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Batman Returns (video game)
Encyclopedia
Batman Returns is a video game for various platforms based on the movie
of the same name. The Sega
console versions (i.e. Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Master System
and Sega Game Gear
) were published by Sega
themselves while the NES
and Super NES
versions were developed and published by Konami
. The PC
version was published by Konami and developed by Spirit of Discovery. The Amiga version was developed by Denton Designs
, and also published by Konami. There is also an Atari Lynx version, published by Atari
themselves.
games.
The game takes the player through seven scenes featured in the film. Various members of the Red Triangle Circus Gang attack Batman throughout the game. Batman has a number of weapons and moves at his disposal, including the batarang
. Each level ends with a boss character, which requires a little more effort and strategy to defeat. A number of levels are two-dimensional platform levels as opposed to the majority of the pseudo-3D levels where freer movement is permitted. The fifth level consists of driving the Batmobile
in a chase scene where Batman must chase bikers and a heavily-armed van from the gang. In order to defeat them, the Batmobile uses a machine gun.
Reviews of the game were largely positive, although some criticism was made about the lack of originality. Praise was gained for the quality of the graphics, sound, fluid controls, balanced difficulty level and atmosphere (with music adapted from Danny Elfman
's score
for the film).
Batman Returns was awarded Best Licensed Game of 1992 by Electronic Gaming Monthly
.
series. The player only has one life bar (which can be expanded through health packs). It implements a password-save system. Of special note are the two side-scrolling racing levels in which the player controlled the Batmobile and the Batskiboat.
The Mega Drive/Genesis game was roundly criticized by the gaming press for having substandard-quality graphics and unoriginal and unexciting gameplay with an unfair difficulty level, while the Mega-CD/Sega CD one had some success due to the exciting racing levels and the rock music.
While different versions follow the movie's plot from start to finish, the Sega versions start after The Penguin
kills the Ice Princess and puts the blame on Batman for killing her, as shown in the game's introductions.
This version featured a unique branched level system, allowing players to choose from an easy and difficult route. The latter typically forced players to use rope swinging to navigate over large floorless areas in these versions of levels. According to a user on the SEGA Bits forum, it was originally supposed to be a Shinobi game.
. This was because the PC was, at the time, still not considered a serious gaming system and was primarily host to games belonging in the adventure, RPG and strategy
genres.
It was received moderately well by the press.
The reality, however, was very different. The game was, contrary to expectations, not a conversion of the PC title, but a side-scrolling platform game akin to the console games. It was plagued with bugs, including very inaccurate collision detection
.
The gaming press almost universally panned the game for the aforementioned bugs, for being near unplayable (with controls that rarely reacted in the way they should have done) together with poor graphics and sound - the game was given marks as low as 19% (CU Amiga). The belief that the Amiga version would be a conversion of the PC title may have been contributory to the disappointment and anger expressed by many magazines - reviews on modern retro gaming sites are, however, not generally so critical of the game, although few offer much praise.
Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to Burton's Batman , and features Michael Keaton reprising the title role, with Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman.Burton originally did not...
of the same name. The Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
console versions (i.e. Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Master System
Sega Master System
The is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
and Sega Game Gear
Sega Game Gear
The was Sega's first handheld game console. It was the third commercially available color handheld console, after the Atari Lynx and the TurboExpress....
) were published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
themselves while the NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and Super NES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
versions were developed and published by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
. The PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
version was published by Konami and developed by Spirit of Discovery. The Amiga version was developed by Denton Designs
Denton Designs
Denton Designs was a British video games developer based in Liverpool. The company was founded in 1984 and initially specialised in developing software for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer...
, and also published by Konami. There is also an Atari Lynx version, published by Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
themselves.
SNES version
The SNES version of the game was released in 1993. It is fundamentally a left-to-right scrolling fighter beat-em-up, a genre that featured heavily on the console at the time. The gameplay and graphics are very similar to the Final FightFinal Fight
is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up game originally released by Capcom as a coin-operated video game in . It was the seventh game released by Capcom for their CP System arcade game hardware...
games.
