Customer Reviews

Batman: The Video Game

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Batman for the nes is quite possibly one of the best sidescrolling games based off of a comic book liscense and sheer quality of this game is not often found with old games that are usually rushed to coincide with a movie's release date. Thiat is not the case here, what we have is a fun and challenging game that is leaps and bounds better than most of the nes competition.
For a game that's over twenty years old, the graphics are very detailed with lots of nice background effects like buzz saws spinning on the ground and the joker's face appearing on the computer moniters. Another cool effect is the spinning gears in the clock tower which also happens to be one of the most epic last levels in 8 bit. The only real problem graphically is that many of the middle levels don't really match the Batman theme very well and appear to be lifted from another game entirely whcih is really less of a complaint and more of a curiosity.
The gameplay is pitch perfect and the Batman handles in such a natural way.From the wall jumping to switching your three weapons on the fly, everything is mapped out to perfection. Many times playing this, I forgot I was even holding a controller, it really is that intuitive.
Last but certainly not least, there is the music. Each level has it's own melody that ranges from sweeping thatrical action compositions to moody more subtle sound. One thing is for certain, few nes games can manage to utilize the hardware and make the sound as quality as this. This here is a soundtrack that easily compares to megaman or castlevania and in case your new to 8 bit, that's a huge compliment.
Anyway, if you have an old nes lying around, dust it off and play this little gem. Even if your not a fan of Batman but can appreciate some old school platforming, this is worth checking out. Sunsoft really did a tremendous job on this one and it's a shame more people don't include this in their listmania lists because I would pick this up over super mario 2 any day of the week.

There is no denying the fact that the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was, at its very best, a flawed piece of hardware. Gamers everywhere will remember all the tricks of the trade (blowing, pumping, squeezing, etc.) in order to get the games to boot up. Yet, for all its quirks, that system can never be accused of one thing: churning out classic games that entertained gamers for hours on end. "Batman" is one of those games.

Based on the 1989 film of the same name, this game follows the basic progression of the movie, including such levels as Gotham City, the sewer plant, Joker's television studio, and the Belltower. You play as the Caped Crusader who must dispose of a wide range of enemies (both on land and in the air) while also utilize some fancy jumping skills to scale tall buildings and reach key platforms.

I think that the real genius of the game, though, shines through in its perfectly designed difficulty curve. Though I consider "Punch-Out!" to be my all-time favorite NES game (with this one a close second), in that collection of pugilistic confrontations there is just too much difference between the hardest villain (Tyson/Dream) and the one that proceeded him (Super Macho Man). Basically, you can dominate the entire game and still get floored by Tyson/Dream quite regularly. Fortunately, Batman does not fall prey to that design flaw. Don't get me wrong...the game can be very difficult at times. Yet, the difficulty progresses in such a fashion that the skills learned in one stage will need to be mastered before you have any chance at the next one.

Also, on a bit of a side note, the music in this game is some of the best the NES ever produced. For those of you who are able to appreciate an 8-bit soundtrack, you will be able to listen to Batman's tunes all night long.

To conclude, I think that the true test of the success of this game comes from the fact that it has taken nearly two decades to produce another highly-rated Batman video game (the recently-released Arkham Asylum). All the iterations of the Dark Knight in between either suffered from bad controls, stupid story, or goofy graphics. Who would have thought that the best edition would come from a system as flawed as the NES?!

After so many years, I finally get to review this game on Amazon.com (wondering what took them so long to add this game). Let's get something straight right off the bat... er, whatever: if you have never played this game or even seen videos or screenshots and you want to play a game that faithfully creates an interactive experience of the 1989 movie, you're better off with the Genesis or Arcade version. What you'll get in the NES version is a story very loosely based on the movie with many stages and enemies you never saw in the movie. You'll fight robots, ninja turtles with flame throwers, spiky robotic bugs, tanks, a red ninja who looks somewhat like Ryu from Ninja Gaiden, a monkey that throws crescents at you, moving boxes, some guy with a jet pack in front of the Gotham Courthouse who throws fireballs and dives at you, some weird-ass machine, and ... this could go on for quite a while. While some of the stages may look slightly familiar (Gotham City streets, the Axis Chemicals factory, and the Cathedral), most look nothing like the movie: caves, power plants, the sewer, and an "art museum" that looks absolutely nothing like a museum, much less the one in the movie. The cathedral itself doesn't resemble the one in the movie much either, but at least you get to fight The Joker in the end, and yes he does look like The Joker.

So, in case you're still reading, you may be wondering why I rated it four stars. Because it's a hell of a lot of fun! That's why! As unfaithful to the movie as it is, this game is a blast to play with all the wall-jumping (don't worry; there's not too much of it), flying fists of fury, and enough challenge to make the game not too easy. You'll get infinite continues when you run out of lives and they only set you back to the first stage in the current chapter, not the beginning of the entire game.

