The Simpsons Wrestling - What Happened?

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Edited By: / guarascia
SkeleMatt Art By: / donwoka
Intro By: / 2manysnacks and / littlevmills
SOURCES:
The Free Library via Wayback Machine - May 2000 The Simpsons Wrestling Press Release
web.archive.org/web/201306200...
ELSPA.net via Wayback Machine - ELSPA Sales Awards: Gold
web.archive.org/web/200903190...
Metacritic - The Simpsons Wrestling
www.metacritic.com/game/plays...
beautiful-danger.net - Other Games
www.beautiful-danger.net/#/ot...
Mobygames - Big Ape Productions
www.mobygames.com/company/big...
The Cutting Room Floor - The Simpsons Wrestling
tcrf.net/The_Simpsons_Wrestling
Activisionblizzard.com - Quarterly report filed August 14th, 2001 (FORM 10-Q)
investor.activision.com/node/...
Wikipedia The Simpsons Wrestling
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sim...
MUSIC:
Simpsons Wrestling - Kwik-E-Mart
Doorkickers Action Squad - Training Day (Montage)
The Simpsons Game - This Is Sparklemon Battle
The Simpsons (Arcade) - Simpsons Theme Song
The Simpsons Hit & Run - Bonus Track (Hello Springfield)
The Simpsons Bart vs The Space Mutants (Genesis) - Springfield Shopping Mall
Super Star Wars (SNES) - Cantina Fight
Herc's Adventures - A Real Adventure
The Simpsons Hit & Run - Lisa Simpson's Theme
The Simpsons Bart's Nightmare - Dream Street
The Simpsons Hit & Run - The Busy Body Housewife
The Simpsons Road Rage - Sunday Drive
The Simpsons Game - Sunrise in Springfield
The Simpsons Road Rage - Menus
The Simpsons Wrestling - Bowlarama
The Simspons (Arcade) - Moe's Tavern
The Simpsons Hit & Run - Not Leaf Blower Aliens, Tentacle Aliens!
The Simpsons Hit & Run - The Legitimate Businessman's Social Club
#thesimpsons #mattmcmuscles #whathappened

[@guyofminimalimportance7]

The funniest thing about This game to me is how because the developers designed characters built around jokes instead of balance, they somehow ended up making Ned Flanders one of the most ridiculously OP fighting game characters of all time.

[@BlooditeDrakan]

Well... there is that episode where he was in a play with Marge and had to go shirtless. Ned was frigging RIPPED. So... even if by accident, I guess it makes sense?

[@eatatjoes6751]

The man is ripped.

[@jeffrye42q35]

Only way I could beat the game is Flanders.

[@TheL1arL1ar]

Stupid sexy Flanders

[@digitalboy80]

@@mightyfilm But god was just testing his faith with those tragedies. 🥴

[@FoxMan_FF]

"Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan." That's a _hell_ of a quote.

[@marley7868]

failure is also life's greatest teacher -yoda (misquoted obviously)

[@KingNormie1]

Attributed to John F Kennedy after the Bay of Pigs disaster; but actually supposedly comes from Tacitus. It’s a hell of a profound quote

[@guaposneeze]

"Success has many fathers. But failure is ALL MINE!!!! MWA HA HA HA! ... awww."

[@Savannah_Simpson]

Lol, I mean in a “no shit Sherlock” kinda way. You mean people want credit when things go good but not the blame with things go bad? No way! Never good have figured that one out.

[@FFKonoko]

​@Savannah Simpson except failure is nuanced. Plenty of things are commercial failures but good games, that aren't disowned. And even then, some true failures of games, like Scott Cawthornes Wood cutting game was the precursor to fnaf. Terrible, but still not disavowed, because it was part of a person's development and process. The real line is if something is a failure to a corporation, impersonal yet embarrassing. Even with failure, artists will often still keep their links.

[@Jackattack359]

You can’t deny that Ned being the most OP character in the game is the most hilarious part

[@BadandMadMartin]

He was the hardest character to beat. When you DID beat him, he'd resurrect. 🤬😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@Jackattack359]

@@BadandMadMartin the power of Christ compelled us all

[@therealblackcerberus2371]

*compel-diddly-elled FTFY

[@skepticpunk_]

Gill: Needs full meter to resurrect, can be interrupted during the process leading to less-than-full health and even potential juggling to death anyway, disables super buildup entirely on use ala Guilty Gear IKs removing meter on whiff, meaning Resurrection can only be used once per round and removes EX and Super Arts as options when used, is a final boss so breaking some rules is justified Ned Fucking Flanders:

[@Hayastantzi92]

Smithers was more OP, Flanders is easy

[@KittyMeow1984]

A wrestling game with no grappling mechanics. What a time to be alive.

