Bart vs. the Juggernauts
Encyclopedia
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts is an action video game released in 1992
for the Game Boy
. It was developed by Imagineering and published by Acclaim
. The plot stars Bart
from The Simpsons
in a game show based on American Gladiators, in which he has to compete in challenges to earn money. Critics gave The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts average reviews.
from the animated television series The Simpsons
. He is participating in a weekly game show called Juggernauts USA, based on the television program American Gladiators, in which he has to run through obstacle courses, battle huge muscle-bound "juggernaut
s", and do various other challenges. There are a total of seven challenges that change from week to week. To make it onto the next week's episode of Juggernauts USA and avoid being eliminated, Bart must collect a certain amount of money from the challenges.
Each of the four levels of The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts are made up of an episode of the game show Juggernauts USA. Every challenge is based on a character from The Simpsons. For example, there is one challenge in which Bart has to run an obstacle course in Apu
's Kwik-E-Mart
store. Another one is Dr. Marvin Monroe's "Hop, Skip and Fry", in which Bart jumps on a floor of tiles that randomly shifts from being safe to electrifying. The others include basketball, skateboarding, a juggernaut fighting match, and a match of shoving at Moe's Tavern. The characters Kent Brockman
and Marvin Monroe are the game show's commentators; after the completion of a challenge they comment on Bart's performance.
. It was released in 1992 exclusively for the hand-held console Game Boy
.
gave the game a 3.35/5 rating, while Matt Williamson of Rocky Mountain News
gave it a B- grade, commenting: "a hysterical sendup of the American Gladiators. Nice action sequences."
In 2009, 1UP.com editor Bob Mackey reviewed the game in 1UP's official Retro Gaming Blog. He wrote that "Some of the events—out of seven total—are actually pretty entertaining; Dr. Marvin Monroe's Hop, Skip and Fry [...] could actually be updated for a more fleshed-out XBox Live Arcade
game. But the fighting-based mini-games throw a wrench in the works by leaving too much entirely up to chance and the limited controls of the Game Boy [...]. In what may be one of its few saving graces, Juggernauts unexpectedly captures a little of the Simpsons written humor with its post-game commentary by Kent Brockman and Dr. Marvin Monroe. I wasn't exactly crying with laughter, but I actually got a few chuckles out of Monroe's psychobabble overanalysis of Bart's performance."
1992 in video gaming
-Events:-Notable releases:* Gremlin Graphics releases Zool, Amiga's answer to Mario and Sonic. It goes on to become the best selling Commodore Amiga game, boosting the already popular computer to be the leading gaming machine in Europe....
for the Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
. It was developed by Imagineering and published by Acclaim
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
. The plot stars Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
from The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
in a game show based on American Gladiators, in which he has to compete in challenges to earn money. Critics gave The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts average reviews.
Plot and gameplay
In The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts, the player controls cartoon character Bart SimpsonBart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
from the animated television series The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. He is participating in a weekly game show called Juggernauts USA, based on the television program American Gladiators, in which he has to run through obstacle courses, battle huge muscle-bound "juggernaut
Juggernaut
A juggernaut in colloquial English usage is a literal or metaphorical force regarded as mercilessly destructive and unstoppable.Originating in ca...
s", and do various other challenges. There are a total of seven challenges that change from week to week. To make it onto the next week's episode of Juggernauts USA and avoid being eliminated, Bart must collect a certain amount of money from the challenges.
Each of the four levels of The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts are made up of an episode of the game show Juggernauts USA. Every challenge is based on a character from The Simpsons. For example, there is one challenge in which Bart has to run an obstacle course in Apu
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is a character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria and first appeared in the episode "The Telltale Head". Apu is the proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart, a popular convenience store in Springfield, and a friend of Homer Simpson. He is also...
's Kwik-E-Mart
Kwik-E-Mart
The Kwik-E-Mart is a fictional chain of convenience stores in the animated television series The Simpsons. It is a parody of American convenience store chains, such as 7-Eleven and Circle K, and represents many myths and stereotypes of them. It is notorious for its high prices and the poor quality...
store. Another one is Dr. Marvin Monroe's "Hop, Skip and Fry", in which Bart jumps on a floor of tiles that randomly shifts from being safe to electrifying. The others include basketball, skateboarding, a juggernaut fighting match, and a match of shoving at Moe's Tavern. The characters Kent Brockman
Kent Brockman
Kent Brockman is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Harry Shearer and first appeared in the episode "Krusty Gets Busted"...
and Marvin Monroe are the game show's commentators; after the completion of a challenge they comment on Bart's performance.
Development and release
The game was developed by Imagineering and published by AcclaimAcclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
. It was released in 1992 exclusively for the hand-held console Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
.
Reception
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts received average reviews from critics. UGO Networks commented that the game is "actually a pretty original idea with some decent gameplay and mix of genres — easily one of the better Simpsons Game Boy adventures," concluding that "it was all right; nothing stellar, but good enough." Nintendo PowerNintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
gave the game a 3.35/5 rating, while Matt Williamson of Rocky Mountain News
Rocky Mountain News
The Rocky Mountain News was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As of March 2006, the Monday-Friday circulation was 255,427...
gave it a B- grade, commenting: "a hysterical sendup of the American Gladiators. Nice action sequences."
In 2009, 1UP.com editor Bob Mackey reviewed the game in 1UP's official Retro Gaming Blog. He wrote that "Some of the events—out of seven total—are actually pretty entertaining; Dr. Marvin Monroe's Hop, Skip and Fry [...] could actually be updated for a more fleshed-out XBox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
game. But the fighting-based mini-games throw a wrench in the works by leaving too much entirely up to chance and the limited controls of the Game Boy [...]. In what may be one of its few saving graces, Juggernauts unexpectedly captures a little of the Simpsons written humor with its post-game commentary by Kent Brockman and Dr. Marvin Monroe. I wasn't exactly crying with laughter, but I actually got a few chuckles out of Monroe's psychobabble overanalysis of Bart's performance."