Simpsons Hit and Run Took Inspiration from Unexpected Nintendo Game

While discussing what games influenced the design of cult classicThe Simpsons: Hit & Run, one of the game’s original developers mentioned a surprising Nintendo game. It’s now been around 20 years since the release ofThe Simpsons: Hit & Run, which delivered a casualGrand Theft Auto-type gameplay experience. Few likely expected to be surprised by anything regarding the game in 2023, barring a remake announcement, yet confirmation of Nintendo’s influence onThe Simpsons: Hit & Rundoes make a lot of sense.At its heart,The Simpsons: Hit & Runwas primarily influenced by a single game. It won’t come as any surprise that 2001’sGrand Theft Auto 3served as the key influencefor what would becomeThe Simpsons: Hit & Run. After all, they both deliver very similar gameplay ideas, mixing a significant amount of driving with non-vehicular platforming and adventure. ButGrand Theft Auto 3isn’tThe Simpsons: Hit & Run’s only major influence.RELATED:The Simpsons Hit and Run Developer Comments on Remake DemandSpeaking with GamesRadar,The Simpsons: Hit & Runlead game designer Joe McGinn explained that one of the game’s most surprising influences was none other thanSuper Mario 64.Super Mario 64was released in 1996, but was an incredibly influential 3D platforming project for the time. McGinn explains thatSuper Mario 64played a key role inThe Simpsons: Hit & Run’s development, as it took “the nasty” out ofGrand Theft Auto 3and replaced it platforming.

While McGinn is pointing generally toSuper Mario 64’s platforming gameplayand kid-friendly nature as influencingThe Simpsons: Hit & Run’s design, he has more specific examples, too. McGinn says thatThe Simpsons: Hit & Runlooked atSuper Mario 64’s camera placement and controls to optimize gameplay. Starting with whatSuper Mario 64is known to have done excellently and then changing what’s necessary seems like a smart approach to design.

McGinn also mentioned one other “big influence” that helped guide the design ofThe Simpsons: Hit & Run. That other game is thedriving action gameDriverreleased in 1999. According to McGinn,Driver’s “action-movie-style” physics helped the team figure out its own, as well as help with overall vehicle tuning.

Fans ofThe Simpsons: Hit & Runhave always looked at it as a great example of how to doGrand Theft Autowith a different style, and that it owed much to that franchise. It seems that fans should also give credit to the teams behindSuper Mario 64andDriver. More than anything, though,The Simpsons: Hit & Runfansprobably just hope a remake or sequel eventually gets made.

The Simpsons: Hit & Runis currently not available on modern platforms.

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