The music? It's one of my favorite soundtracks, but it's nothing like the movie. If you've played other SunSoft games on the NES, you should know what to expect.

Inclusion of stages where you drive the batmobile and/or batwing would have secured a fifth star, but no game is perfect.

If you consider yourself a fan of old-school 2D action with some platform jumping thrown in, you owe it to yourself to give this a try. Otherwise you might want to consider a different hobby from video games.

I bought this game thinking that it would just be another dusty sticky nes game. HOWEVER when i got this it looked like it was brand new out the box looks great and work amazingly 5 stars!

Batman is a good, but not too challenging, game to play. What I liked about it is its variety of bad guys. Most often, you will see a few of them just once in the game. The game play is simple and straightforward, not much to memorize. One thing I hate about the controls is the switching of the functions in start and select. I prefer the start button to always be for pause. If you die, don't worry...you will always be on the same stage no matter how times it takes except for the final boss per level which will force you to restart a previous stage. Only one creature in the game is pretty annoying to work with, and that's the jumping giant. It's very hard to survive it and have half or more hearts. Obviously, the hardest part of the entire game is Joker. That is a very frustrating battle, but I finally beat him. I will show you how as I am going to explain what to do in each stage:
1-1: Make sure that you know how to work with three weapons; each has its advantages and disadvantages. Usually, try to conserve the ammo when you can. Also, it's imperative that you master the "spiderman" cling to the walls because that will be very, very useful technique later in the stages. In this stage, nothing new or hard about it. Very straightforward.
1-2: At the top, there is a rocketeer guy with a big gun. He flies like a bee; how to survive it intact is to get on top of a block and use the missile gun (the one that shoots 3 shots). Same thing for the next one. As soon as you go down to meet a ninja dude who apparently does nothing whatsoever, keep using the missile gun to avoid a fight.
1-3: Move immediately to the farthest left side and stay there. He will never touch you again. Every time he makes a fly-down, you shoot at him. You win. No contest.
2-1: In this stage, nothing new or hard about it. Very straightforward.
2-2: In this stage, nothing new or hard about it. Very straightforward.
2-3: In this stage, nothing new or hard about it. Very straightforward.
2-4: This part is difficult at times, and it's very certain that you will die at the first attempt. However, you will easily get better at it. First, stay where you are and watch the machine shooting at you. It's very repetitive in a patterned way. When you get used to it, use the missile gun and take it out from where you are while you are jumping or crouching down. After you got it, then move to right side and get on the ledge on the right side to take out the machine on the left side. Just stay where you are and use the gun. After you take it out, immediately get down. Watch the pattern of the machine on the right side. You don't need a weapon at all. The trick is position placement. After the machine fires, immediately get on the right side and move as close to it without being too close. Now, you notice that each time the machine fires at you, nothing touches you. So, pretty much punch at it until it explodes. Very simple stage actually.
3-1: This stage may be the easiest or the hardest, depending on what you have ammo-wise. If you have plenty of ammo, use the missile gun to take out the creature on right side. Do not fully reveal it; just only reveal a part of it jumping up and down. And always do this when you progress further in the stage. Notice there is no timer, so take your time. Now, if you have no ammo, jeez...this stage is going to be freaking hard and annoying. I did the whole thing without an ammo. You really have to get lucky with the fights and hope for a drop of ammos. Pretty much you will die because you have no choice. However, luckily, the ammo counter will stay intact for the next continue. So, keep at it but don't use any ammo unless you have over 50 of them. Then you can move on. Do not waste time loafing around in this stage; just survive it and move on.
3-2: In this stage, nothing new or hard about it except for the jumping giants. When you are low in heart, take advantage of the dropping machines from a device stuck at the ceiling. It comes in threes, and they are extremely valuable as you progress in later stages. Keep farming them until you are full in heart and have 99 in ammo.
3-3: In this stage, nothing new or hard about it. Very straightforward.
3-4: Be ready to use the boomerang as rapidly as possible. You will win the fight if you started with full hearts. Otherwise, the next try will be successful. Not a very hard villain anyway.
4-1: In this stage, nothing new or hard about it. Very straightforward. Just walk slow for a few jumping giants. Luckily for you, this is last of them you will see in the game.
4-2: Make sure to drop down all the way to the bottom without trying to fight anything in the way. Then, take advantage of the threes dropping in from the ceiling. Pretty much straightforward all the way to the end. At the top of the stage, continue to take advantage of the dropping threes for hearts and ammo. Be sure to go full before you enter the next stage.
4-3: The only way to win this is to keep punching. No weapons at all needed. Make sure, at the outset, to be at top of the middle block. And keep punching every time the block gets in your way. Once you get the block destroyed, move down to the bottom and destroy the angry brother block. Pretty simple, actually.
5-1: This is a difficult stage to manuever through, but with enough practice to get used to it, it will be easier. However, it's an annoying stage too because of what happens in stage 5-2. Most likely, you will die many times in the following stage, so you have to work on this stage over and over. All right, your goal before you get to 3rd floor is to be full in heart. Then, you will have to go through the narrow openings on the right side to the top. This is the hardest part because of the hearts. You need to conserve as many as you can and make sure to do it slow and careful. The middle portions where the wheels are, you have to take a hit. However, the one with a fairly taller block on the side, you can do the "spiderman" cling thing and escape it unscathed. The very first machine on the left side that does the 1-2 punch, be sure to punch it after landing on the ledge, don't attempt any weapon. Eventually, you will get used to the pattern of it. Usually, you will die in there as well if you aren't careful about the hearts. At the very top, be sure to take advantage of the dropping 3s and farm them as much as you can for full hearts and ammo. This is arguably the most boring part of the game. Finally, you are done with this stage.
5-2: Now, the most difficult stage of the game. You won't win this on first try, I promise you this. Get used to the looping because you will find out how hard Joker is. First, you will see a boss before Joker. He is tough, but with an idea of how it works, you will get over it easily. This challenge is purely on endurance level. So, mainly, get to the left side immediately and stay by the wall and immediately switch to the boomerang to deflect the boss off from you. Then, the pattern will be very repetitive. This is a test of endurance, and it will take a very long time to win. The boss will shoot a fireball at you, and you jump. Then he will jump at you, and you shoot a boomerang or two at him. Then, he will step back and shoot another fireball. Finally, the cycle repeats. Pretty much, your goal is to be patient with it and don't waste the boomerangs needlessly. You need them big-time. After you defeat the boss, you won't ever face him again even if you redo stage 5-1. You will automatically get Joker every time. Ok well, next is Joker. This is the hardest part of the entire game. I recommend you to punch him, nothing else. Get ready to punch him as rapidly as you can to win. As soon as Joker appears and the game is set, jump right away and then move closer to him. Do not stay too close to him, but right by the end of the long gun (that gun is extremely powerful). If you do stay right by side of the end of the gun (I mean Batman's back has to be right next to the end tip of the long gun, maybe just a bit before it), whenever Joker shoots will not inflict any damage on you. That's the most important part to know about the stage. Keep jumping around whenever Joker moves back and forth and be sure to stand right by the end of the gun. While standing near him, keep punching endlessly, and be sure to turn around as soon as Joker runs past you and keep punching. Eventually, you will have defeated him. This stage isn't that easy, and trust me, it took me many tries to win it. I eventually won, and I like the ending, actually. Good game.