The game takes the player through seven scenes featured in the film. Various members of the Red Triangle Circus Gang attack Batman throughout the game. Batman has a number of weapons and moves at his disposal, including the batarang
Batarang
A batarang is a roughly bat-shaped throwing weapon used by the DC Comics superhero Batman. The name is a portmanteau of bat and boomerang, and was originally spelled baterang. Although they are named after boomerangs, batarangs have become more like shuriken in recent interpretations...
. Each level ends with a boss character, which requires a little more effort and strategy to defeat. A number of levels are two-dimensional platform levels as opposed to the majority of the pseudo-3D levels where freer movement is permitted. The fifth level consists of driving the Batmobile
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
in a chase scene where Batman must chase bikers and a heavily-armed van from the gang. In order to defeat them, the Batmobile uses a machine gun.
Reviews of the game were largely positive, although some criticism was made about the lack of originality. Praise was gained for the quality of the graphics, sound, fluid controls, balanced difficulty level and atmosphere (with music adapted from Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
's score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
for the film).
Batman Returns was awarded Best Licensed Game of 1992 by Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
.
NES version
The NES version of the game is also a beat 'em up game, but closer in style and gameplay to the Double DragonDouble Dragon
is a classic beat 'em up video game series initially developed by Technos Japan Corporation, who also developed the Kunio-kun series ....
series. The player only has one life bar (which can be expanded through health packs). It implements a password-save system. Of special note are the two side-scrolling racing levels in which the player controlled the Batmobile and the Batskiboat.
Sega 16-bit versions
The Mega-CD/Sega CD and Mega Drive/Genesis versions of the game are more or less identical. The CD edition of the game features improved music in the form of CD audio with a number of animations featuring original artwork (not film photos), and a number of then-impressive 3D racing levels that took advantage of the graphics hardware provided by the Sega CD unit.The Mega Drive/Genesis game was roundly criticized by the gaming press for having substandard-quality graphics and unoriginal and unexciting gameplay with an unfair difficulty level, while the Mega-CD/Sega CD one had some success due to the exciting racing levels and the rock music.
While different versions follow the movie's plot from start to finish, the Sega versions start after The Penguin
Penguin (comics)
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot III is a DC Comics supervillain and one of Batman's oldest, most persistent enemies. The Penguin was introduced by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, making his debut in Detective Comics #58 .The Penguin is a short, rotund man known for his love of birds and his...
kills the Ice Princess and puts the blame on Batman for killing her, as shown in the game's introductions.
Sega Master System and Game Gear versions
As with the 16-bit versions, the 8-bit versions of the game are side-scrolling platform games. However, the titles were created independently of the 16-bit versions.This version featured a unique branched level system, allowing players to choose from an easy and difficult route. The latter typically forced players to use rope swinging to navigate over large floorless areas in these versions of levels. According to a user on the SEGA Bits forum, it was originally supposed to be a Shinobi game.
Atari Lynx version
The Atari Lynx version is a 2D side-scroller that had some of the best graphics of Atari's portable. The game was well known for being notoriously difficult.PC version
The PC version of the game, published by Konami, differs considerably from the other versions, in that it was not primarily an action game, rather an adventure gameAdventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
. This was because the PC was, at the time, still not considered a serious gaming system and was primarily host to games belonging in the adventure, RPG and strategy
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
genres.
It was received moderately well by the press.
Amiga version
The Amiga version of the game was a subject of considerable controversy. Gametek had, prior to the game's release, sent a number of screenshots derived from the PC title to market the game. As such, a number of computer magazines previewed the game as a direct conversion of the PC adventure.The reality, however, was very different. The game was, contrary to expectations, not a conversion of the PC title, but a side-scrolling platform game akin to the console games. It was plagued with bugs, including very inaccurate collision detection
Collision detection
Collision detection typically refers to the computational problem of detecting the intersection of two or more objects. While the topic is most often associated with its use in video games and other physical simulations, it also has applications in robotics...
.
The gaming press almost universally panned the game for the aforementioned bugs, for being near unplayable (with controls that rarely reacted in the way they should have done) together with poor graphics and sound - the game was given marks as low as 19% (CU Amiga). The belief that the Amiga version would be a conversion of the PC title may have been contributory to the disappointment and anger expressed by many magazines - reviews on modern retro gaming sites are, however, not generally so critical of the game, although few offer much praise.