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Virtual Bart
Virtual Bart
from Wikipedia
Virtual Bart
North American Genesis box art
DeveloperSculptured Software
PublisherAcclaim Entertainment
SeriesThe Simpsons
PlatformsSuper NES, Genesis/Mega Drive
ReleaseSuper NES
  • NA: September 1994
  • EU: 1994
Genesis/Mega Drive
GenreAction
ModeSingle-player

Virtual Bart is a 1994 video game developed by Sculptured Software and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Super NES and Sega Genesis. It is based on the American animated television series The Simpsons and features Bart Simpson and other Simpsons characters.

The official guide to the game (Virtual Bart Official Game Secrets, Prima Publishing, 1995; re-published by the author, 2019) was written by Steve Schwartz. Although originally slated to be a guide to all Simpsons games, it took over a year to obtain the necessary permissions, limiting its coverage to only Virtual Bart.

Gameplay

[edit]
Bart motors through the ruins of Springfield in the "Doomsday Bart" level of the Genesis version.

Virtual Bart consists of several minigames, similar to Bart's Nightmare. Unlike Bart's Nightmare, the game does not feature a hub world and each stage is selected randomly using a spinning roulette wheel. Gameplay for Dino Bart, Baby Bart, and Pig Bart consists of platforming, while Class Picture, Mount Splashmore, and Doomsday Bart consist of different play styles.

All stages feature a time limit. If the time runs out, the player loses a life. Additionally, all stages except for Class Picture feature a health bar, which decreases every time Bart gets hit. Several stages feature corn dogs that restore Bart's health, as well as extra lives.

Once a stage is completed, it cannot be repeated; if the wheel lands on an already-completed stage, it will continue spinning slowly to the nearest remaining stage panel. If the wheel lands on the skull or corn dog panel (which quickly alternates between showing each item), the player will lose or gain a life, respectively.

If the player fails a stage, they lose one life and are taken back to the roulette wheel. Failure when the player has no extra lives prematurely ends the game. Otherwise, the game ends after all stages are cleared.

The game consists of six different stages:

  • Dino Bart: Bart is a dinosaur and runs across a primitive Springfield, and rampages throughout mountains while defeating several primitive humans that resemble Simpsons characters. Bart attacks with his tail and can roar, defeating all enemies on screen after picking up certain items. If the stage is completed, a prehistoric Homer is seen frozen in a present-day museum.
  • Baby Bart: A baby Bart follows a moving ice cream truck by escaping his home and swings his way out of his home, ending up in his local street way, and eventually a circus. Bart can use his diaper as a parachute to slow his fall while airborne, and can use his pacifier as a projectile. If the stage is completed, Bart enters the ice cream truck, with a younger Homer chasing him.
  • Pig Bart: Bart is a pig who has been captured and taken to Krusty's Pork Factory, but manages to escape, and sets off to free the captured pigs. Bart can only walk and jump, and must switch levers to free captured pigs. If the stage is completed, the pigs escape and Bart is hailed as a hero by the pigs.
  • Class Picture: Bart intends to ruin his school's Picture Day shooting by throwing tomatoes at all of his classmates. After he succeeds, the school schedules a reshoot, which Bart intends to ruin by throwing eggs at his classmates. Bart must throw tomatoes and eggs at his classmates in a 3D field. Bart has a limited number of projectiles, and if he runs out of tomatoes or eggs, or if any adult characters are hit, the player fails the stage. There are 2 rounds. If Bart succeeds, Bart will be the only student not to have been splatted in the photo shoot.
  • Mount Splashmore: Bart enters the Mount Splashmore water slide and must make it down safely. The stage is played from a forward-facing view, centered behind Bart. Bart must avoid obstacles and make it down to the end of the slide before time runs out. There are several forks in the slide's path. Choosing the wrong path either leads to a stuck Homer, which wastes time and sends Bart back up to the fork; or to an early exit that instantly kills him. Several power-ups appear, such as a clock that adds extra time and a surfboard that grants temporary invulnerability. If Bart manages to reach the end, he will exit the slide, splashing Sherri and Terri.
  • Doomsday Bart: An explosion at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant causes Springfield to become an apocalyptic wasteland. Bart must make his way to the Springfield entrance on his motorcycle while avoiding Jimbo and Kearney. The level plays in a 3D view, where Bart drives along a road while avoiding the two bullies' attacks. Bart can attack and can speed up his motorcycle. Passing a checkpoint extends time. If the stage is completed, Bart makes it to his house in time to watch The Krusty the Clown Show.