Out of all the Batman games out there (and trust me, there are quite a few), this is one of my favorites. The gameplay is satisfying, the levels are well-designed, and the music is excellent. Batman has some pretty cool weapons as well, such as batarangs and a "Batgun", both of which are fun to use. Batman also has a neat, but uncharacteristic, Ninja Gaiden style wall jump. The only problem I found was the lack of better villains. Sure The Joker is the end boss, but where are Two-Face, The Penguin, and The Riddler? Most of the enemies are generic, but well-designed. The game is very challenging too. Also, the color scheme is a little strange. Batman appears to be purple instead of the traditional blue. All in all, a good game for both Batman and the NES.

this game is great
the music is great, great rhythm just gives me goose bumps
the graffix are rad,like watching a comic book come to life
the controls are fantastic, spot on
and the difficulty is perfect.anybody can play

this game plays like a dark and shadowy megaman

if you have a nes just buy this game now!

recommended by vulgora,and angry video game nerd

Batman was my first introduction to NES gaming back in the early 1990's. It remains one of the most challenging and delightful games NES has ever produced.

As Batman, you must literally fight your way through five extremely challenging (and fun) levels, with the last screen of each level facing a particularly difficult boss-villian of the Joker. The final screen on level five (at the top of the Bell-Tower) is the Joker himself. Just getting to the top of the Bell-Tower is an achievement in itself!

This game will challenge even the most experienced NES gamer. Be prepared for lots and lots of practice, for each level poses its own unique challenges and skills that must be learned. The sheer enjoyment of this game cannot be emphasized enough. It took the better part of a year for my son and I to beat this game. Of course, there are website spoilers that will detail how to beat a certain level or Boss, but why utilize these sites when the fun is in solving the complexities of the game yourself?

Besides Mike Tyson's Punch-Out Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, Batman has no rival to its complexity and degree of difficulty.

I give this 5+ stars for the hours of enjoyment it will bring you. Superb NES gaming!

konedog

I loved this game when it was new, and still like it many years later. The only thing that's changed is that I'm not nearly as good at video games as I used to be. I beat this game originally, but this time around struggled to beat the second boss. Still a great game though, and I still think the graphics are great for an 8-bit system.