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Batman Begins


Batman’s Best and Worst Games

Holy retrospective! We look back at every game featuring The Dark Knight

Words: Shane Patterson, GamesRadar US

As you may have heard, this summer’s most anticipated film - The Dark Knight - broods into theatres next week. Additionally, the caped crusader will be swinging into your console this fall with LEGO Batman. With that much attention given to the playboy magnate/crimefighter this year alone, we recognize there’s a whole lot of Batman love being spread about. To quench your thirst for the masked vigilante, we’re bringing you a look back at every Bat game ever made.


Batman - 1986
Ocean Software - Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX

Before our hero fought crime in glorious Technicolor, he sported green and black visuals in this monochrome-ian adventure. Apparently, boy wonder Robin has been kidnapped and the slightly chubby Batman needs to fight through over 150 isometric rooms to locate him. Based off the comic license and campy TV show.


Batman: The Caped Crusader - 1988
Ocean Software - ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
Data East - Commodore Amiga

Split in two parts - one for each villain, Penguin and Joker - our hero battles his way through an arcade-style beat-em-up. Not only does Batman appear just as he did in the comics (in color, no less), but every time he walked into a new doorway, the screen overlaid the previous like a comic book panel.


Batman: The Movie - 1989
Ocean Software - ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC
Sunsoft - NES, Genesis

The first film was essentially a licensing whore - hence the reason why Batman was on every system under the sun. Loosely based on the first film, the computer versions varied in that Batman was able to use a grappling hook to scale levels and partake in Batmobile driving sections. The NES version enabled you to fight through five sidescrolling levels as a smaller Batman, donning a suit composed of two shades of purple. Interestingly, you fought mutants and robots as well as thugs. The Genesis version was just like the NES version, only with added Batmobile and Batwing sections. Fun fact: after you pummel the Joker into submission in the NES version, Bats literally chucks him off the cathedral rooftop in the game’s closing cutscene. That’s… a bit out of character.



The Revenge of Shinobi - 1989
Sega - Genesis

Shinobi? Really? Yes - in early versions of this ninja thriller, you fought a likeness of Spider-Man, who upon defeat would turn into a purplish/demon-looking Batman. Equipped with actual bats and pure evil, you had to defeat him to clear the sixth mission. In later versions, Batman was replaced with an actual demon bat. Spider-Man was still kept because Sega held the license to produce Spidey games. Interesting!


 
29 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
blutal  - 1 year 2 months ago 
batman is gay
tehperson123412  - 1 year 2 months ago 
blutal is gay
KHfan  - 1 year 27 days ago 
robin IS gay
Baconator96  - 1 year 8 days ago 
gay people are gay
KHfan  - 11 months 18 days ago 
true
nicksayswatzup  - 10 months 13 days ago 
all of you are gay (and so is wonder woman!)
gunwraith  - 9 months 30 days ago 
It's gay that they left out one of the best batman games of all time. "Batman" (1990) for gameboy. Challenging, addicting, and good graphics.
undawater  - 9 months 30 days ago 
I remember being totally in awe of the driving levels of the Sega CD versions of Batmans Returns... they were cutting edge at the time!
GamesRadarShanePatterson  - 6 months 30 days ago 
didn't forget batman for gameboy at all. it's apart of the "batman" entry. look at what systems i included. it was apart of the same franchise release.
swordworld04  - 6 months 25 days ago 
first comments make me lul

reCAPTCHA: explain blair
kamikaz3e124  - 6 months 24 days ago 
Every comment between blutal and nicksayswatup are gay.
kamikaz3e124  - 6 months 24 days ago 
OMFG SO TRUE.
Coolbeans69  - 6 months 20 days ago 
Anyone here watch jamesnintendonerd? His review of return and revenge of the joker made it pretty clear how bad it was
JohnnyFirebird  - 6 months 12 days ago 
JohnnyFirebird is gay. It's true.

I kind of liked the Batman game for the SNES, and the Batman game coming out for the Genesis was a long time coming... looked like it would be import only. I saw pictures of it in Video Games & Computer Entertainment magazine and watched them longingly.

Then I played it. It was alright.
mastersword369  - 5 months 6 days ago 
@coolbeans:
Avgn is great! the batman reveiws are great, especially the "final battle" with the Joker
michaelmcc827  - 3 months 2 days ago 
wow this was dug up from a year ago lol...and pain shatterson wrote it, ah what nostalgia. funny to be on the front page though
GamerTagsSuck  - 3 months 2 days ago 
Why yes. Yes it is funny that it got dug up after so long. And the Angry NINTENDO nerd kicks ass. The AVGN, who is the same guy, kicks only slightly less ass because he does all old systems.
Hurricrane  - 3 months 2 days ago 
another fine retrospective from Mr. Patterson... even though he's supposed to be dead... minor details!
Hurricrane  - 3 months 2 days ago 
oh woa, this is from a year ago... I retract that last comment
CtrlAltDe1337  - 3 months 1 day ago 
you couldn't tell from the lack of info on Lego Batman and no info whatsoever of Arkham Asylum?
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