Xbox360 version

Finally got to play the flagship version of this game. I always hear people say that the past-gen version is almost the same, probably because compared to other pastgen ports, it really does replicate a lot of the content of the flagship version. But having played it myself now (thanks to the recompilation efforts of YesterMester), I have to say the differences are quite noticeable. For one, the combat is much more fluid and thought out. The regular attacks and the super attacks can be performed on the move, and the power-ups are much more generous, not to mention there are some power-ups that straight up don't exist in the past-gen version. There are also more collectibles, such as new costumes, movie posters that actually fill up Bart's room, etc. When playing as Marge, you can recruit huge crowds of people, tens of them, compared to only a few in the past-gen version. The list goes on really. Most of these changes are not big on their own, but they accumulate into a much more polished and more fun product.

And then there's the open-world Springfield. I've heard people mostly say that it feels lifeless and pales in comparison to the Springfield in Hit & Run. I completely disagree. It's filled with actual characters from the show (not generic NPCs like in H&R), and they all speak in quotes from the show and some original lines. The town's layout also is much better developed and more fun to traverse. But the biggest improvement is that there are collectibles in the town itself, often located in places that require platforming or puzzle-solving, thus giving you more of a purpose to just roam around and explore. I actually think this is the best depiction of Springfield we've seen.

I'm not saying this version is flawless. It still has a lot of the same issues that the past-gen version has, but if I rated that version an 8/10, surely this one deserves a 10. I think it truly justifies its title because it really is the ultimate Simpsons game. There hasn't been one that's better or more representative of the show's identity than this one.