Plot

[edit]

At a science fair, Martin Prince presents a virtual reality device that displays six educational exhibitions. However, Bart causes the device to malfunction and gets trapped in it. Bart must complete the six programs to escape the machine.

If Bart successfully completes every stage, he escapes from the device and Homer then enters the machine. If the player gets a Game Over, Bart is released from the machine, looking ill.[2]

Reception

[edit]

Electronic Gaming Monthly scored the Super NES version a 4.8 out of 10, commenting that "The control is awful (like on the dinosaur stage), the stages unappealing, and the whole thing seems rushed."[8]

Reviewing the Genesis port, GamePro praised it as being "[virtually] identical" to the SNES original. They commented of the game itself that "The humorous variations on Bart, different game play (including behind-the-Bart racing and a shooter level), and cameos of Simpsons nitwits all combine to keep the action intriguing and funny."[9]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Virtual Bart is a 1994 action developed by Sculptured Software and published by for the (SNES) and platforms. In the game's storyline, becomes trapped inside a malfunctioning device invented by classmate Martin Prince during a , forcing him to navigate through a series of educational mini-games to escape before the system crashes. The gameplay consists of six distinct mini-games selected via a wheel mechanism, blending side-scrolling platforming and other mechanics across varied scenarios inspired by universe. Players control in roles such as a prehistoric , a farm pig, or an infant, completing objectives like avoiding obstacles in a or riding a through a post-apocalyptic Springfield, all while managing a health bar, time limits, and limited lives. A practice mode allows players to test individual mini-games without the pressure of the main sequence. Upon release in September 1994 for SNES in and similar timing for Genesis, Virtual Bart received mixed reviews, with critics praising its variety and humor tied to license but criticizing repetitive gameplay and technical issues like imprecise controls. It holds an average score of around 60 out of 100 across aggregated reviews, reflecting its status as a middling licensed title in the mid-1990s console era.

Development

Conception and Design

Virtual Bart was conceived by Sculptured Software as a to their earlier title, The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare (1992), transitioning from surreal nightmare sequences to interactive simulations that Bart disrupts for comedic effect. The design emphasized a collection of diverse minigames framed by an overarching narrative, drawing on early concepts for a "sketchbook-style" game that bundled experimental ideas rather than a linear adventure. This approach allowed for rapid iteration on Simpsons-themed challenges, with development spanning approximately 1992 to 1994 to culminate in a release across Super NES and platforms. Central to the conception was a plot, where the machine serves as both and structural hub, strapping into six educational programs that he must complete to escape before the system overloads. According to the game's manual lore, the device was invented by Martin Prince as an ambitious school project to showcase exhibits, reflecting early interest in as an educational tool twisted into chaotic entertainment. The six programs transform Simpsons characters into altered forms—such as as a , a baby, or a —each tied to a unique that hijacks, blending humor with variety to appeal to younger players. Design choices prioritized genre diversity to maintain engagement, incorporating platforming in prehistoric and farmyard settings, shooting mechanics for target-based challenges, and racing sequences in dystopian environments. Each featured tailored time limits and health systems to heighten tension, with a roulette-wheel selector adding replayability by randomizing program order after initial completion. These elements stemmed from Sculptured Software's intent to evolve the format of Bart's Nightmare, focusing on short, accessible sessions that highlighted Bart's mischievous without requiring extensive narrative depth.

