Springfield’s in peril? D’oh!

Peanut butter and jelly. Rum and Coke. Tango and Cash. For devoted fans of the long-running TV show, “The Simpsons Hit & Run” is another perfect mix.

One of the best games last year, “Grand Theft Auto Vice City,” got a well-deserved rap by some for being too violent. “Hit & Run” does away with all of the hard-core violence but preserves the mission-based challenges and driving excitement that made “GTA” such a hit.

Throw in a collection of well-rendered characters and voices from the actual cast -- with a plot created by the show’s writers, no less -- and what you get is one of the best games of the year.

You play as one of five characters trying to discover why mysterious black vans and robot wasps with cameras have invaded Springfield. By interacting with familiar faces -- “Hi, Dr. Nick!” -- gamers are given challenges (like collecting all the escaped monkeys from the test lab) to complete levels and advance the game’s plot.

And like “GTA,” “Hit & Run” has plenty of side missions and races to participate in as well. Not feeling like getting Grandpa Simpson some new blood? Then why not help Cletus, the slack-jawed yokel, drive around in his pickup truck collecting “flatmeat.” And because the show’s creative team had a hand in the development, each mission is more quirky than the last, just as fans of the show would expect. The levels are also chock-full of inside jokes and needless trivia for the delight of serious fans. (You can even drive the broken monorail past the escalator to nowhere.)

In addition to driving, gamers can visit and interact with different places around town, like the Kwik-E-Mart, the Android’s Dungeon or Kamp Krusty. While in Moe’s Bar, belly up to the hard-boiled eggs or take a turn at “The Love Tester.” Controls are simple and intuitive, and you can save your progress anywhere you’d like, a nice feature. And unlike “GTA,” if your character gets busted by Police Chief Wiggum or fails to make a jump across the dam, he or she is reborn right where he left off. Players also collect coins that can be used to buy different outfits and vehicles.

Is there anything better than exploring Main Street as Homer in the Mr. Plow truck while wearing just a pair of tighty-whiteys? As dim-witted Ralph Wiggum would say: “That’s unpossible.”

It pays to catch some rays

They finally did it.

Video game creators finally found a way to force gamers to -- gasp! -- get outside, into the sunlight.

Embedded in the game cartridge of the amazing “Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand” is a black solar sensor. When controlling Solar Boy in his quest to defeat the evil vampires, how much sun shines on your Game Boy Advance really matters. Solar Boy’s weapon is reloadable by how much sun hits the sensor. And not just any old sun, direct sunlight. Forget about playing under a bright light. You need old-fashioned sunlight to make it work.

The game play itself is just as innovative, but that’s to be expected from the guy behind one of the best game series ever, “Metal Gear.” The Game Boy’s internal clock also controls the time in Solar Boy’s world, altering the graphics to match. In daytime, most of the ghouls are asleep and the game is a little easier, but at night, after the sun has gone down ....

Pocket full of

quarters ...

Quick reviews from around the gaming world.

Are those giant Xbox controllers too big for your human-sized hands? Then try a MicroCON unit from Madcatz ($29.99). The size and placement of the buttons mean more comfort. ... MadCatz’s RetroCON for PS2 ($24.99) is fun, but strictly for those longing for the days of Super Nintendo, before ergonomics were considered. ... Ryko’s AirFlo controllers ($24.99) prevent sweaty palms with the little fans built into the handles, but the constant humming of said fans gets a little distracting. ... Uncomfortably heavy because of the 2.6” TFT screen on top, HipScreen ($99.99) units are for those without TVs who have super-magnifying vision. The games are too detailed and too small to see.

Pete Metzger can be contacted at pete.metzger@latimes.com.

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Games

“The Simpsons Hit & Run”

Good: Multilayered good time; very replayable. Excellent details.

Bad: Not the most original game play, but so what.

Details: All platforms; $49.99; Rating: T (comic mischief, violence).

“Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand”

Good: All the fresh air and Vitamin B you can handle.

Bad: Not a game for a rainy day.

Details: Game Boy Advance; $34.99; Rating: E (everyone).