In the summer of 2007, one man made a webcam Let's Play of The Simpsons: Hit and Run. All the videos scored four-digit view counts, with the first scoring over 35,000. He became a video game star.
In the summer of 2009, he played it again, this time with a capture device. The first video - and the rest of the project - would out-perform the original, with the first video scoring 60,000 views in almost two months and over four million views in almost a decade.
In the summer of 2018, after a 24-hour anniversary stream from the previous year that involved a playthrough of the game - which did not go so well - he played it again due to popular demand, this time with a much better set-up than in 2009, and this time around, he cleared it 100%.
That man is SlimKirby. This is that 100% Let's Play. Let's watch it, shall we?
This Let's Play is played with the Nintendo GameCube version, but this game is also on PC, Microsoft XBox and Sony PlayStation 2.
The game begins with a flying camera of alien origin entering the Simpson residence through a open window in the living room. At the game's main menu, we find out that this is a wasp-shaped camera, and when a new game is started, Homer finds out that there are gold coins floating where the now-broken wasp camera is. As he looks at one, Krusty endorses a new cola: Buzz Cola, made from the finest sugars and waters and contains an ingredient "too hot for the FDA." Homer, obviously wanting Buzz Cola, leaves the house to get some Buzz Cola.
Level 1
When you begin the game, there is a tutorial, but you can skip it if you wish to. For those wondering: this game is basically Grand Theft Auto: Springfield. You can move around on foot, which allows you to jump around and attack. You can also interact with things in the game that have blue sparkles around them. Those are the level gags, and you actually get percentage points towards level progress as well as the game's completion if you find and activate them. The gags are references to things that happened in the TV show throughout the years, and fans will not only get a kick out of finding them, but also remember where in the heck they're from. Given that the game was released in 2003, that leaves the game's first thirteen seasons (give or take) to work with. Some of them are in the back yard of the Simpsons house as well as Ned Flander's house (the bomb shelter), so check those out.
The coins that you find throughout the game are the game's currency, and you can use them to buy unlockables such as vehicles and character outfits. You'll have to spend money on things throughout the game to complete some of the game's missions, and you'll definitely have to do it to fully complete the game.
There are seven collectible cards in every level. Most of these will have to be found on foot and usually involve some on-foot platforming, and all of them make reference to something in the show's history.
The Buzz Cola boxes can be kicked up to three times to get boxes, and after a third kick or attack, the box will break and will never re-spawn. If you kick them twice, collect all the coins, leave them alone, and then go to another level and come back, the boxes get their "hit points" restored and you can kick them twice again for more coins. This is why destroying boxes when you see them doesn't work; it makes it much harder to get coins for much-needed or much-wanted unlockables down the line.
If you see a wasp camera pop up, you can jump up and attack it to destroy it and get a bunch of coins. Wasp cameras are also a part of level progress as well as full game completion, so smash them to pieces when you see them!
At the start of the level (and the game), you'll have to talk to Marge outside of the Simpson house. She will tell you that everyone has eaten every dessert in the house and that Homer will have to go buy some of the ice cream with the miniature pies in it.
Tutorial Mission: The Cola Caper
Mission: Go to the Kwik-E-Mart and purchase some ice cream and cola.
Get in your vehicle, then head to the Kwik-E-Mart. As you drive around during missions as well as races, you will always have to deal with traffic, so do your best now to ram into things at high speed. The map on the lower-right will always guide you to where you need to go in the form of a light beacon and a blue dot, with the blue dot being your destination. You'll also see green arrows on the ground guiding you in the direction you need to drive. You want to be careful with missions, as some of them will have a time limit. Thankfully, this one doesn't. When you see a light blue circle on the ground, get there. That's your destination. When you reach the Kwik-E-Mart, go in.
The map on the lower-right corner serves two functions: the map of the immediate area as well as the Hit and Run Meter. As you hit people and objects with your car, the gauge fills up and turns yellow in a clockwise direction. It flashes red when you get close to filling it up, and when you do fill it up, you enter Hit and Run Mode. Here, you'll be chased by the police, and if you get caught by them, you'll have to fork over 50 coins in order and you'll be out of Hit and Run Mode. If you manage to get away from the police, it will eventually end. The gauge will slowly go back down as long as you don't commit any acts of vandalism.