Production and Voice Acting

Virtual Bart was developed by Sculptured Software over a period spanning approximately 1992 to 1994, with production led by Mark Flitman as the primary producer for both the (SNES) and versions; key additional personnel included director Hal Rushton and lead artist Dallin Haws. The development process involved adapting the game to the 16-bit hardware of both consoles, aiming for near-identical ports to ensure consistent experiences across platforms, which required careful optimization of graphics and sound capabilities unique to each system. Technical elements included detailed sprite animation for Bart's various character transformations, such as animal and prehistoric forms, integrated into the virtual reality framework while maintaining the chaotic, fast-paced action. An official , Virtual Bart Official Game Secrets, was authored by Steven A. Schwartz and published by Prima Publishing in 1995, providing walkthroughs and tips; it was later republished by the author in 2019. Voice acting for the game was handled by key members of cast, with Nancy reprising her role as and providing multiple takes during recording sessions. voiced several characters, including , , and , delivering lines in sessions estimated to have occurred around 1992. These recordings were captured on audio cassette tapes as part of the production process, with full uncut sessions featuring multiple takes preserved in developer Mark Flitman's collection. The tapes, which include raw voiceovers by and , were later donated to the Video Game History Foundation, revealing behind-the-scenes details such as directional cues for lines like those in the virtual reality scenarios. Additionally, the tapes contain demo music tracks composed by H. Kingsley Thurber for Sculptured Software, differing from the final game's in tempo and arrangement, such as early versions of themes for levels like the pig transformation and water slide.

Gameplay

Core Mechanics

Virtual Bart is a single-player action game where players control Bart Simpson trapped in a virtual reality machine, navigating a series of minigames selected via a roulette wheel mechanism. The game begins with Bart entering the VR device at a science fair, after which the roulette spins continuously until the player presses a button (such as A, B, X, or Y on SNES) to stop it on a desired stage, timing the press two spaces ahead of the targeted option. The wheel includes bonus panels—a corn dog that grants an extra life and a skull that deducts one (always granting a life if none remain)—and automatically skips completed minigames to ensure all six unique stages are played without repetition. There are six stages in total, and players must complete all to escape; failure in a stage returns the player to the roulette with one less life, and depleting all lives results in a game over. Shared across stages are universal systems including a health bar depicted as a circular gauge with Bart's face, which depletes upon taking damage and refills partially via collectibles like hearts or power-ups (often corndogs). Players start with three lives, represented as "BART #2" indicators, and additional lives can be earned by collecting specific items during or via the bonus, though opportunities vary by stage. Each stage imposes a strict , typically around 3-5 minutes depending on the , forcing quick progression to avoid automatic failure. Control schemes are adapted to the minigame type, emphasizing platforming with directional pad for running and (via B or A buttons on SNES), tail-whip or roar attacks for (Y button), mechanics in rail-style sequences using aimed (A or B), and controls involving acceleration, braking, and (directional inputs plus buttons). The SNES version offers more precise controls and leverages for pseudo-3D effects in and sliding stages, while the Genesis port features faster scrolling speeds in action sequences and additional voice samples, though some enemy interactions differ slightly, such as non-lethal stuns instead of defeats. Failure in a stage costs one life and returns the player to the selection with reduced attempts; exhausting all lives ends the prematurely, with Bart emerging from the VR machine weakened and ill, reinforcing the theme of risky virtual entrapment without further narrative exploration.

