“Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” -The Joker, Batman (1989)

Batman. Iconic, heroic, bad ass, and purple? Purple, at least, in the NES Batman game from 1989 by SunSoft, which was tied to the Tim Burton movie from the same year. You’ve got to love creative use of the NES color palettes, am I right? In its time, this game was very well regarded, and was the most well-received of the many Batman games created by SunSoft around the early 90’s. Has it stood the test of time? Yes and no.

The game was popular enough that back in 2014 NECA released a purple Batman figure to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the game.

I am trying to be as objective as possible since this game was a childhood favorite of mine, which most likely has to do with the fact that my parents were fairly adamant about me not playing any violent games. My dad loved Batman though, so this one managed to fall through the cracks. Meanwhile, I was too young to have even seen the Batman movie from 1989 starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger which this is “based” off of, and I’m not even sure if I had seen the Adam West Batman TV show from the 60’s which I would eventually fall in love with. I certainly hadn’t read any Batman comics at that point. So this could very well have been my introduction to the Batman franchise – memory is a fickle thing.

The game is a platformer and beat ’em up that still feels innovative despite its age, but like many NES games from that era is short, with only five levels each broken up into one or two stages and then a boss. I can’t necessarily complain about the length though, as the amount of patience required to actually determine a strategy to beat this game’s bosses, while continually dying and having to continue back at the previous stage, is Sisyphean. The actual aesthetic of the game, with its dark colors, well rendered cut-scenes, and kick ass music is on point. If you’ve never seen the 1989 movie, however, you might be a bit confused as to what’s going on.

The plot of the game loosely follows that of the 1989 movie, but doesn’t add enough context for the player to know what’s going on unless you had actually seen the movie. So of course I turned to the Batman NES game manual, and even then I was pretty sure most of the level scenarios were not actually part of the movie, but I’ll let that slide as it was perfectly normal back in the day to create a game for a popular IP that didn’t actually do its story justice. Side note: I love how the manual tells you EXACTLY what to expect in each stage, including the stage’s boss – so much for the element of surprise. Basically, The Joker is tormenting Gotham, and you need to go defeat The Joker.

In terms of atmosphere, SunSoft got it right. The game is suitably dark in color (which is likely why the Batman sprite had to be purple), the cut scenes are well-rendered for the NES era, and the music is one of my all-time favorite NES soundtracks (though they don’t make use of the actual Batman movie score, which is a shame). Playing this game puts me in a serious head space where I feel like I am The Batman, and I am on a quest for justice. The single image of Jack Nicholson’s Joker with the movie quote: “Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” is a fond (if not maudlin) memory from my childhood.

Click here for the full review... https://thewellredmage.wordpress.com/2017/05/27/batman-1989-nes/

Preliminary: Wow I'm actually surprised that the music is good. This is technically a 1990 release, so I suppose I have a lot to look forward to for Game Boy advances! I just love the idea of it being portable. And lol I love the Look of Batman with his little pew pew gun

Dang, Batman can jummmmp in this version lol, like he's gliding. And I like how big the bullets are and how it can destroy those blocks. Surprisingly enjoying this so far. It feels really smooth for a Gameboy game too, tho I need to remind myself this is 4 months ahead of where I am at in the chronology project (but I need to do all the Batman: The Video Game Sunsoft releases now or else my backlog gets messy)

Day 1

Nice there are even weapon power-ups. This is quite impressive for a Gameboy game, tho again, I wonder if this will be the standard by April 1990. So I'm through the first boss (Jack), he took soooo many hits. But was very doable without savestates and relatively enjoyable, just way too many hits. Oh, Sunsoft. Seems to be their style based on the NES Batman too. Hopefully this can keep my interest for all the stages, despite the Gameboy limitations. And all the exciting games ahead.

I like how quickly I can jump and dodge attacks, tho sometimes the jump felt clunky. I also liked how the power-ups resembled shmup power-ups like the Batman symbol floating around me and the "wavy" shot so to speak.

Oh shoot right after typing that I discovered that Stage 3 is, indeed, a shmup section. Quite well-done for being a shmup sequence in the middle of a platformer game. I like how fast you can maneuver and how you can shoot both directions and how you can just hold both shoot buttons and it'll continuously shoot both forward and backward haha. (Oh, turns out you shoot faster with quick mashing tho). Sure enough the boss again took wayyyyy too many hits I'm never a fan of that boss mechanic--the challenge should be strategy and quick reflexes, not a war of attrition ha, but still enjoying it. (Oh and I wish it were clearer that I was even doing damage, I kept thinking maybe I had to hit it in a certain spot).

Tbh I'm really enjoying Stage 4. I love that can you can crouch while jumping, sorta like the crouch jump in Mario. Judging by this and Ys Books I & II, I'm really gonna like 1990.

And tada, I beat Joker. Again, he took wayyyy too many hits was the main challenge, but I liked his mechanics. It was challenging but reasonable, I only had to use savestate at the start of him and it took 2 tries. Again, more so because of how many hits he took so little mistakes added up heh. I had this much health left etc, oh and I meant to mention how you can only damage Joker seemingly in the head so it helped that I preferred the Wavy power-up and kept it for the second half of the game over other power-up options.

Neat little ending sequence, good tune, impressive for Game Boy

Look: 8/10 I'm probly overrating this but in the context of the Gameboy this looks great.

Sound: 8/10 Another surprising highlight. I would love to hear it on an original Game Boy.

Play: 8/10 Again, probly overrating this but this was just pure plain fun. How I like a game. Not too hard but with a challenge. Short and sweet. Action platformer with shooting elements, upgrades, and even a brief shmup section. Biggest complaint is the overly high hit points of the bosses.

