Batman computer and video games
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Batman has been adapted into a video game on several occasions.
[edit] Batman (1986)
Prior to the film licenced version of the games, a 3D isometric arcade adventure was also released under the Batman licence by Ocean Software on ZX Spectrum and MSX. This was written by Bernie Drummond and Jon Ritman and was very similar to Head over Heels, arguably their most successful title. The Tim Burton film had not yet been released, and the game was based on the original 1960s series. In this game Batman has to rescue Robin, but to do so he must collect six parts of the batcraft hovercraft. During the game you pick up various items to help you, like boots that allowed you to jump. A remake, called Watman, was produced for PC in 2000 as a DOS game. A remake has also been written for the Game Boy Advance.
[edit] External links
[edit] Batman: The Caped Crusader (1988)
Ocean Software also later released Batman: The Caped Crusader, a two-part arcade adventure also based on the TV series and the original comic strip. It was released for the 8-bit machines such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 and also for the 16-bit machines such as the Amiga.
In this game, Batman is faced with two of his most well-known adversaries namely The Penguin and The Joker. The game is split into two different parts, one for each villain. These parts are separate and can be played in any order. Batman has to use his fists and his batarang (a thrown weapon) in order to fight the villains' henchmen as well as solving puzzles.
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[edit] Batman - The Movie (1989)
A video game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, Game Boy (the original), and IBM PC. A number of factors including licensing issues and system limitations created the unusual scenario of each game being quite different on the different systems, particularly between the console and platform versions.
[edit] ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC versions
These versions were licensed to then Manchester based Ocean Software (now Infogrames), who were famed producing a wide range of film-licensed games that consisted largely of a series of sub-games. When the Batman games were released in 1989, this style was relatively new, and the game was well-received by the video gaming press. British ZX Spectrum magazine Your Sinclair awarded the game 91% on release.
[edit] Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and IBM PC versions
These versions were similar to the above 8-bit versions, but the more advanced technology (for the time!) allowed more sophisticated effects to be used. The extra memory, processor power and graphic capabilities were put to use in the second and fourth levels, creating a full 3D effect instead of the side-scrolling subgames present in the 8-bit versions.
[edit] NES version
The console versions, specifically the NES and Sega Genesis versions, were developed by Sunsoft. The NES version was a four-way platform action game featuring the locations of the 1989 movie. The NES title had five levels culminating in a showdown with the Joker in Gotham Cathedral. The game had a much more futuristic feel to it than the movie, with robots, jet-packs and mutants. And when Batman dies in this game, he turns into ashes and disappears, signifying the effect of futuristic weapons burning his body completely (the burning ashes are shaped like a bat). It is the general consensus of many fans that this version has some of the best music on the NES.
[edit] Mega Drive/Genesis version
This version was also produced by Sunsoft, and while critics were impressed by its graphics, sound and playability (similar to the Nintendo version) it had limited commercial success because it took so long for the final product to be released. Nintendo had a policy that when you got permission to produce games for a Nintendo system you were not able to produce games for a competitor, and thus the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version of Batman was in limbo from mid 1989 until late 1991, until an American court ruled that this Nintendo policy was a violation of American business regulations regarding restraint of trade.
Unlike the NES, this version stays much closer to the plot of the film, and features the Batmobile and Batwing in the form of horizontal shooting levels. It was highly regarded by critics of most video game magazines who reviewed the Japanese version, and its slow release in the US brought much attention to Nintendo's questionable policies.
[edit] Non-console version levels and relation to the film
Level 1 - The Axis Chemical Plant - A standard platform level, Batman must fight through the Chemical Plant dispatching Jack Napier's henchmen, before a showdown with Napier himself. Batman must knock him into a vat of toxic chemicals, following the plot in the film. The game deviates from the film plot considerably in one respect however: in the film, Batman attempts to save Napier from falling into the chemicals, but fails, and in the game, Batman makes an active attempt to knock Napier into the vat.
Level 2 - The Batmobile - Batman must escape to the Batcave with Vicky Vale in the Batmobile with the Joker's henchmen in pursuit. Here the game differed greatly between the 8-bit and 16-bit versions. The 8-bit (Spectrum, Commodore and Amstrad) versions featured a side-scrolling game, whereas the 16-bit versions (Amiga, ST and PC) featured a full 3D "into-the-screen" racing game. Nonetheless, the features of the level remained similar - Batman must occasionally turn corners either by normal turning or by means of throwing the Batarang around a lamp post to swing the Batmobile around to the correct direction.
Level 3 - Chemical Analysis - Here Batman attempts to decipher the combination of products that the Joker has used in creating the poison "Smilex". It is a simple puzzle game similar to various versions of Mastermind, where the player must use logic and no small amount of guesswork to establish the correct group.
Level 4 - The Carnival - Batman, in control of the Batwing, must cut all of the Joker's Smilex-filled balloons to avoid a public massacre. If too many balloons are missed or Batman collides with too many balloons, releasing the gas, Batman loses a life. There is a minor difference between the game and film. In the film, Batman collects the balloons, and releases them later, whereas in the game, they are cut loose immediately.
Level 5 - Gotham City Cathedral - Batman must chase the Joker into the Cathedral, dispatching the Joker's henchmen along the way to a final showdown on the Cathedral's roof with Napier himself.