Minigames

Virtual Bart features six distinct programs, each offering a unique playstyle and Simpsons-infused environment that challenges players with varied objectives. The programs are selected via a wheel interface upon entering the virtual reality machine, with players timing the stop to influence the choice. Dino Bart transforms into a small navigating a side-scrolling prehistoric world atop Mount Springfield, complete with platforms, caves, icy slopes, and lava pits. The objective is to reach the exit of each level by jumping between platforms, using a tail whip to attack enemies, and occasionally roaring to clear groups of foes or reveal hidden paths. Players must avoid hazards like falling boulders and pterodactyls while collecting eggs for points; Simpsons-themed twists include prehistoric versions of family members such as wielding clubs and Marge as a massive carnivorous , alongside boss encounters with evolved Simpsons characters. In Baby Bart, players control an infant version of Bart in a side-scrolling crawler across Evergreen Terrace neighborhoods and a backyard circus setup, aiming to reach a distant by climbing fences, swinging on clotheslines, and bouncing on trampolines. The playstyle emphasizes precise, limited mobility with short jumps aided by a diaper functioning as a for controlled descents, while sucking up obstacles or enemies with a oversized serves as the primary attack. Unique challenges involve navigating household clutter and circus acts, with Simpsons elements like baby versions of bullies and Kearney throwing toys, clown Krusty juggling fire, and family pets as agile foes blocking progress. Pig Bart casts Bart as a farm pig in a frantic side-scrolling race through rural fields, city streets, and a chaotic meat-packing factory at Krusty's Foods Inc., with the goal of dodging vehicles, animals, and workers to escape slaughter. Gameplay revolves around high-speed bounding and butt-bouncing to stun enemies or access elevated areas, while collecting colored keys unlocks gates to free trapped pigs and advance levels featuring conveyor belts, freezers, and furnaces. Simpsons humor shines through obstacles like rampaging on a , corporate executives as suited foes, and farm animals parodying Springfield residents. Class Picture shifts to a stealth-puzzle format set on the Springfield Elementary school lawn during picture day, where hides behind bushes to pelt classmates with tomatoes or eggs without detection by adults. The objective is to hit as many targets as possible within a time limit using a charged-shot mechanic that requires timing a power meter for accuracy, while peeking out risks alerting teachers who end the round if struck. Playstyle focuses on aiming precision and quick retreats, with Simpsons twists including familiar students like Milhouse and as hittable targets, as a high-value bonus (via his exposed backside), and patrolling educators like increasing tension. For Mount Splashmore, Bart hurtles down a twisting at Springfield's premier in a fast-paced , tasked with timing jumps over gaps, choosing branching paths indicated by arrows, and avoiding collisions to reach the pool at the bottom before time expires. The environment includes looping tunnels, wave pools, and fork decisions, with controls for steering and braking to evade obstacles. Simpsons flair appears in hazards like beach balls launched by , aggressive kids resembling Nelson, and surprise encounters with or giant floating corn dogs blocking slides. Doomsday Bart delivers a 3D rail-shooter experience where cowboy-attired rides a along a post-apocalyptic highway through ruined Springfield landmarks, aiming to travel 10 miles while firing at or kicking incoming threats. involves auto-forward movement with manual aiming and speed bursts to collect power-ups, dodging debris like rocks, skulls, and abandoned vehicles. The integrates bullies such as and Kearney in spiked cars, Otto Mann driving a bus, and alien invaders parodying show antagonists amid the dystopian backdrop.

Plot and Setting

Story Summary

In Virtual Bart, the narrative unfolds at Springfield Elementary School's science fair, where curiously tests a virtual reality machine invented by his classmate Martin Prince for educational purposes. The device, intended to simulate learning environments, malfunctions upon activation, trapping inside a series of virtual programs from which he must escape to avoid permanent confinement. To break free, is compelled to successfully navigate six distinct virtual reality simulations, selected randomly via a roulette wheel. appears within the simulations in various roles. Upon completing all programs, returns home unharmed, capping the adventure with a lighthearted where curiously tries the machine himself. Failure to finish the simulations, however, results in emerging violently ill and disoriented, underscored by comedic failure animations that frame the overall experience. The story aligns with The Simpsons universe by portraying the machine's scholarly design undermined by Bart's impulsive antics, emphasizing humor over profound character growth or plot complexity.

