Editor’s Note: AppleNApps and AppTudes are venturing into a new partnership, so both sites can bring you more of what you love. This review is written and reprinted with permission by Trevor Sheridan.
The Simspons: Tapped Out (universal) from EA sounds like a perfect idea: with the show dropping off in quality in recent years, new spin-offs keep the nostalgia and humor of the show fresh. With Tapped Out returning to the App Store this week after launching earlier this year with serious server issues, it’s finally time for players to rebuild Springfield with authentic structures from the show.
The game is a free-to-play town builder, with in-app purchases to buy donuts, providing the usual benefits of speeding things up a little. The game goes out of its way to make fun of the whole freemium idea multiple times, like mocking Smurf’s Village and pointing out how boring town-building games can become.
The most important question with any of these freeemium games is how much the in-app purchases are necessary. We’ve seen vastly different types, ranging from completely optional in Tiny Tower to frustrating and mandatory like Dream Heights. Thankfully, The Simpsons: Tapped Out does have IAP that feels optional, and there’s a whole lot to do without feeling you have to pay to advance.
The game is filled with tasks, so there are always new missions to help build up Springfield with iconic buildings like Simpson’s house, Kwik-E-Mart, Krusty Burger, Flanders’ house, Cletus’ farm, and many more. Along the way, new characters are introduced who introduce new tasks and give players even more to do.
All of The Simpsons personality is there from the few official sayings to each cue card that appears. There is definitely great gameplay at work, and there’s such an authentic design too. The best part of the new update – besides making the game actually work – are the new Retina graphics on the iPad, which look fantastic
The Simpsons: Tapped Out does a great job of bringing the essence of The Simpsons to a city building game. It also provides optional in-app purchases, plenty to do, and authenticity to make an engaging and enjoyable overall game.
