The Simpsons: Tapped Out

Title: The Simpsons: Tapped Out

Developers: Electronic Arts

Category: Freemium, Games

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Rating: Rated 12+ for the following: Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes, Infrequent/Mild Simulated Gambling, Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence, Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor, Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References

For more information and to download the app go to its iTunes Preview Page.

STEPH SAID

Rating: 

Review:

This has become my favorite game app. If you like The Simpsons, you will this app too. The game starts with Homer playing with his MyPad at work. He was so focused on the game that he didn’t notice a red alert and, consequently, did nothing about it. There was a nuclear explosion and everything was wiped out Springfield: every house, every shop, every tree. Your task is to rebuild Springfield.

What is great about this game is that it looks like the series. Every house and store looks exactly as it does in the cartoon. Also, as you keep leveling up and adding houses and stores, more characters arrive at your Springfield. You can hear the characters talk and you can give them specific tasks that go in hand with their personalities and hobbies. For example, you can make Lisa study, babysit Flander’s kids or play the Sax; while Apu can either work endless shifts in the Kwik-E-Mart, feed the octuplets or pray to Ganesh.

Something that I love about the characters is their constant breaking of the fourth wall. They talk about the game they’re in and about the player. I find it hilarious.

Even though the app is free, you can pay real money to buy in-game currency: Donuts. The Donuts are used to buy special things or places or to speed up a process. They are useful but expensive. The good news is you don’t need Donuts to play the game. You will earn some donuts when you level up or when or complete certain tasks, but I don’t think there will be a lot of Donuts to earn.

The game gives you the option of signing into Origin. I strongly recommend this for many reasons. First, your progress will be saved online and can be accesses through any iOS device. If your iPod dies (like it happened to mine), you can rest assured that you game is safe and you’ll be able to play it again from where you left of. Also, when you sign up for Origin you receive two donuts, and you’ll receive five donuts when you first invite a friend. Which leads me to the third reason, you can add “friends” and visit their Springfields and earn money and experience while you’re at it. I wrote “friends” because sometimes you don’t even have to know the person. If you read the app’s reviews on iTunes you’ll see many players giving their username and asking to add them. And you can, and may, add them. That way you both will have another friend to visit. So, if you don’t know anyone that plays this game, or even if you do, you can these people.

You can also add me if you wish: smpm22.