Virtual Reality Programs

The virtual reality programs in Virtual Bart serve as the core narrative devices, framing Bart Simpson's entrapment in a science fair exhibit as a series of ostensibly educational simulations that twist into humorous, chaotic escapades. Developed by Martin Prince as interactive exhibits on history, biology, and future studies, the six programs force Bart to adopt altered forms and confront reimagined versions of Springfield's residents, underscoring the game's theme of subverted learning experiences. The programs are selected randomly via a roulette wheel, with each successful completion triggering a transition back to the real world in a physical state matching the just-completed simulation—such as emerging as a dinosaur or pig—while Homer appears in various roles within the simulations. This structure emphasizes the programs' role in the story's escape sequence, transforming an educational demo into a personal ordeal that integrates Simpsons lore by recontextualizing characters like Marge as a maternal pterodactyl or Principal Skinner as a volcanic guardian, ultimately parodying virtual learning's potential for unintended mayhem. The six programs are: "Dino Bart," a prehistoric survival simulation where Bart transforms into a dinosaur-like creature amid a primitive landscape resembling ancient Springfield, encountering caveman analogs of Simpsons characters like a club-wielding . "Baby Bart" casts Bart as an infant who escapes the home by following an to a circus, pursued by a younger while navigating perils, with family members in oversized roles. "Pig Bart" places Bart as a pig escaping Krusty's Pork Factory, freeing captured and fighting executives, featuring pig versions of townsfolk. These simulations highlight the educational facade—teaching , , and —while injecting Simpsons-style anarchy through familiar faces in absurd roles. The remaining programs are: "Class Picture," which recreates a chaotic school photography session in a virtual classroom led by Mrs. Krabappel, where Springfield Elementary students manifest as targets in a disruptive group portrait. "Mount Splashmore" immerses in an amusement park water slide adventure at a Springfield-themed park, blending thrill-seeking with hidden dangers amid cheering crowds of park-goers resembling the . "Doomsday" portrays a post-apocalyptic future where rides a as a road warrior through a ruined Springfield, avoiding obstacles to reach home in time for Krusty's TV show, with his voice heard off-screen.

Release

Platforms and Dates

Virtual Bart was published by for the (SNES) in on September 26, 1994, in on September 30, 1994, and in later that year. The Sega Genesis version launched in in November 1994, in in 1995, and in (as Mega Drive) on December 31, 1995. The two versions are near-identical ports, resulting from simultaneous development by Sculptured Software, though they feature minor technical differences stemming from each console's hardware; the SNES version leverages its for richer musical depth, while the Genesis emphasizes faster processing speeds. No further ports, re-releases, or digital distributions have occurred, restricting availability to original 16-bit cartridges. Regional packaging included instruction manuals framed as authored by the character Martin Prince, complete with hints for the game's password system to access different starting levels.