[@bruceluiz]

But to be honest, the gameplay seems like those Dragonball games, minus the flying mechanics.

[@MrSkerpentine]

Guess “The Simpsons Bloodsport” didn’t have as nice a ring to it

[@guyvizard549]

There's three kinds of punching... and two kinds of kicking!

[@CGB_Crash]

I mean to be fair it wasn't uncommon to see actual wrestling with little to no grappling at the time. Attitude and all that.

[@tedjomuljono3052]

Capcom's Slam Masters sequel and Midway's Wrestlemania Arcade predates Simpsons grapple-less wrestling game

[@Sean_Bird]

After all of the Simpsons references he's made over the years, this is fitting. So very fitting.

[@lucinae8510]

Which makes this episode extra special!

[@justinwilliams1127]

It's a perfectly cromulent review.

[@barleybap9528]

Reviewing Spider-Man games? That's a Simpsons reference. Searching for the worst fighting game? That's a Simpsons reference. What Happened episode on The Simpsons Wrestling? Oh, you better believe that's a Simpsons reference.

[@whoobastank8616]

Which was the style at the time

[@XombieLejon66]

It really embiggened the feel of this game

[@kf-95]

Ah a late 90s wrestling game. As was the style at the time.

[@liquidbiden]

We wore an Nwo belt, we didn't have any of those fancy golden eagle belts. Eric bischoff stole our word for ratings.

[@mattbellomy9027]

Though the Smackdown games were epic

[@DebitAdams]

Perfect comment

[@DebitAdams]

​@@mattbellomy9027 No Mercy and Revenge were great too

[@michaelmccarthy4892]

We watched AEW which back that day was called WCW.

[@kapkant6197]

The kind of game where you walk through the door, put your hat on the hat rack, see the game and immediately walk in a circle and head back out the door

[@Deoxy360]

So many childhood memories with this game. Terrible ones because this game was impossible to beat.

[@CommanderSilence]

Just pick Apu and do his chaotic arm slap attack or pick Crusty and do his hammer attack. That's all

[@Zelldic27]

apu was overpower

[@BadandMadMartin]

I beat it and enjoyed it. Was it a great game? No, not by a long shot.

[@Jjjuniors]

Gamer rage at 8 years old lol.

[@Peringon]

I beat flanders with bumblebee man and then steamrolled the game with Ned cause he's broken AF

[@Kaybeeguy]

The fact that one of the senior programmers of this game acknowledged the issues regarding The Simpsons Wrestling and also explaining what happened during development is pretty cool.

[@MrRudiMentary]

Look everyone, a senior programmer is talking!

[@mobo85]

In regards to concerns regarding violence towards Maggie, an issue in that regard was directly responsible for one of the most glaring omissions in this game: every illustration of a Simpsons character is legally required to carry a facsimile of Matt Groening's signature. The Simpsons Wrestling is one of the few products that does not. In an oral history of The Simpsons Road Rage published on the site Inverse in 2021, an anonymous developer of the game brought up that Groening demanded his name be taken off the game after he personally took offense to the ability for Marge to throw Maggie as a weapon which can be deflected by Groundkeeper Willie's rake. Said developer remarked this was the reason why Groening and the Simpsons team were much more hands-on in Road Rage's development, with Groening even remarking to its team "If I don't like this game, I'm never going to put my name on another Simpsons game again." Thankfully, both it and its successor Hit and Run were much more in line with the Simpsons style.

[@evanhanley6437]

Wow! Nice work finding this info dude! Thats very interesting!

[@universalperson]

Ironic given that Willie killed Maggie in a recent Treehouse of Horror segment

[@BknMoonStudios]

​@@universalperson A lot can change over 20 years.

[@mrroboshadow]

Homer kicking Marge literally up and down the street? Hilarious Throwing Maggie? Too far

[@LukeLeonettiYouTube]

Listen, Matt can enjoy a foot massage from one of Epstein’s underage sex slaves, but he draws the line at child abuse

[@Thephantom95]

I always KNEW that those Simpsons references would pay off in the universe of Matt McMuscles. Also, Simpsons memes and Wrestling goes together like Peanut Butter and Chocolate....

[@PierzStyx]

I would pay a decent chunk of change to play a fully realized Simpsons wrestling game. Imagine Apu's eight children doing a run-in for the KWO, the KWIK-E World Order!

[@Brawler-uy7zw]

Matt's Simpsons references are always on point

[@Iwidelyoutliveeverything]

They should be, he created the simpsons

[@rudewren]

Dramatization: May not have happened 🤣

[@Anxomaxo]

"So how many Simpsons references would you like in the video?' Skinner: Yes!

