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"Well kids. You tried your best, and you failed misserably. The lesson is: Never try!"

The Simpsons is a franchise that started as a time filler on a late night talk show. Now some 20 years later it is still a very popular tv show which has spawned more video games than one can count. While the series may be waning and the video games more of a source of merchandising than anything else, we will always have the games that were made back in the early 90's when most would say the series was at its apex.

Bart vs the Space Mutants is one of the widest available Simpson games, being that it was released on multiple systems, including the Game Gear. While each rendering is different in its own idiosyncratic way, the games are for the most part identical. The Game Gear version is different in the fact that it is limited by the hardware. The limitations on this game, however, do not hinder it from being a great game.

By playing this game today, gamers will be taken back to a time when two dimensional platformers ruled supreme. The game consists of five total levels in which Bart Simpson must collect a certain number of a specific item. Aliens have invaded earth and taken over Springfieldians and are attempting to use these items in a massive plot to take over the world. As Bart progresses through each level he will encounter aliens in their true form as well as aliens disguised as familiar characters from the series. Using special X-ray glasses Bart can tell the difference between these aliens and their true to live beings. While Bart has to collect hats, plutonium rods and hide all things purple, he can also get items that help him defeat the aliens such as ray guns and cheery bombs. The game really pulls together the “bad boy” persona that the elder Simpson child had from the early years of the series. While today Bart skate boards to Krusty Burger in the buff, in the early days he was all about vandalism and petty theft. The same holds true for the game, but instead he gets to put his criminal activities to use to save the world.

The levels are very diverse, with a different theme for each level. Bart starts out on the streets of Springfield and finishes up inside of the nuclear power plant after traveling through the mall, history museum and an amusement park. All along the way he can collect letters of a fellow Simpson family member to help him defeat the boss at the end of the stage. Hidden throughout the game are special items such as extra lives of invincibility concealed in the head of Jebadiah Springfield. There are a few mini-games hidden within the third level that not only help to break up the monotony of the game but also provide a nice method of gaining extra lives All Bart needs is a couple of coins to play, which he can collect throughout the game if he looks closely enough.

The simple act of jumping on an enemy's head is all but lost today but still holds true in Bart Vs. The Space Mutants. Due to the Game Gear's limited functionality and lack of action buttons, users must press a combination of buttons in order to perform certain tasks and actions. For instance, to super jump requires the pressing of both the one and two buttons together. Super jumps are needed in almost every part of the game. Super jumping can be difficult at times and if it isn't performed correctly, could spell death for poor Bart.

Other controlling aspects of the game can also be difficult, especially to those who do not posses the instruction manual. It takes time to learn that the down button switches between Bart's items and that you have to hold that button in conjunction with another in order to execute the use of said item. When a player first plays this game, it can be frustrating, mostly because of the control scheme. However, after an extended period of experimentation, the player will figure out the controls. Once the controls are mastered, there is little else stopping you from completing the game, other than the mild difficulty.

Graphically, the game is spot on. There is rarely a time where one questions what is shown on the screen. The characters are all drawn very well and have a limited amount of animation. While the total number of colors is limited due to the system, the yellow complexion of the characters makes them easy to see in any background. Sideshow Bob's wacky hair is about the only thing you will find that is mis-colored (although hard core fans will know it is his original hair color).

Each level looks vastly different from the one previous. All five levels looks as if they are actually an amusement park or the streets of Springfield. While precise detail may not be ascertainable, there is detail enough to never leave the player wondering where exactly he or she is. The biggest downfall of such graphics is that pits of wet cement or quicksand are indiscernible as a hazardous area and will indefinitely get even the most experienced player at least one time. Despite this one set back, gamers will not be disappointed by the graphical experience.

The one area in which the game is most lacking is in the sound department. Musically this game leaves something to be desired. The music certainly isn't terrible, it just doesn't impress. The same generic music can be found thought the game. There is no special tune for boss fights and nothing to warn you that one is imminent. The same jumping noise is heard over and over again and does prove annoying fast. While this isn't the type of music you should turn off, it certainly isn't the kind you want to listen to. In the end, the happy medium is quiet music coming out of the Game Gear's speaker. The poor quality is partly to blame on the system but also partly the fault of the programmers. Certainly not the worst, but far from the best.

While children of today may find this concept of side scrolling video game action to be outdated, a fan of the Simpsons from the early days will relish this game as a means to hold onto something from the past. Characters not seen since the fourth season are in this game to help provide a small trip of nostalgia for the Simpsons veteran. Even an individual who never jumped onto the Simpsons bandwagon can appreciate this game for its simplistic, yet difficult game play. This is a great game for either type of player and an awesome buy for both. The differences are great enough between this version and other incarnations to warrant a purchase for Game Gear owners.

If there is one thing that Simpsons fans have come to realize over the years, it is that the show will never be as great as it once was. However, rather than look at the series with distaste, one can go back and look and the video games the series has spawned. Bart Vs the Space Mutants is certainly a game that will allow you to relive the days of your youth (to an extent).

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/15/07