Marketing and Packaging

Virtual Bart was published by as part of their lineup of licensed games, positioned as a humorous adventure targeted at younger players through its lighthearted take on the animated series and innovative premise. The game's promotional materials highlighted the novelty of simulations, with official descriptions emphasizing Bart's entrapment in a experiment that transforms him into various characters across minigames. The box art for the North American release featured prominently wearing a virtual reality helmet, accompanied by taglines teasing the transformative minigames such as "Enter the era as Dino Bart" to evoke excitement around the game's diverse challenges. Regional variations existed, with the European cover artwork differing in layout and emphasis, including a more subdued color palette and alternative positioning of Simpsons characters to align with local market preferences. An official strategy guide, titled Virtual Bart Official Game Secrets and authored by Steve Schwartz, was published by Prima Publishing in 1995 to coincide with the game's release; it provided detailed walkthroughs, level maps, tips for completing minigames, and Simpsons trivia to assist players. Schwartz independently republished an updated edition in 2019 under the title Virtual Bart Official Strategy Guide, formatted for modern readers with screenshots and tactics for the Super NES and versions. Promotional tie-ins leaned into the theme central to the game's setup, with print ads depicting Bart's virtual mishaps to draw in fans of the TV show, though no significant merchandise lines or television cross-promotions were developed specifically for Virtual Bart.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Upon its release in 1994, Virtual Bart received mixed reviews from professional critics, with praise for its humorous Simpsons-themed elements and accessibility for younger players, while criticisms centered on flaws, technical shortcomings, and overall lack of depth. Aggregate scores across platforms hovered around 55-60% on retrospective aggregators, reflecting a consensus that the game fell short of expectations for a licensed title. The Super NES version drew particular scorn from , which awarded it a 4.8 out of 10, lambasting the "awful" clunky controls—especially in the dinosaur —the excessively short stages, and a rushed that failed to deliver engaging content. Reviewers noted the game's brevity as a major detractor, often completable in under an hour, contributing to its sense of superficiality compared to earlier Simpsons outings like vs. the Mutants, which garnered more mixed-to-positive contemporary scores around 60-70%. Despite these issues, some outlets appreciated the humor derived from Simpsons references, such as 's quips and character cameos, positioning it as mildly entertaining for children despite its flaws. The port fared slightly better but still elicited mixed responses, with scoring it approximately 5 out of 10 and highlighting improved performance in action-oriented segments due to the hardware's capabilities, though persistent problems like repetitive digitized —described as annoyingly looped and low-—undermined the experience. offered a more positive take in its December 1994 issue, praising the near-identical to the SNES version alongside the engaging variety of minigames, assigning it 4 out of 5 and noting its appeal through diverse challenges that kept play sessions fresh, even if depth was lacking. Common across both versions were complaints about shallow mechanics and poor implementation of voice elements, which critics felt detracted from the franchise's charm, though the game's family-friendly accessibility and thematic ties to were occasional bright spots.

Player Feedback and Legacy

Player feedback for Virtual Bart has been predominantly mixed, with users on platforms like praising the variety of minigames as a highlight that captures the chaotic spirit of , while frequently criticizing the high difficulty spikes, repetitive mechanics, and slippery controls that make progression frustrating. One user review described the game as "mediocre" overall but noted the minigame diversity as a redeeming factor, though the steep in levels like the dinosaur platformer often led to repeated failures. The voice acting, featuring performers like and , drew particular ire for being grating and poorly integrated, with exclamations and lines feeling overly shrill and disruptive during gameplay. In terms of legacy, Virtual Bart is regarded as a minor and largely forgotten entry in the Simpsons gaming catalog, serving as a direct to Bart's but overshadowed by its predecessor's slightly stronger reputation among fans of 16-bit licensed titles. The game's mediocre reception contributed to its obscurity, with no official remakes or ports released in subsequent decades, though it persists in emulation communities where players access it via sites hosting ROMs for preservation purposes. Fan-driven efforts, such as the 2021 Virtual Bart Redux patch, have attempted to mitigate its notorious difficulty by adjusting mechanics across the six minigames, reflecting ongoing community interest in salvaging its potential despite core flaws. Modern retrospectives continue to position Virtual Bart low in rankings of over 20 Simpsons titles, often appreciating its nostalgic vibe and innovative roulette-wheel structure for randomizing challenges but dismissing it for lacking and polish compared to later entries like The Simpsons: Hit & Run. In a video series ranking all Simpsons games, it was critiqued as a product of Acclaim's post-peak output for 16-bit consoles, evoking mild rather than acclaim. These analyses highlight its role in the era's trend of quick, collections based on popular media, a formula that prioritized licensed appeal over depth. Culturally, Virtual Bart exemplifies the rushed development of 1990s cartoon-licensed games, where voice talent from the show added authenticity but unused recordings reveal the project's improvisational nature. Archival materials, including audio cassette tapes of full sessions preserved by fan documentation sites, provide historical insight into the production, underscoring the game's place as a curiosity in Simpsons media history rather than a landmark achievement.

References

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