Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror delivers a classic side-scrolling platformer experience reminiscent of early 2000s console titles. Players assume the roles of Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Marge, and Homer, each with distinct abilities that reflect their personalities and the absurdity of the Treehouse of Horror universe. Bart wields a slingshot and skateboard, Lisa uses her intellect to solve simple puzzles, Maggie flies and navigates tiny corridors, Marge battles undead hordes with a vacuum cleaner, and Homer morphs through vampire-slaying, robotic rampaging, and a King Kong parody. This variety keeps the core mechanics feeling fresh across the dozen or so levels.

Level design is straightforward but inventive: you’ll hop across broken tree branches, dodge falling eyeballs in a haunted school, and traverse murky sewers while evading giant zombie hands. Collectibles such as donuts, power-ups, and hidden Bart paintings encourage exploration, though the search can sometimes feel like busywork when secret areas blend into the background. Enemy patterns are predictable, which lowers the difficulty curve but detracts from the challenge as you progress.

Controls are generally responsive, though the collision detection can be finicky—especially when hopping between narrow platforms or grabbing tiny ledges as Maggie. Checkpoints are fairly generous, but backtracking through earlier sections after a misstep can feel tedious. Overall, the gameplay loop is satisfying for casual platformer fans and Simpsons aficionados, even if it lacks the polish of higher-budget contemporaries.

Graphics

Visually, Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror captures the essence of The Simpsons’ signature cartoon style using colorful pixel art and bold outlines. Character sprites are instantly recognizable, from Homer’s oversized vampire cape to Lisa’s bright saxophone-shaped power-up. Backgrounds are richly detailed, showcasing gnarled trees, flickering jack-o’-lanterns, and skeletal classroom desks that evoke a spooky Halloween atmosphere without straying into truly frightening territory.

Animation quality is uneven: walk cycles and standard attacks flow smoothly, but more elaborate sequences—like Marge’s zombie vacuum-sucking motion—appear slightly choppy. Despite this, the game’s palette feels lively, and parodies of classic horror movie motifs (e.g., a Dr. Frankenstein sign or a Transylvania-style castle) add charm. Occasional frame rate dips occur when too many enemies appear on screen, but they rarely disrupt the action completely.

Cutscenes between levels employ static portraits and text bubbles, offering glimpses of each family member’s predicament. While these interstitials are brief and lack voice acting, they lean on familiar Simpsons humor, ensuring fans feel at home. Overall, the graphics serve the license well, even if they don’t push hardware limits.

Story

The narrative premise is delightfully odd and perfectly in line with the annual Treehouse of Horror episodes: the Simpson family tells ghost stories in Bart’s treehouse, dozes off, and becomes trapped in their own nightmares. From the moment you begin, the game balances tongue-in-cheek humor with horror tropes, turning everyday Springfield settings into spooky battlegrounds.

Each character’s campaign feels like a mini-episode, complete with its own tone and objectives. Maggie’s levels transform her into an insect navigating a wizened tree interior, Lisa’s campaign pits her against brain-addled Springfield Elementary staff, and Homer tackles a trio of episodes that pay homage to Dracula, The Terminator, and King Kong. This episodic structure keeps the story moving swiftly and highlights the creative freedom of the license.

Although there’s no overarching narrative twist or emotional depth, the game relies on Simpsons lore and Halloween gags to drive engagement. It’s a purely fan-service experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome: the total runtime hovers around five to six hours for a completionist. For those seeking a tight, humor-driven platformer, the story framework does its job admirably.

Overall Experience

The Simpsons: Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror may not redefine the platforming genre, but it offers a fun, nostalgia-filled outing for Simpsons fans and younger players exploring 2D platformers. Its humorous premise, varied level themes, and faithful visual style make it a solid pick for anyone who’s ever laughed at Marge’s exasperation or Homer’s bumbling heroics.

Revisiting this title today feels like opening a time capsule of early 2000s licensed games: some rough edges and mechanical quirks are balanced by a genuine affection for the source material. While the gameplay can become repetitive and the camera occasionally awkward, the delight of suiting up as each Simpson family member—and the rush of discovering hidden secrets—makes up for most of the shortcomings.

If you’re building a collection of Simpsons memorabilia or simply craving a lighthearted Halloween-themed platformer, Night of the Living Treehouse of Horror is worth exploring. It’s not a blockbuster release, but it delivers enough charm, variety, and nostalgia to keep you entertained until the final boss falls.

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10