Futurama (video game)
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| Futurama | |
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| Developer(s) | Unique Development Studios |
| Publisher(s) | VU Games / Fox Interactive |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 Xbox |
| Release date(s) | EU August 1, 2003 NA August 13, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T OFLC: G8+ PEGI: 12+ |
| Media | DVD |
| Input methods | Gamepad |
Futurama is a 3D platform game based on the science fiction cartoon series Futurama. Versions are available for the PS2 and Xbox, both of which use cel-shading technology. The cutscenes of the game are presented as an entire "lost episode" of Futurama on the DVD of The Beast with a Billion Backs.
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[edit] Gameplay
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This section requires expansion. |
[edit] Storyline
The game begins with Professor Farnsworth, wearing a sombrero, selling the Planet Express delivery company to Mom, explaining that it had been losing money for years due to mismanagement. The buyout gives Mom ownership of more than fifty percent of Earth, allowing her to become the supreme ruler of Earth. Soon after this, she enslaves humanity.
After Fry, Leela, Bender, and Farnsworth repair the inexplicably broken ship, they escape from Earth with the Professer's new invention, The Re-animator, which brings the crew back to life every time they die. However, Mom pursues them in an effort to capture Farnsworth. She hopes to turn Earth into a giant warship, and Farnsworth is the only person who knows how to build an engine large enough to move the Earth. She ultimately captures Farnsworth, places his head in a jar, and sends the ship hurtling into the Sun with Fry, Leela, and Bender on board.
After discovering that the Sun is habitable, they help the Sun People, then head for the planet of Bogad, where Farnsworth’s mentor, Adoy, lives. Adoy has invented a time machine, which he uses to send Fry, Leela and Bender back to a few minutes before Mom buys Planet Express from the Professor. However, the ship crashes into Planet Express, destroying the ship. This prompts them to steal the ship of the past, leaving the broken ship to be repaired by their past selves. They attempt to stop the sale, which prompts Mom to send a giant robot to attack them. They defeat the robot, but it subsequently falls on them. Angry at the fact that the robot killed his crew, the professor refuses to sell Planet Express. But after Mom bribes him with a sombrero, he sells, and the events of the game continue in a endless cycle.
[edit] Characters
While the game remains generally faithful to the series, many characters are omitted altogether, such as Amy Wong.
| Character | Voice artist | Cutscene appearances | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip J. Fry | Billy West[1] | Appears in numerous cutscenes | Playable character. |
| Turanga Leela | Katey Sagal[1] | Appears in numerous cutscenes | Playable character |
| Bender B. Rodriguez | John Di Maggio[1] | Appears in numerous cutscenes. | Playable character. |
| Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth | Billy West[1] | Appears in numerous cutscenes. | Non-playable character. |
| Morbo | Maurice LaMarche[1] | Appears in the opening cutscene. | Non-playable character who appears in the first cutscene, alongside Linda. |
| Linda | Tress MacNeille[1] | Appears in the opening cutscene. | Non-playable character who appears in the first cutscene, alongside Morbo. |
| Mom | Tress MacNeille[1] | Appears in numerous cutscenes. | Non-playable character, main antagonist. |
| Hermes Conrad | None | Appears only in the first level. | Non-playable character, who can be seen in his office in the first level with a brain slug feasting on his brains, a reference to Raging Bender. |
| Scruffy | None | Appears only in the first level. | Non-playable character, who can be seen sleeping in the flooded basement of the Planet Express building. |
| Walt, Larry and Igner | John Di Maggio (Ignar)[1] Maurice LaMarche (Walt)[1] David Herman (Larry)[1] |
Appears in numerous cutscenes. | Non-playable characters who serve as bosses throughout Bender's mission. |
| Sal | John Di Maggio[1] | Appears in one cutscene. | Non-playable character who helps Mom in taking over the universe. |
| Ra-Ra the Sun King | David Herman[1] | Appears in two cutscenes. | Non-playable character. |
| Dr. John Zoidberg | Billy West[1] | Appears in three cutscenes. | Playable character. |
| Adoy | David Herman[1] | Appears in two cutscenes. | Non-playable character, former tutor of Hubert Farnsworth. |
| Mighty Sun God | Maurice LaMarche[1] | Appears as a boss character in Leela's mission. | Non-playable character. |
| Nibbler | None | Appears through the game. | Non-playable character, serves as a collectible. |
[edit] Game development
Development on the game started before the series' cancellation,[2] but the game wasn't released until after the last episode had already been shown. Thus, the game has been known as a "lost episode" of sorts since it includes 28 minutes[3] of new animation.[4]
Many of the crew from the Futurama series worked on the game. Matt Groening served as Executive game developer and David X. Cohen directed the voice actors. These voice actors were the original actors from the series: Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, and David Herman. Cast members Phill LaMarr and Lauren Tom weren't included in the game due to budgetary reasons. Also adding to the authenticity of the game was the original music composition provided by Christopher Tyng who also composed the music in the series and Futurama scriptwriter and producer J. Stewart Burns who scripted an original storyline for the plot. The music during the end credits of the game is later used in the four straight-to-DVD Futurama films; in the extended intro of Bender's Big Score, and rearranged versions during the end credits of the subsequent three films.
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This section requires expansion. |
[edit] Reception
Gameplay was generally considered lackluster[5][6], though cutscenes were described in Wired as "side-splitting".[7] The cutscenes, along with some in-game footage provided by David X. Cohen, were included as a bonus feature on the direct-to-DVD movie, Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Full cast and crew for Futurama". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377952/fullcredits#cast. Retrieved on 2008-11-13.
- ^ Vivendi interview with UGO.com Accessed February 6, 2007
- ^ Futurama The Game: Official Website - Features Accessed June 24, 2008
- ^ Lead designer Mark McGinlay interview with computerandvideogames.com Accessed February 6, 2007
- ^ Metacritic page for XBox edition of game
- ^ Metacritic page for PS2 edition of game
- ^ Baker, Chris (2007-12-20). "Videogames & Futurama, Part 4: The Lost Episode is on a PS2 Disc". Wired. http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/12/video-games-f-3.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
- ^ TV Shows on DVD
[edit] External links
- Futurama the game official Website
- Futurama at MobyGames
- IGN: PS2 and Xbox
- Game Rankings: PS2 and Xbox
- Metacritic Review Aggregation
- Sound clips from the game
- Futurama at Gamespot.com
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