodos supports by throwing random items into the ring. They are only available in the Spaceship level.
- Itchy - Itchy is a cartoon mouse with a lot of dangerous booby traps and weapons. He is only available in his own stage and can only battle Scratchy.
- Scratchy - Scratchy is the long-suffering victim of Itchy. However, his moves and attributes are comparable to Itchy's. He is only available in his own stage, meaning that he can only battle Itchy.
The voice of Kent Brockman can be heard occasionally during matches as a commentator. Various characters make cameos as background images. Each character executes their own exclusive moves and gestures.[1]
Development[edit]
Big Ape Productions developed The Simpsons Wrestling.[4] At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2000, Fox Interactive announced its plans to produce and publish the game for the PlayStation console. Karly Young, director of Fox Interactive, said that the company had received an 'overwhelming' response to their previous Simpsons games, so they wanted to give the fans 'another dose of Bart and Homer—this time for PlayStation gamers'.[5]
![Simpsons Wrestling Youtube Simpsons Wrestling Youtube](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125616411/856898389.jpg)
The following months, Fox Interactive looked to partner with somebody who could help publish the game. Activision, who knew the possible casual gamer interest in The Simpsons, announced on March 12, 2001 that it had signed a deal with Fox Interactive that would allow it to publish The Simpsons Wrestling in North America.[6] Kathy Vrabeck, executive vice president of Activision, commented that 'The Simpsons is a property that enjoys phenomenal success across several entertainment mediums, including interactive entertainment. The acquisition of this game reinforces our strategy of delivering products based on powerful, recognizable brands.'[7]
Reception[edit]
Reception | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The Simpsons Wrestling received negative reviews from critics. It received an aggregated score of 41.21% on GameRankings[8] and 32/100 on Metacritic.[9] They criticized the game for having simplistic, unbalanced gameplay and bad graphics, but praised the game's audio track.
Doug Perry of IGN described The Simpsons Wrestling as one of the 'ugliest' games he had ever seen. He thought the graphics were 'choppy' looking, and the character outlines looked 'broken up'.[11]Game Informer's Andrew Reiner criticized the game's design by saying that he did not think it held any wrestling qualities at all, and that the characters looked 'awful'. He said that instead of 'grappling' or performing 'devastating slams', you have to 'slap your opponent silly' by mashing the buttons redundantly.[3] GameZone, however, called the graphics 'quite good, though a little clipped at times by the pace of the combat'.[10] Perry also thought there was little wrestling in the game, instead it is 'all about smashing buttons and not having any skill whatsoever'.[11] Reiner said that the game was a major disappointment and is 'one of the worst PS games to date'.[3]
In contrast to the game's negative response, GameZone said that even though the game does not feature continuous play, 'the action flows well once into an event'. GameZone's review praised the game's audio track, and thought it was 'fun' because the comedy is straight from the television show, and the characters will 'bring a smile to your face'.[10] Reiner also commented positively on the soundtrack[3] and that the game may not be the best wrestling game available, 'but it delivers what the cover advertises'.[10]GameSpot's Frank Provo said that 'wit' and 'charm' are the two most redeeming features of The Simpsons Wrestling, and in spite of the game's weak gameplay, it has 'plenty of laughs in store' that devoted fans of The Simpsons will enjoy.[2] The BBC's David Gibbon wrote that the end result of the track is one that will not 'fail to impress fans'.[1]
The Simpsons Wrestling received a 'Gold' sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[12] indicating sales of at least 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[13] In 2018, Watchmojo.com ranked the game #1 'Worst' on their 'Top 10 Best and Worst Simpsons Video Games' List.[14]
Simpson University Wrestling
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abcGibbon, David (March 23, 2001). 'The Simpsons go Wrestling'. BBC. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ abcdProvo, Frank (March 12, 2001). 'The Simpsons Wrestling for PlayStation Review'. GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ abcdeReiner, Andrew. 'Simpsons Wrestling'. Game Informer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ ab'Activision ships The Simpsons Wrestling'. GameSpot. April 13, 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^''Let's Get Ready to … D'Oh!'. Business Wire. May 11, 2000. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^Mar, Posted (March 12, 2001). 'Activision to publish The Simpsons Wrestling'. GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^'Activision Scoops up The Simpsons'. IGN. March 12, 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ ab'The Simpsons Wrestling for PlayStation'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ ab'The Simpsons Wrestling for PlayStation Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ abcd'The Simpsons Wrestling Review - PlayStation'. GameZone. April 4, 2001. Archived from the original on March 10, 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ abcPerry, Doug (April 6, 2001). 'The Simpsons Wrestling Review'. IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^'ELSPA Sales Awards: Gold'. Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009.
- ^Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). 'ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK'. Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017.
- ^'Top 10 Best and Worst Simpsons Video Games'. WatchMojo. May 28, 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
External links[edit]
Simpson College Wrestling
- The Simpsons Wrestling at IGN
- The Simpsons Wrestling at MobyGames
- The Simpsons Wrestling on IMDb
Youtube Videos Wrestling
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Simpsons_Wrestling&oldid=924190446'