Play Simpsons, The - Bart vs. the World Online

I first played The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World on the NES back in 1991, a game developed by Imagineering Inc. It came out during that era when every cartoon seemed to get a side-scrolling platformer, and this one definitely fit the mold, for better or worse. You control Bart Simpson on a global quest to recover missing pieces of a prized Krusty merchandise collection, which Mr. Burns has stolen and hidden across the world.

Gameplay involves moving screen by screen through levels set in locations like Japan, Egypt, and Hollywood, jumping on platforms and punching or kicking enemies like bullies and snowball-throwing kids. You collect items such as slingshots for attacking distant foes and Bartman icons for temporary invincibility. The levels are often maze-like, requiring some backtracking and exploration to find all the Krusty collectibles. The pacing can feel slow due to the trial and error needed to navigate environmental hazards, and the difficulty spikes without much warning. It feels like a clunky but strangely earnest attempt to capture the show's humor through frustrating, sometimes unfair level design.