Futurama is better than The Simpsons. Way better. There's no evidence for it, but it's scientific fact. Sure, there are people out there who cling, traditionalists who always maintain that original - best, like those parka-wearing weirdos who still find vinyl records, with all their imperfections, somehow more pure than cheaper, more reliable, higher quality and all round superior CDs. Hey, if these people had their way, we'd all still be hunched over black and white TVs playing Pac-Man and wearing shoes made out of old potato sacks. But anyway, Futurama, despite being axed so early into its lifetime, was reaching the kind of comedy stride that the last few seasons of The Simpsons could only dream of. Of course, 20th Century Fox will never axe the merchandising goldmine that Homer represents, so the smug Simpsons worshippers will always be able to lord it up over the Futurama followers. Harumph!

Still, no matter which way you swing, Futurama the game is better than any Simpsons game, ever. And here's concrete evidence for it. It's an excellent use of the licence, and an enjoyable title to boot. UDS has basically created a new episode - one where uber-evil corporate crusty Mom has taken over the planet by managing to acquire a majority share in it - and sliced it up like a loaf of bread, using cutscenes to top and tail each level into an enjoyable Futurama sandwich with a playable filling. The entire cast of the cartoon is present and correct, all voiced and animated like the real thing, but you'll only get to play as a handful of characters. Don't worry though, they're all the good ones.

The first third of the game is played via lovable goofball jerkoff Fry, who's charged with blasting his way through to New New York City. This section majors in shooting stuff, and it's the most pleasurable part. Gun combat is a simple enough case of holding the Right trigger to target, and then pressing A to unleash showers of laser fire at your foe. It's simple but effective, and the guns you get to tote are the kind that make your guts thrum with satisfaction, especially the sparkly atomic shotgun that fires deadly clouds of nuclear glitter.

Once you've done that, the plot is left in the hands - well, whisks - of the show's vice-heavy nihilist, Bender the robot. He's the Homer of Futurama, the one everybody likes the best. His only defence is hand-to-hand (whisk-to-hand?) combat, meaning that the raucous fun of shooting things is no longer present in Bender's jaunty trip through canyons and robot factories in order to rescue his trapped friends. The focus is now on platforming, which, like the shooting aspect, is simple but works well. Usually 3D platformers come close to ruin thanks to either a duff camera or characters that skid all over the place like rollerdisco-meets-lbiza-foam party. However, jumping from ledge to ledge here feels precise and controllable, but Bender's journey is still the weakest portion of the game.

Finally, you've got do-gooder semi-saucepot Leela, the purple-haired Cyclops who has to Tomb Raider her way through a city of the living dead, solving puzzles and indulging in lots of fisticuffs. It's over-long, and the combat can sometimes feel drab, but it's still good. Once that's sorted, it's on to the final section which contains, among other things, a frankly awful cameo level starring Dr Zoidberg riding away from the screen on the back of a blue horse/lizard thing. It's reminiscent of something out of Crash Bandicoot, and it's a frustrating six minutes of trial and error that's just plain rubbish.

Overall, there's nothing too clever in here but, dammit, it all works, in a highly entertaining fashion. Surely a paddle in a robust-but-shallow game is more fun than drowning in a sea of poorly executed over-ambition? It's worth giving credit to the tremendous production values, too, in terms of sound quality (except for the bites of in-game dialogue; they're good, but they still manage to become repetitive), some gorgeous enemy design and the pretty levels that come packed with a sweetshop's worth of colour and an abundance of detail. Okay, so the levels are linear to progress through, but they are lusciously drawn and grand, even if the framerate does get a dose of the stutters from time to time. It's an extremely likeable package of simple, solid gaming. Good, wholesome entertainment, if not special.

The trouble with Simpsons titles is that they try too hard to ape some other sense, such as Crazy Taxi or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and always fail miserably, resulting in some dismal third-world video game that looks like it was programmed by stray dogs. Futurama, ironically, has stuck to the typical template of licensed cartoon games - the 3D action adventure, with even focus on jumping and fighting - and it's pulled it off with aplomb. So, stick that in your Foam Dome, ardent Simpsons acolytes. Looks like Futurama has received a more than decent legacy in the form of this keen little romp.

For fans of the show, it's crucial material, as you get a fun game woven around the fabric of a brand new episode. For others, it's that essential rental - a game with no major drawbacks, but can be trounced and savoured in a weekend without any real need to play through it again. Even zealous Simpsons fans should be able to appreciate that. Kidding!

1. It really is Futurama: The Game.
2. Looks as spiffy as the cartoon.
3. It's slick to pick up and play...

1. ...occasionally.
2. Chuggy framerate.
3. Won't last long!

Power
Outside of the occasional frame chug, everything is well-animated and impressive. Excellent sound.

Style
Lovely cartoon sheen, and consistent imagination in the look of the levels. Excellent music, too.

Immersion
It's basic, well-executed stuff. You won't be sucked in too deep, but you will be pleasantly distracted.

Lifespan
A weekend's worth of economical enjoyment, and little need to replay unless you love bonus artwork.

Summary
Comical fun. Not deep, big or clever, but absorbing enough to justify a look. Its the best use of a cartoon licence for ages.