Futurama: The Game Review - VGLN.com PS2 Reviews

Many of us grew up with the Simpsons. Sadly, most of us have had to watch failed attempt after failed attempt at a decent Simpsons’ video game. After many unsuccessful tries at creating a game that regular and hardcore Simpsons’ fans alike could embrace, Matt Groening has finally taken a shot for a hit with his other series, Futurama. Futurama takes place in the 31st century and stars a 20th century character named Fry who accidentally becomes frozen and then unthawed in the future. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled. However, this game acts like a lost episode in the series. Hardcore fans of the series finally have a game to call their own. But the question remains…is it worth bragging about?

The game is a 3rd person platform action game. Players get to take control of characters from the series, including Fry, Bender, Leela, and Dr. Zoidberg. The story is…well…like that of a Futurama episode. The evil business woman “Mom” has bought the Planet Express and now owns over half of the world. Having control interest of the planet, she turns Earth into a big spaceship and plans on taking over the entire universe and it’s up to the Planet Express team to stop her. Fry protects himself with a variety of guns in New New York, Bender uses a robot spin and dash to knock down aliens on an asteroid, Leela uses her kung-fu skills to suppress her undead enemies, and Dr. Zoidberg rides a “horse” (swamp rat) through an area that, oddly enough, reminds one of Dagobah. This game also includes unlockable content, including FMVs from the game, music heard while playing, and the commercial ads seen during the load times to be seen at one’s leisure. This content can be unlocked by collecting “Nibblers” hidden throughout the game. Each time all the “Nibblers” in a level are collected, the bonus material for that level is unlocked.

To start off, I have to compliment this game. I loved the fact that the original voice actors from the series came back to lend their voices for the characters in the game. This combined with beautiful and hilarious cinematics makes it as if one was actually watching an episode of the show.

Okay, time to begin. First off, the graphics, though nothing state of the art, are still good and the cel-shading gives the game a look similar to the cartoon series. The game runs at a disappointing 30 frames per second. This game has so much more potential in this area. Each character resembles their TV counter-part, with minor distinctions that, in my opinion, could have and should have been avoided. In short, this game did not use the full potential of the PS2, making graphics adequate, nothing more.

In the sound department, I compliment the developers for including the original actors in the creation of the game. Also, throughout the game, players can hear hints of the original theme in a brand new remix. However, I must say this is where the enjoyment in the audio stops. After so many hours of gameplay, the sayings and reactions of the characters become very annoying. I felt like I would rather listen to nails on a chalkboard than have to listen to Leela cry after dying.

The gameplay was horrible. Here, let me explain the gameplay and I ask all of you to try and imagine my pain. “Jump, jump, jump, grab, grab, jump, fall, die, begin at last checkpoint, repeat.” The developers put jumping in the game as if it was some kind of new innovation that they wanted to take full advantage of. Also, each character has his/her own valuables. Fry has money, Bender has booze, Leela has gold bars, and Dr. Zoidberg has fish bones. Ok, let me think. The game has main characters running and jumping around collecting valuables…hmmm…so, one can say its like Mario. No! Wait! It’s like Sonic! No! It’s like every old platformer from the past decade. The levels are very linear and the AI is simple. Needless to say, there is nothing special in the gameplay of this game.

In the presentation arena, the scores are just a little higher. Cinematics really save the day for this game. As stated many times pervious, its like watching an episode of the show. The cinematics can be very amusing and the characters (kind of) look like their TV counterparts.

Another aspect that kills this game is the lack of replay value. The game offers no sort of multi-player. Though it has some unlockables, they aren’t worth going back through the entire game again to collect, for you see them each time you play the game anyway. There is nothing new or unexpected. WARNING: Replaying this game can result in an urge of self-mutilation.

In conclusion, Futurama is bordering on the line of less than adequate. Graphics and sound are less than desirable and the gameplay is a good excuse to use the game as an expensive Frisbee rather than for its original intent. The game is easily beatable in less than six hours and a painful six hours at that. Cinematics try to save the day with the series’ well-known humor, but it isn’t enough. This game was obviously made for hardcore fans of the series and hardcore fans alone. Therefore, unless you are a hardcore fan, your money is better spent elsewhere.

--- Jeremy “Moleman” Gard

	Gameplay: [5.0] Painful to say the least. The VERY definition of a platformer. Very simple AI and linear gameplay make for a boring six hours. Cinematics are the only reason to keep playing.
	Graphics: [6.0] Adequate at best. The cel-shading resembles the original cartoon, but the full potential of PS2 isn’t reached.
	Sound: [7.0] Original voice actors are always a plus. However, the reactions and one-liners of the characters can get annoying after a while.
	Presentation: [8.0] Cinematics were funny and decent looking. The characters look similar to TV counterparts.
	Replay Value: [2.0] Practically non-existent. No multi-player and less than desirable unlockables. This added with an annoying game is enough to use the game as a Frisbee the next time you play with it.
	Global Score: [5.8] Definitely a game for hardcore Futurama fans only and maybe only a rental at that. Adequate graphics, annoying audio, and a lack of replay value prevail over funny cinematics and storyline to make this game hardly enjoyable.

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