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[edit] Batman (1990)
In 1990 Atari released an arcade game based on the Batman movie. It was a scrolling fighter. [1]
[edit] Batman: Return of the Joker (1991)
A Sunsoft game released for the NES and Genesis. A Super NES version was planned but later cancelled. It is a typical platforming game, with a specialized boss fighting at the end of the level. It has nothing to do with the movies, and was possibly cancelled due to the bad performance of the NES and Genesis versions. The NES version is held in high regard by NES fans, as it's one of the few games on the NES to push the system to its absolute limits, producing graphics and sounds that would seem nearly 16-bit.
[edit] Batman Returns (1993)
Batman Returns appeared on several different consoles: Atari Lynx, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Mega-CD and Super NES. These games are generally quite different to each other as they were developed by different companies. The Sega versions were produced by Sega itself, the Nintendo versions were developed by Konami and the Atari Lynx version was developed internally at Atari.
The Super NES version is an action game with three game modes: a scrolling fighter, a straight 2D platformer and a batmobile stage and uses the soundtrack of the film.
The Mega Drive/Genesis version is a 2D platformer. It was later ported to the Sega CD, which adds the 3D Batmobile and Batboat levels, as well as Red Book audio.
The NES version is a combination of scrolling fighting, platforming and Batmobile and Batboat driving, though vastly different from the SNES one.
The Atari Lynx version is a notoriously difficult platform game that was later bundled with the console.
[edit] Batman: The Animated Series (1993)
Batman: The Animated Series' video game was developed by Konami, and released for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1993.
[edit] The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1994)
These games are based on the Batman animated series of the early 1990s. Like Batman Returns, Konami developed and published the Nintendo versions, while Sega handled production into their own systems.
The Mega Drive/Genesis version is a 2D beat 'em up, with some flying stages. It features the ability to play up to 2 player simultaneously as either Batman or Robin (there are no differences between both) as they fight their way against the Joker, Two-Face, Mad Hatter and Mr. Freeze. The characters can use their unlimited weapons at a long distance from the enemies, while at close range the players use combat melee attacks. It is regarded as one of the hardest games ever made, and also known for pushing the Genesis to its limits in special effects.
The Sega CD version consists of Batmobile chase screens. Between levels, the story advances through animated scenes that were created specifically for the game. The animated segments were developed by TMS, which also did some of the episodes of the original cartoon. Kevin Conroy (Batman), Loren Lester (Robin), Robert Hastings (Commissioner James Gordon), Robert Costanzo (Harvey Bullock), Diane Pershing (Poison Ivy), John Glover (Riddler), Arleen Sorkin (Harley Quinn), Mark Hamill (The Joker), John Vernon (Rupert Thorne) and Ron Perlman (Clayface) all reprised their roles from the animated series.
The Super NES version is a 1 player action/adventure game only (with Batman available). Most of the levels involve typical platforming schemes, although some levels require some searching and investigation (one involves the Batmobile). The player can use bat-gadgets, some of which are vital to complete a stage. A unique feature is the possibility to return to the Batcave in order to restart the level or retrieve some needed gadget. It is possible to continue the game by passwords (not available on Hard difficulty). This version has more levels and villains than its Genesis counterpart. The villains that appear in the game are:
- The Joker
- Poison Ivy
- The Penguin
- Catwoman
- Two-Face
- Scarecrow
- The Riddler
- Clayface
- Man-Bat
- Harley Quinn
[edit] Batman Forever (1996)
In 1996 Acclaim released another arcade game. Like the previous it was also a scrolling fighter game. The player controls either Batman or Robin and has to guide them through various stages that are taken in 1995 movie. This version was ported to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation.
Acclaim also released console versions for the Super NES, Genesis and Game Boy. These games are based on the console versions of the Mortal Kombat engine. As such, the characters (Batman or Robin) move like in the fighting game. In addition, both have a supply of items in order to help them in diverse tasks.
[edit] Batman & Robin (1997)
Acclaim released Saturn & PlayStation versions of the fourth movie.
Tiger Electronics released a version for its ill-fated game.com. It also was a pack-in for the handheld.
[edit] Batman Vengence (2001)
Batman video game developed by Ubi-Soft, released for the PS2, Xbox and the Gamecube.
[edit] External links
- Batman Licensees at MobyGames
- The Killer List of Videogames: Batman Forever
- Cinerama: Batman Forever
- Video Games @ Batman: Yesterday, Today, & Beyond
[edit] Awarding of licenses
Batman, Batman: The Caped Crusader and Batman: The Movie were produced by Ocean Software, before the Batman Returns[2] license was passed onto Konami, and the Batman Forever and Batman and Robin[3] licences were awarded to Acclaim. The video game version of Batman Begins was published by Electronic Arts.
[edit] See also
Categories: Wikipedia articles in need of updating | 1986 computer and video games | 1988 computer and video games | 1989 computer and video games | 1990 computer and video games | 1996 computer and video games | Batman arcade and video games | Amiga games | Amstrad CPC games | Atari ST games | Commodore 64 games | MSX games | Nintendo Entertainment System games | Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis games | Super NES games | ZX Spectrum games | Isometric computer and video games
