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Batman's Gaming History

feature

by Dan Ryckert on August 18, 2010 at 11:00 AM

84,739 Views

74 1

Arkham Asylum may have blown gamers away last year, but to call the Caped Crusader’s video game history spotty would be generous. While we’re all eagerly awaiting Arkham City, let’s take a look at the road Batman has traveled in an effort to get his video game justice.

(with contributions by Bryan Vore and Jeff Cork)

Batman: The Video Game

Publisher: SunSoft
Developer: SunSoft
Platform: NES
Year of Release: 1990

This early Batman game shows off a side of the character we’re not accustomed to. Batman hopped across platforms with the grace and ease of a ninja, wall jumping his way through a loose interpretation of Tim Burton’s film. Batman punches his arm silly as he battles guys on jetpacks, guys with flamethrowers, and robots. Also, Batman is purple.

Batman

Publisher: Atari
Developer: Numega
Platform: Arcade
Year of Release: 1990

The arcade version of Tim Burton’s first Batman game is probably the most faithful way to play through the story. The plot follows that of the film (though with considerably more punching), and digitized stills tell the story. It’s primitive by today’s standards, but it’s effective in its own old-school way. The gameplay is pretty stiff, and the platforming sections only serve to highlight just how rigid Batman moves. Still, at the time of its release it made console players envious for its impossibly large and detailed sprites and scratchy voice samples.

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Filed under: News, Feature, batman, dark tomorrow, 209, dark knight, batman forever, batman begins, schumacher sucks, revenge of the joker

Comments

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by jlemondean Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 12:14 PM

shumacher sucks lol these tags are hilarius
by james Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 12:52 PM

I didn't know Ubisoft Montreal made a Batman game... everyones gotta eat right?
by Cody Gilley Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 12:57 PM

To think it took so many tries until we got a good Batman game hopefully it wasn't a fluke.
by Mray901 Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:18 PM

It's obvious to see that Rocksteady combined the best elements from the other Batman games, and with modern design of Metal Gear and Splinter Cell, made the greatest Batman game ever. I can't wait to see how many improvements they make with Arkham City.
by reducer584 Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:29 PM

Don't forget the terrible mortal combat: Sub zero clone!
by Chrisrolla117 Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:29 PM

Batman and Robin for ps1 was too ambitious it tried to do 3d freeroaming on ps1 which was not possible with the tech of the time.

Also you clearly didnt play through all of Batman Begins or even the first 3rd because after about 30 minutes it stops showing you what to do to scare people and you have to explore and figure it out yourself picking people off one at a time and from different vantage points is fun and challenging and makes you feel like the ninja Batman from Batman Begins
by Jose Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:31 PM

I had Batman for the NES. I never finished it though. There were no game saves.
by nick holk Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 01:55 PM

I'll always have fond memories of the first Batman game. The others sucked until they came out with Arkham Asylum.
by BatmanPrime Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:45 PM

I'm actually glad I haven't played a Batman game before AA. Let's hope AC does for Batman video games what The Dark Knight did for Batman movies.
by WS-N Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:47 PM

The only Batman games that I have played are, Batman: Vengeance, Rise of Sin Tzu, and Batman Begins. I thought all of these games were great Batman titles. I had a really good time with them.
by John Ford Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:54 PM

Where's Batman Forever for the Genesis? That game was decent. Really tough though. I don't think I ever actually beat it.
by psyguy411 Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:00 PM

I played the side-scrolling Batman Forever, on SNES. I liked it as an early Batman experience, but as that joy wore off, I found it frustrating. I don't think I played a Batman, or a DC Comics game, after that and the Superman 64 game burned me. That was until Arkham Asylum. Rocksteady has their hooks in me now.
by CryLightning Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:21 PM

I can see why Dark Tomorrow got a 0.75...
by dillon Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:28 PM

i never have played any of these
by Dylan6648 Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:29 PM

One time I want over to my friends house. He said "Hey Dylan watch this game! Its graphics are better than Call of Duty 4!" He popped Batman and Robin. I said "Max these graphics F***ing suck!" He then yelled at me. And then he started crying.
by The Midnight Rambler Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:36 PM

You missed one. I remember a Batman game for the Game Boy Color that I used to play all the time. I'll try and dig up a name.
*Edit* I found it. It was called Batman: Chaos in Gotham. It was released by Ubisoft in 2001 for the GBC.
by Boy Blue Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:45 PM

Acclaim made the Batman: Forever game? I can't see a reason why anyone would buy that.
by GAMERISAY Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 03:47 PM

Snake: Batman? You mean a comic book superhero who was first comic was published in May 1939? Hmmm...just like I heard in training...

(By the way MGS fans, how many useless facts did Snake learn in "training")
by Chaos is Beauty Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:18 PM

I actually enjoyed Rise of Sin Tzu, I mean as far as mindless beat em ups go it offered some mindless fun
by Masterassassin Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 04:37 PM

Well at least we finally got a good Batman game last year.