[@Scouthedog1]

If we can't get a hit-and-run remake I think Simpsons wrestling would be the next best thing

[@claw1004]

More like a redo for the wrestling game lol but it could work

[@hunterculpepper1973]

​​@@claw1004 then I'd buy that thou a project zomboid like game or platform fighter or shoter would play perfectly I'd pay 70 dollars for each with dlc then cause if it's on switch it's 60 so I'd take that cause the Simpsons can literally charge me for a 60 dollars for a platform fighter then have mountains of dlc with characters from treehouse of horror imagine monster bart turning krusto to a dog then bashing off stage that would be hilarious

[@ShiroColdkeyesTheHedgehog]

Agreed it needs a serious remake, and maybe have it playable on PC and current systems, plus have it be fun online, and create a Simpson mode​@@claw1004

[@nunchuk28]

I feel like this episode was a pretext to make as many classic era simpsons references as possible, and I'm all for it.

[@ImpergatoxYT]

You know, Matt McMuscles turned into a hardcore Simpsons channel so gradually I didn't even notice.

[@ToranosukeEdo]

A perfectly cromulent episode- It embiggened my soul

[@ichijofestival2576]

Matt's really gotten his use out of that "Homer cuts players from the team" clip. Kinda surprised it's survived when "which was the style at the time" has been, mostly, drowned like a bag of kittens in a well.

[@KremBotop]

An episode on the movie would be interesting too. How it took over 15 years to even be made is quite odd.

[@WillOfPower321]

Knowing how much Matt loves The Simpsons, this shall be an interesting watch.

[@lazybacon7520]

2:50 Man, I loved Virtual Springfield. It was basically like LEGO Island

[@merikksoleil5648]

I'm surprised Bart's Nightmare wasn't mentioned during the 'painting purple' portion, but learning that Leyland went on to make Skylanders is a surprising turnout considering that Toys For Bob wasn't on Activision's radar *until* then, iirc.

[@Offroader210]

You can't have a Matt Mcmuscles video without a Simpsons reference, and what do you know; a Matt Mcmuscles Simpsons video!

[@DeltaOdyssey]

It would be cool to see an episode on hello neighbor at some point, I feel like the way that ge turned out and developed certainly lends itself to some interesting stories.

[@ThEjOkErIsWiLd00]

The channel WickedWiz did a great vid all about it in his "What went wrong?" series.

[@KingGargantuas]

With the many Simpsons jokes Matt has made on What Happened over the years, it feels oh so satisfying to see him finally talk about arguably the worst Simpsons game ever made!

[@ratchetxtreme6591]

“Which was the style of time “ - Grandpa Simpson

[@SirEvilestDeath]

“It’s time to answer the question…” Say the line Bart!

[@OSW]

A perfectly cromulent review!

[@liamr6088]

Fucking knew ye'd be here lol

[@liamr6088]

Simpsons, Wrestling and Matt McMuscles? How could OSW stay away

[@evanhanley6437]

I knew you boyos would mark out!

[@LNSLateNightSaturday]

As a lifelong Simpsons fan, I really appreciated the care with which you made all those cutaway references. I knew you were a fan by how much you've mentioned the show in passing, but this was just *chef's kiss*! ;)

[@steelyjacman5841]

Was literally just wondering today what a Wha Happun episode about the Simpsons would look like

[@oscarzxn4067]

This coming so late on the PS1 life means it was a really common pirated game in third world countries where just around that time people were able to buy a PS1, and it helped the Simpsons were a religion in most parts of the world

[@catsorafgc]

I feel like the entire channel was leading up to this moment. I can tell this is going to be an amazing video. Edit: not sure if this was on purpose, but this episode was the same length as an average Simpsons episode. I find that really funny

[@jacobs.9661]

Look man, Simspons references will ALWAYS be the style of the time.

[@dominicspizzirri4399]

I freakin love this channel. You deserve 10x more views than you get. Keep it going Matt.

[@jayjay-cl1eo]

Wrestling and Simpsons? This really shouldn't have failed.

[@jean-pierrea5803]

Man, that Activison/EA joke was brilliant.

[@TheRealJoshie]

What episode is that original scene from?

[@jean-pierrea5803]

@@TheRealJoshie season 8, episode 10. The Springfield Files

[@doomzilla3568]

Great video Matt. As a massive simpsons fan, good thing i missed out this game and got hit and run instead. Yikes the development was doomed to start and ended up as one of the most notorious simpsons game out there. They had a rough time on this game and especially on whenever they would do humor over gameplay and boy does it show.

