The iconic Steamed Hams scene from The Simpsons is now available in the form of a point-and-click adventure game. While there hasn't been a new Simpsons game in several years, many previous games, as well as the long-running sitcom, remain popular with fans. Since the series began in 1989, over 20 games based on the animated comedy have been released across a myriad of consoles.
While many Simpsons scenes have gone viral over the years, arguably the most popular has been the scene dubbed by fans as Steamed Hams. The scene originates from the Season 7, Episode "22 Short Films About Springfield," in which character Principal Skinner attempts to impress his boss, Superintendent Chalmers, by hosting a luncheon. After Skinner's roast catches fire, he decides to replace the main course with hamburgers from the fast-food restaurant Krusty Burger. What follows is a series of hilarious lies from Skinner as he attempts to cover up his mistakes, culminating with Skinner's kitchen catching on fire - which he claims is Aurora Borealis. Point-and-click adventure games became popular in the 1990s, with gameplay centered around players exploring interactive environments to solve puzzles and progress storylines. While point and click games briefly suffered a dip in popularity, they've had a resurgence in recent years as new developers give their takes on the genre.
Developer NeoDent has created a new point-and-click adventure based on the classic Simpsons meme, Kotaku reports. It recreates the entirety of Steamed Hams in the style of classic point-and-click game visuals, from the sitcom-style musical intro to the house fire finale. Alongside these visuals, the game cleverly copies the gameplay style and UI layout of classic point-and-click adventures like Grim Fandango. The game features the original voice acting from the Simpsons scene, and allows players to select their own dialogue options as they play as Principal Skinner - users can either select the various lies from the scene or elect to tell the truth. The game is available for free on the indie platform Game Jolt.
This amazing crossover is an impeccable tribute to both the iconic Simpsons scene and classic point-and-click adventures. While there have been many unique recreations of the Steamed Hams scene since it became a popular meme, this is by far one of the most detailed and creative. The fact that the whole scene is interactive takes the tribute to the next level, and the excellent graphics and UI design perfectly capture the feel of a point-and-click adventure. In the absence of any new or remastered Simpsons games on the horizon, this creation will briefly satiate many fans.
Both The Simpsons and point-and-click adventure games are huge influences in their respective mediums, impacting television and gaming for decades. This developer was clearly a large fan of both, expertly retooling the scene to fit the game genre. This crossover is bound to be a big crowdpleaser - both The Simpsons and point and clicks have a large following full of passionate fans who will love to see the two things combined.
Source: Kotaku, Game Jolt, NeoDent/YouTube