Sega Genesis: Batman
September 28, 2008 - 8:08 am - Posted by Sean
Of all the Sega Genesis Batman games (Batman, Batman Forever, Batman Returns, Batman: Revenge Of The Joker), the first one has held up best over the years.
Relatively short in length and simple to play, Batman offers clean, crisp graphics, excellent control, and well-designed stages.
Fans will appreciate how the storyline follows the movie from the factory, to the museum, to the final confrontation with the Joker in the tower.
The cut-scenes, which fill in the storyline, are brief but fun to watch. Batman’s graphics have an old-school charm.
The small characters have black outlines, and the thugs all basically look and dress the same.
It’s amusing to watch the bad guys “evolve” as you progress through the stages.
They’re easy targets in the beginning, but eventually “learn” how to shoot, then to crouch, and eventually they’re flipping all over the place.
One of the bosses is named “Bob the Goon”, which I find pretty hilarious.
Batman’s tight controls allow you to punch, kick, toss Batarangs, and hoist yourself up to higher ledges using your grappling hook.
You have a limited number of Batarangs, and if you can save them for the bosses, it’ll make your life a lot easier.
Batman’s audio features a generic soundtrack, and the sound effects are minimal.
You won’t find many surprises in the platform action, but the driving and flying sequences are a real treat. Actually they play more like side-scrolling shooters.
In the Batmobile, you mow down cars, vans, and tanks on the road, while the Batwing stage lets you shoot down helicopters and balloons.
I especially love those heat-seeking missiles, which effectively slice through several vehicles at a time.
Batman for the Sega Genesis may not be a showcase title for the system, but in terms of pure fun, it’s hard to beat.
I just have one question for you. Have you ever danced with the devil under the pail moonlight? Hehe.
@Gregg: The short answer is yes