The vending machines work just like the Buzz Cola boxes: kick them three times for coins and they'll be destroyed. Give them two kicks and leave them for later so you can get more coins.
When you enter the Kwik-E-Mart, talk to Apu. You'll be able to collect the ice cream and cola and complete the mission.
There are some level gags in the Kwik-E-Mart, including Frostillicus the viking, the slushie machine, the lottery machine, the silent alarm, the ATM machine and the Larry the Looter arcade machine.
There is a spot where you can buy unlockable outfits for Homer in the corner of the Kwik-E-Mart. Just like the level gags, wasp cameras and collectible cards, these count towards game completion.
There is a wasp camera on the roof of the Kwik-E-Mart, which also has grass, trees and a few plants. There is also one above the gas pumps at the nearby gas station.
The steam from air conditioning vents can be used to leap to areas that you could not normally access.
The wrench will fully repair your current vehicle when picked up.
When you have the ice cream and cola, go back to the Simpson residence and talk to Marge. She will tell you that Lisa left home without her science project, and that you will have to get it to her on the way to work.
Mission 1: S-M-R-T
Mission: Race Principal Skinner to the school and give Lisa her science project.
Collect the science project, then get in your car. You can either get into the car manually, or you can go to a pay phone booth, pick the car you want to drive, and it will be there when you get out of the car selection menu. You can also randomly take another vehicle out on the streets, but the person behind the wheel will be the one driving, not Homer.
From here, drive to the school. As you do, you'll eventually see a yellow car. That is Skinner, and you will have to make it to the school before he does. You can also see who's in front on the upper-left corner of the screen. Thankfully, there are some shortcuts that divert a bit from the main road on the radar that you can utilize, and some of them involve the glass Krusty Burger billboards.
When you make it to Springfield Elementary first, you'll be able to go in. From here, head to the right and talk to Lisa to end the mission. She will tell you that Marge called and that she needs to talk to you before you go to work...even though you're on the way to work. (D'oh!)
There are some level gags that you activate in the school, so don't forget those. Also, check the playground area and the school grounds for wasp cameras. There's even one on the roof.
If you see a pair of red dice over a guy in a three-piece suit, this is an underground street race where you can gamble coins for a bigger payout...assuming you win, of course. These races go across the world map and are longer than the usual street races.
The usual street races are signified by somebody with two crossed checkered flags above somebody's head. The three races are run by Ralph, Nelson and Milhouse, so if you see them, you've found the street races that count towards game completion. Unlike the underground one, you don't race for money, but you also complete a little bit of the level if you place first in the end.
From here, head back to the Simpson residence and talk to Marge. This time, you'll have to enter the house to talk to her. This time, she will ask you to talk to Ned Flanders.
There are also level gags in the house, too, so don't forget to trigger those.
Near the Simpson residence will be the Flanders residence, and Ned will be right outside. He will tell you that some of his things have gone missing and that he has called the police to get to the bottom of things. The thing is, Homer borrowed everything - including Ned's inhaler (why?) - and now he has to get it all back.
Mission 2: Petty Theft Homer
Mission: Collect all six of Ned's "lost" items before time runs out!
Not only does the game make a wink and a nod to the game it gets its inspiration but, but it also gives you the first timed mission!
Get in a vehicle. From here, you 'll be driving around town looking for Ned's "lost" items, and you'll only have so much time - indicated in the upper-left corner - to complete all the tasks. The items you need to collect will be flashing yellow. At one point, you'll have to talk to Barney to find one of these items, which happens to be Ned Flanders' cooler...which Barney is using as a toilet. (Why?) Also, another thing to pick up is the Flanders family portrait (why?), and Rod Flanders' inhaler will be above the Duff truck at the Kwik-E-Mart. (I have so many questions about this.)
If your current vehicle is smoking, that means it has taken some serious damage. When that happens, find a wrench. You'll repair that damage in no time. If a vehicle is 100% damaged, the vehicle explodes and Homer will be forced out of it.
When you collect all of Ned Flanders' things, get back to him quickly to end the mission.
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