Retro(game)spective - Batman

Retro(game)spective

Every day Ben “Ben Pack” Pack or one of his brave compatriots will play a retro game, and break it down for you. That’s right, every day. To complain about us eventually missing a day or suggest your own, go ahead and comment below the article, or email us at retrogamefunclub@gmail.com.

10/07/2010

The Game: Batman

It's the goddamn Batman.

Release Year: 1989

Skewes: NES, Gameboy

So what’s it like: "Batman," just "Batman," is a side-scrolling action platformer for the NES. You take the role of the caped crusader, as you loosely follow the plot of the 1989 "Batman" film. Your ultimate goal is to fight lots of thugs, robots, and other hazards and eventually take down The Joker.

He's not the hero you want, but he's the hero you deserve... or something.

Your main gameplay mechanics are jumping and attacking (shocking, I know). Not only can you perform regular jumps, but you can (and often must) use wall jumps. You can punch as Batman, which is mostly what you would be doing, But you can also collect ammo for three different weapons. A regular batarang, a spread-shot batarang, and a rocket.

Remember when I said I didn't use guns? I lied.

The game is hard, but like all the best games of the era, can be beaten with enough practice. It's tough to learn when to use your weapons, and when to fight. The platforming is easy enough, and not super unforgiving like other games similar to this (like Ninja Gaiden).

He just punched a dude into flames.

Should you go back: Yes. If you want to play arguably one of the best movie licensed games, if not one of the best NES games of all time, then you should play it.

Should this game be remade: No. Arkham Asylum took care of that