For once in his young life, Bart Simpson has accepted the responsibility of completing his homework on time. Unfortunately, 15 minutes into his studies, he fell asleep at his desk and entered a strange dreamland in which the familiar is suddenly unfamiliar. Mailboxes crawl across the road, Lisa Fairies float through the air and Blinkie the three-eyed fish swims down the sidewalk. This parallel universe is no mere dream; it is The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare.

To escape from the surreal surroundings, you must help Bart locate his homework papers that have flown out the window and scattered throughout Windy World and five Other Worldly Worlds. You'll find two pages of homework in the worlds of Bartzilla, The Temple of Maggie and Itchy & Scratchy and one page of homework in the worlds of Bartman and Bart's Bloodstream.

To escape Windy World, you must search for doorways that lead to the Other Worldly Worlds. During your search, you will perform a number of bratty tasks, including splatting citizens with bubble gum, burping up soda and spiting watermelon seeds.

You'll also meet up with Principal Skinner (who puts you in a suit and tie) and other familiar characters and be forced to avoid obstacles, such as mud puddles, kisses from grandma, a school bus and walking TVs. Most obstacles steal your "Z"s (energy) while others do more unpredictable things, such as fairy dust turning you into a frog. Jumping over certain obstacles helps you get points, skateboards and other useful items and abilities.

Almost anything can happen as Bart's dreams play out onscreen. As Bartzilla, you'll climb skyscrapers, destroy buildings, breathe balls of fire and shoot deadly lasers out of your eyes while being attacked by angry tenants, Momthra, jet fighters, helicopters and tanks. If you make it through the level, you'll meet up with Mighty Homer Kong!

The Temple of Maggie is hidden in the deepest, darkest corner of the Springfield Rain Forest. Here you'll face unstable stone floors, giant pacifiers and blue demons. Luckily, you've got your trusty whip, and you can grab golden eggs for extra lives. While egg snatching, be sure and watch out for the vulture!

As superhero Bartman, you'll fly through the skies and use your slingshot to fend off missiles and paper airplanes. Avoid lightning strikes and radioactive clouds of gas as you go. When the boss meter warns of trouble, get ready to do battle with Sherri and Terri, Monty Burns, Barney Gumble, Waylon Smithers and many others.

Then there's Itchy & Scratchy, a decidedly more violent version of Tom & Jerry. However, instead of going after each other, they direct their carving knives, bazookas, flamethrowers and other weapons at you. To ward off the cat and mouse duo, pick up and use dart guns, mallets, soda cans and fire extinguishers.

Finally, you must enter Bart's bloodstream (a la Fantastic Voyage) and avoid two types of lethal viruses. To eliminate the viruses, blow them up with your hand pump. Your goal is to destroy a spinning circular force field that contains a missing page of your homework assignment. You do this by coming in contact with Smilin' Joe Fission numerous times.

Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare (Sega Genesis, 1993)