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

I remember the Kang and Kodos boss fight was rediculous.

[@lizardlord4k]

Boy I sure hope someone got fired for that blunder.

[@walvegasgunsandoutdoors]

What I would really like is a GOOD Simpsons game in the same style of the South Park RPGs. One that's deep on lore and respects the series. Get the writers from the early seasons to write the story.

[@autumnalgloom5360]

That paragraph about not caring too much about mechanics because it was aimed children made me think about that one Sailor Moon fighting game that apparently is suprisingly competent for what it is.

[@do3807]

Love that closing monologue lmao

[@Haysey_Draws]

Oh man, mentioning Gainax at the start really wants me to see a What Happened to them. They went from pioneers in anime to basically just a shell company with reportedly just a few employees. I'd imagine though information would be thin on the ground.

[@universalperson]

There's actually a video abput it somewhere. Basically all the talent started their own studios.

[@PrinceMallow]

Gonna exercise that "leave a comment below" for potential What Happened? episodes and say I'd love to see one covering Action 52/The Cheetahmen.

[@Ksintai1]

I played so much of that Star Wars Episode 1 game as a kid, I will never forget the Big Ape logo.

[@kylehunter2674]

Flanders is so OP in this game lmao

[@nickfarace9339]

Matt I will never tire of your clear love of classic simpsons. The editing in this was perfect.

[@daylightsilence1]

I'm going to finally comment and say it. Not only do I love your content, your upload schedule is so solid and commendable. Thank you!

[@Totavier]

This whole week I was in like in a Simpson marathon for no reason (watched old episodes and playing some Simpsons games, mostly the Konami Arcade one). And now when I thought that I finished on it, Matt upload a What Happun Simpsons game video with lots of references out of nowhere which is probably the best ending extra bonus that I got. So thank you!, I enjoyed!.

[@moister3727]

I love this game as a kid. Always picked Barney because farts and burps were funny for me at the time.

[@lawrencemoody738]

Great video. Your love for early simpsons shines through.

[@mcsassafras9043]

Fox: We can't have a game where you fight a baby. Visceral Games: *heavy breathing*

[@windego999]

It didn't get brought up, but the game balance was horrendous. Flanders was beyond busted. He just kneels down and prays, and God smites you with a thunderbolt from anywhere on stage, and it wasn't slow on startup and didn't leave him open after. You basically couldn't beat the man as soon as someone figured out you could spam that with zero consequence.

[@Dagglestone]

Relatively new listener. Quickly becoming one of my favorite creators

[@SDallas777]

Great video, never can get enough Simpsons content from ya! Don’t know where to ask for this but I am just hearing about Babylon Fall for the first time and I feel like this needs the McMuscles treatment to catch me up.

[@D3D3D]

Hopefully in the second half of the year we'll get a video for the Suicide Squad game.

[@rodgerklotz6810]

never stop doing this series love them so much

[@rexcatston8412]

Some day we'll do a video on simpsons wrestling. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but some day.... Later that day..

[@joemoody2626]

Ok the speed holes metaphor got me 🤣🤣🤣 good job finding the references sir

[@kriscynical]

Oh WOW that little Flophouse Films spoof at the end astral projected me straight back to my childhood in the '90s. I had completely forgotten about that end credit thing on certain Fox shows!

[@DobbyDoo24]

When I worked in Blockbusters in the UK this game was constantly being rented out - the power of a popular license

[@jackrogue2456]

One minutr into the video: Captain! The level of Simpsons references are off the charts!

[@CaptainHyper8]

I really appreciate the throwback at the very end of the video

[@vay2654]

Matt i really enjoy your content and you not only go in-depth but also make it so entertaining to watch! I know that you mostly cover previous or old titles but if you can cover Babylon's Fall that would be amazing!

[@lowell5000]

Peak McMuscles content, I’m pumped!

[@LeroyPatterson]

I was SO damn excited for this game. The combination of my two favorite things at the time sounded amazing! I got it and returned it in the same day, I don't know if I've ever been let down so hard with a videogame before.

[@raltor20]

@@animezilla4486 Hit and Run is no where near as good as many people think it is mate hahaha. Nostalgia does a lot of heavy lifting

[@sheepofwater]

You really went all in on the references right up till the end

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

Something Simpsons-related!? It was inevitable. As someone who's known the franchise their whole life, I appreciate all the references.

[@beardofginge3314]

I didn't know that I needed this today, cheers!!

[@EmmBee27]

12:30 I feel like this isn't the first time I've heard this in relation to video game development, a lot of companies were tip toeing around just about anything that involved schools, kids, and *any* form of violence paired together around that time.

