The Simpsons: Hit & Run allows gamers to play as five different characters through the course of the game, and Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is the only non-Simpsons one of them. Originally released in 2003, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is a Grand Theft Auto-style open world driving/exploration game centered around a mysterious swarm of robotic insects and a dangerous new soft drink.
During part of the game, players assume the role of Apu, the owner of the local convenience store Kwik-E-Mart. In the T.V. show, Apu is also known for his extremely large family as well as his various financial problems, and in The Simpsons: Hit & Run much of the game’s plot focuses on Apu, who begins observing strange happenings around their town of Springfield. Apu’s role in the story later escalates when he begins selling a strange new soft drink, Buzz Cola, which has insane results (literally).
The storyline of The Simpsons: Hit & Run takes players on many wild adventures, and it is just as bizarre as fans have come to expect from The Simpsons T.V. episodes. Although Apu is central to the game’s plot and a lot would’ve had to have been changed had his role been cut, given the recent controversy surrounding the Hank Azaria-voice character this may be the final video game Apu is playable in.
Why You Play As Apu In The Simpsons: Hit & Run
The Simpsons: Hit & Run allows gamers to play as each member of the Simpson family – Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa – save for baby Maggie. The only other character available to play as is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. It may seem strange that the game’s developers chose Apu to be the only non-family member that gamers can embody, but Apu’s inclusion as a playable character is central to the game’s storyline, and if things had been different, it would have drastically changed the way players experience the game.
Each level in The Simpsons: Hit & Run allows players to assume the role of a different character, and it’s not until Level 5 that players are able to play as Apu. This level is primarily focused on the Kwik-E-Mart manager as he attempts to redeem himself after selling the Buzz Cola which made Bart go crazy. Playing as Apu, the level directs players to try and find the source of the mysterious cola, later leading them to recruit the help of a criminal. The buzz cola is a huge element in The Simpsons: Hit & Run’s plot and had the player not been able to play as Apu, it would have meant the mystery of the cola would’ve had a very different ending. Level 5 is the only level that users can play as Apu, though he makes appearances in various other chapters.
Why Apu Might Not Be In Anymore Simpsons Games
Even though fans reacted positively to Apu’s inclusion in The Simpsons: Hit & Run, it’s unlikely he will be featured in any sequels or remakes, should they happen. Earlier this year, it was reported that Hank Azaria – the voice actor behind the iconic cartoon – announced he would no longer play the role, despite having voiced Apu since 1990. This came after the 2017’s documentary “The Problem With Apu” pointed out the racial microaggressions the cartoon perpetuates. Azaria later apologized for his portrayal of Apu and for any offense he may have caused. “The idea that anyone, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased based on the character of Apu, it just really makes me sad,” Azaria said on “The Late Show.” “It was certainly not my intention. I wanted to spread laughter and joy.”
Granted, Apu has been featured as a playable character in other Simpsons-themed video games, including 2001’s The Simpsons: Road Rage as well as the online game The Simpsons: Tapped Out. However, given the controversy around the T.V. character, the developers will likely think twice before including him in a new game. Considering the backlash the character has received, fans shouldn’t get their hopes up of seeing him in a Simpsons video game sequel or remake.
Apu is one of the main playable characters in The Simpsons: Hit & Run, and even though the game wouldn’t be the same without him, this may have been one of the last appearances he makes in a video game.
