Having recently celebrated its 25th anniversary,South Parkis on its way to becoming the second-longest running American animated series, with onlyThe Simpsonsbeating it at its own game. Alongside a concert featuring some of the show’s most iconic songs, the 25th anniversary was joined by the announcement of a new game based on the series. While literally nothing is known about the game, from its visuals to its concept to even its title and release date, it did not stop fans from immediately starting to develop theories about the game’s content. Some even suspect that this upcoming title isthe rumoredSouth Park-themed multiplayer gamewith 3D graphics.
Although the details surrounding this upcomingSouth Parkgame remain to be seen, it will likely attempt to live up to the standards set by the duology of roleplaying games,The Stick of TruthandThe Fractured but Whole. Evidently, one of the selling points of both games is the overwhelming number of characters, locations, and references from the entirety of the show’s run that were crammed into them. That being said, some of these references, especially inThe Fractured but Whole, relied heavily on the modern continuity, potentially gatekeeping fans of the older episodes. To remedy that, this upcoming game should strive for balanced representation of the show’s numerous eras.
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How to Define South Park’s Different Eras
Having lasted as long as it did,the evolution ofSouth Parkwas inevitable. The animation improved, and the show also shifted its primary focus from vulgarity to social satire to remain fresh after a few seasons. The supporting cast has changed and expanded, with Butters Stotch and Randy Marsh occasionally having more screentime than the four main boys. The show has experimented with different storytelling techniques, having even used a serialized approach. Compare an episode from Season 20 to any of the classics from when the show’s popularity was at its peak, and the differences are astronomical.
Unlike its contemporaries,such asThe Simpsons,South Park’s eras cannot be defined by showrunners due to Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s close involvement with the franchise since its inception. Despite that, it is easy to tell when the show starts transitioning from one era into another. The first definitive era is the “classic” one, and is mostly known as the first three seasons and the movieBigger, Longer & Uncut. This era represents the time whenSouth Parkwas a controversial cultural phenomenon dismissed as a fad by many critics. Cartman had a raspier voice and plenty of catchphrases, Kenny died every episode, Stan barfed whenever Wendy was around, and Mr. Garrison had a puppet called Mr. Hat. Most of the supporting characters from that era, such as Chef, Officer Barbrady, Pip, Jesus, and Dr. Mephesto, have now been reduced to the sidelines or killed off.
The secondSouth Parkera is the halfway point between the retro seasons and the show’s modern identity. There are no official terms for this part of the series’ history, nor have fans coined anything, but these seasons are easy to identify.Cartman got an increasingly deeper voiceand became more psychopathic. Kyle and Stan’s personalities diverged from each other, and Kenny semi-permanently died. The old supporting cast was slowly replaced by other former minor and background characters.
These includethe aforementioned Randyand Butters, as well as the boys’ extended friend group, with characters like Craig, Tolkien, Clyde, Tweek, and Jimmy getting more screentime. The animation and art are closer to the modern seasons, and the show embraced its irreverent satirical side without sacrificing its absurdism and blue comedy. Seasons 4 and 5 are credited with starting this era, and Season 9 is considered to be the end, being the last season with any traces of retroSouth Park.
South Park’s contemporary identityis believed to have spawned in the tenth season, which starts with the infamous episode that killed Chef off. Visually and tonally, a Season 10 episode is nearly indistinguishable from an episode being made today. The characterization that still persists today is being set in stone. New character designs for adults and animals tend to be more realistic, and the show occasionally drifts into dramedy territory. At this point, the only way to pinpoint an episode’s airdate is by recognizing its targets for satire. While some things have changed over time, such as PC Principal’s introduction, Tweek and Craig becoming a couple, and Randy founding Tegridy Farms, the show’s tone and approach to storytelling and comedy has remained consistent for over 15 years.
The Next South Park Game Should Celebrate The Show’s Entire Run
It’s clear that “modern”South Parkis the bulk of the show’s run, if not necessarily the best representative of its success and cultural impact. Therefore, it’s understandable for supplementary medialike the RPGsto mainly focus on what the show currently has to offer. However, it does feel uncanny to simply dismiss older aspects of the show. Parker and Stone might dislike the first three seasons in hindsight, but they still represent a side of the show that is seldom acknowledged.
If thenewSouth Parkgamedecides to not follow continuity like the RPGs, this could be an opportunity to have the old school meet the contemporary. Dead characters could be brought back this one time, and old schticks could make a return. There are plenty of references to the older episodes in the RPGs, but most of the characterization and humor was based on the audience’s familiarity with current episodes. This new game could strike a balance between old and new, please the differing tastes in the fandom, and offer a new way of honoring the show’s legacy.
A newSouth Parkgame is in development.
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