Players flock to The Simpsons: Hit & Run instead of GTA
As we settle in for a long wait until the GTA 6 release, players are flocking back to 2003's The Simpsons: Hit & Run to spend their days replaying the GTA clone.
10th Jan 2024 13:52
Images via Rockstar Games | Radical Entertainment
Players flock to The Simpsons: Hit & Run instead of GTA
As we settle in for a long wait until the GTA 6 release, players are flocking back to 2003's The Simpsons: Hit & Run to spend their days replaying the GTA clone.
10th Jan 2024 13:52
Images via Rockstar Games | Radical Entertainment
We're not quite sure what caused the lightning in the bottle that was The Simpsons: Hit & Run, but boy, we wish we could market it. Hit & Run came out long past what most consider the peak of Matt Groening's hit series in 2003, but with everyone's favourite American family and a dash of Grand Theft Auto, it just worked.
Following the success of the Crazy Taxi-inspired The Simpsons: Road Rage, the team at Radical Entertainment turned to a different gaming franchise for inspiration. Although Hit & Run was far from the first or last game from The Simpsons IP, it's arguably the most famous. 21 years later, you're now flocking back to it.
Forget GTA 6, just play The Simpsons: Hit & Run
While the entire gaming industry has its foot on the gas as we race toward the eventual release of GTA 6 (in 2025), some of you are passing the time by dusting off your GameCube and playing Hit & Run all over again. On Reddit, one fan shared their love of the title, and it soon went viral.
Saying they hope it holds them over until GTA 6, the OP sparked a wave of nostalgia in the subreddit. One cheered, "It has filled that role before, it can do it again," while another joked, "Don't think gta6 is coming out on GameCube."
A third person said, "It'll hold you til it comes out, and it'll continue to hold you over long after you get bored of GTA 6." Saying what everyone else was thinking, there were plenty of calls for a remaster. Sadly, our hopes of a Hit & Run remake or remaster have dwindled over the years.
We could've had a Hit & Run sequel
Serving as one of the most frustrating gaming what-ifs of all time, we're sure Activision is kicking itself that plans for a Hit & Run sequel were parked in the garage. Hit & Run Executive Producer John Melchoir explained how Radical Entertainment had a "ton of momentum" and big plans for an expanded franchise.
As well as a flying blimp and a much bigger map, Hit & Run sounds like it would've channelled the spirit of the OG into something even grander. Sadly, publisher Vivendi wasn't willing to stump up for the license, leaving the sequel to slip out of our grasp.
It's no coincidence that even those who worked on Hit & Run are keen for a remaster, while fans have managed to remake it for themselves. Considering how much GTA has evolved over the years, just imagine if we got a truly new-gen Hit & Run sequel. Oh well, maybe in another lifetime.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