[@dominicaccardo8050]

I’ve been waiting for this !!

[@willbrummer4018]

You had me at Simpsons Wrestling but had me rolling with the gags and clip references. I wouldn't mind a 'Hit n Run' quality take on this game. Simpsons Wrestling 2 :No Mercy

[@DrRipper19]

That weird rant at the end was priceless

[@aymann7234]

I remember renting this when I was little. Thought it was fun enough. IIRC, you couldn't directly unlock Smithers or Kang/ Kodos, but could trick the game into letting you play them in Practice Mode and setting the opponent to have an AI.

[@yousoron.3699]

I need a Simpsons Skateboarding episode of this.... that game was something else

[@retrojoe85]

Your continous references to the series are always better than every single match played in this game!

[@orcwarchiefreviews]

You know that Simpsons virtual tour might be a very interesting thing to see

[@xIncisions]

An perfectly cromulent review of a not-so-fantastic game - the references and spliceys throughout were just fantastic. A can of Duff to you, good sir!

[@TheRealDeathvid]

The insane amount of references and the ending with the Flophouse Studios. Absolutely beautiful

[@Raveg64]

I'm loving this antagonistic relationship between Matt and Max

[@ADreamingTraveler]

The golden age of the Simpsons is one of my favorite shows of all time so I always loved seeing the references in your other videos. So getting this video is just a treat. Also the die/diet bit with Activision and EA was so good lol

[@menhirmike]

18:16 I love how the one awesome Simpsons game was a one-off by a completely different publisher.

[@SilentKGaming]

I started watching this series mostly because of all The Simpsons references you manage to put in each episode. So naturally, this episode was a blast for me! 😂

[@xSpooKee]

So early it’s only 360p. Great video.

[@gsb408]

Had so much fun playin this back in the day with my cousins and brothers

[@GenerationWest]

The video where Matt overdoses on Simpsons references. He died doing what he loved, and it isn't over a volcano.

[@ultimapower6950]

Wait there was a volcano?

[@soulstorminferno5135]

Fun Fact!: The Simpsons Movie has a Dutch dub! That's kinda weird because normally only kids movies are dubbed in Dutch.

[@roban1012]

Matt! This was amazing!

[@TiroDvD]

I came across this game at one of my highschool graduation parties. All friends, classmates, and their brothers. School year is ended. BBQ food, chips, soda. All having a hilarious time playing it taking turns. Maggie and the bear trap were OP. One of the happiest moments of my life.

[@chrischarles1219]

Which was the style at the time…

[@lightbluesquid]

Ooh, I remember this game! Funny enough, I actually enjoyed it back then! I know, guilty pleasure of mine, but y'know. Thanks for another excellent video, Matt!

[@Fishdinner]

Matt, this is the perfect segue into the whole mess that is/was/way have been StarControl 3+!

[@ZackSkellington]

I'm so happy that Matt was able to cram in almost every Simpson reference he could from the Golden/memeable years of the Simpsons. This feels like it was building up and is now an open floodgate. And I can't wait for more lol

[@billdemarco4436]

Great job as always

[@Ominouslionheart]

I have a distinct memory of renting this game from Blockbuster. The main thing that stood out for me were the unlockable characters,namely Ned Flanders. I remember how much I struggled to unlock him,because when you "beat" him,he instantly revives with full health. But then once he's unlocked,you never have to play as anybody else because of how stupidly OP his revive is.

[@Mateus_Carvalho]

Kinda funny that this was indeed related to Celebrity Deathmatch... and indicative of the state of affairs too, going from something that's still going to this day to an underrated product that I think lasted a couple of years or so with a short revival on the side.

[@danev2001]

Should have had Jay Hunter on this episode

[@nbr6116]

Jay Hunter? Of OSW Fame? In a Video about Wrestling and the Simpsons? Well I never!

[@danev2001]

@@nbr6116 Jay and Matt go together like a Nogger and a can of Coke. It would be what’s best for business, if you will.

[@rickpgriffin]

Don't think I didn't notice your example of Simpsons Cartoon Studio was the Steamed Hams version

[@klawstecno2083]

Is "The Simpson's game" the best game related to this series? I know some people say that Hit & Run is great, but in my honest opinion, "The Simpson's game" have much more charm, specially with the gimmick stages paroding games.

[@noisereaper662]

The Simpsons Game is a great game, too bad they weren't able to make the sequel.

[@ebookjapan8054]

The writing and voice acting being 'too graphic' for a game is strange. Radical was nervous about showing Hit and Run to Matt Groening because of the ability to kick characters around, only for him to spend his first minutes with the game beating up Marge.