Feel: 8/10 I'm always a sucker for games based on franchises, and I know I'm in the minority for thinking this, but I preferred this over the NES version :-X It just had a plain fun Feel, and with a nice Game Boy Look and Sound, a portable console I have a lot of nostalgia for, it all adds up to a nice Feel.

Attachment: 8/10 For early Game Boy games, this and Super Mario Land really surprised me. Seems it will be a console I really like.

Overall: 8/10

Completion: Main Story

Playtime: ~45 mins (and it went by so quickly!

Uh, what. So Sunsfot makes all these action platformers with shmup segments for other consoles, and the one I consider the most capable--PC Engine--they release this odd maze action game? Very disappointing.

That being said, the music is great and the controls are tight for a maze game, and I was hooked for the first 9 stages. But it got old quickly and like... what? What is this? Is this a Batman game?

Look: 7/10 The cutscenes are great, but overall, I expect more from the PC Engine...

Sound: 8/10 Great tunes, but again, I expect higher quality audio from the PC Engine. Maybe I got spoiled with the CD.

Play: 6.5/10 Uh, I can't deny I got a bit hooked, but why? Why this...

Feel: 7/10 If it weren't for the great music, this would've been a 2 star and move on. Seems the quality of games is higher going into the 90s and 3 stars may be far more common...

Attachment: 6.5/10 Nope. Thoooo again, I can't deny I got hooked to it for a few and I liked how when you press a direction but not quite at the right spot, it shifts you over.

Overall: 7/10 Honorary 3 tbh, probly should be the new standard for 2s

Completion: 9 stages I think?

Playtime: 10 mins

Preliminary: Wow, incredible intro cutscene/music. Loving the next gen of consoles. Right off the bat I played around with the controls a bit, I intuitively noticed the roll jump and all the little quirks. Love when the controls are intuitive. I'll still pull up the manual to be sure. So far, it's feeling a lot like a brawler, which usually doesn't keep me, but the controls are smooth and the Look and Sound are neat so it should be worth pushing through

Like all the Sunsoft Batmans, his movement and jump delay feel a bit clunky but I'm quickly getting used to it. Turning around, especially after or during a jump, was especially clunky in this version.

It was at this point in the game that I got tired of it. Sunsoft sure likes repeated level designs, and these axe enemies took so many hits, and I dunno. Maybe it's the clunky movement vs the fast obstacles that got to me. It's making me nervous for the Genesis/SNES era cuz so many platformers got focused on bigger sprites over good collision masks and swift movement. Hopefully I will enjoy this upcoming era as much as I had expected. For now, moving on.

Look: 8/10 Definitely where it shines. Tho pretty soon here I suppose this look will be quite standard with the next gen of consoles.

Sound: 8.5/10 Another area it shines.

Play: 7/10 It's a fine brawler meets platformer. Not in love with the level design.

Feel: 7.5/10 The Look, amazing music, and cutscenes make it really Feel nice, if only the gameplay was smoother and more enjoyable.

Attachment: 7/10 Doubt I will be returning to this one. The GB and NES versions are more likely.

Overall: 7.6/10

Completion: to, uh, this point

Playtime: ~25 mins

Preliminary: Again, I'm caught in the trap of the beauty and power of Ys Books I and II for Turbografx CD... cuz like this is definitely an impressive intro for NES, but the music during the intro, and now the Look of the level are... not much.

Fortunately the music for the level itself is solid and I'm already through the first part. I like the multiple weapons aspect, always love a boomerang and shooting capability. The music and look and gameplay (clunky jump but mostly tight controls) are giving me C64 platformer vibes, in a good way.

The delay when crouching to jump is annoying but otherwise I love the usual tight NES controls, quick turnarounds to punch, and so far intuitive gameplay and situations.

Day 1

Tho the controls and Look feel very rudimentary in many ways compared to the PC Engine and Genesis games I'm getting into now, the good music, dim cool Look, and addictive action platformer gameplay is getting me to push through. Plus the variety of weapons I can use. Fortunately, it is forgiving about the providing ammo drops. It seems like almost every enemy drops something so that's good. Also, thank goodness for manuals heh so now I know about the wall jump :-p

Dang Stage 2-4 got really annoying tho. And lol oh NES, I had an enemy just chilling what looked like on top of me due to some poor platform/obstacle collision masks and whatnot. And oh the sprite flicker/lag.

I'm on Stage 3-3 and really thinking I should drop this. The music is still good but I'm not having a great time. I wish the jump and movement weren't so clunky. And tho I love the wall jump, I wish it were clearer what obstacles and platforms are in the foreground and able to be grabbed.

Lol what a glitchy game. Somehow I tricked (accidentally) the Stage 3 boss in to facing right while I'm on the left side after dropping down from the platform and he never turned around again... Still, he took a ridiculous number of hits... Boring boss mechanic.

Welp, with this collection of the same enemies I've already dealt with starting Stage 4, all piled on the screen to cause NES sprite flicker, I figured it's time to call it quits. There were only two stages left but meh, I think I'm learning to move on from games that aren't up to par for their time. It's too bad cuz I've only heard good things about the game. Don't get me wrong, the Sound was still great and it's by no means bad. It just wasn't worth pushing through the frustrations.

Look: 7/10 The between-screen parts were solid, and it had a cool dim look to it overall, but the NES isn't impressing me anymore and I didn't like how confusing foreground vs background was in many levels.

Sound: 8/10 Good jams. Esp for an NES game.

Play: 7.5/10 I always like action platformers, and I like the weapons, but I wasn't in love with the level design.

Feel: 7.5/10 I always like games based on movies and this had a moody vibe, as a Batman game should. I was on Stage 4 of 5, so that shows I considered it mostly worth pushing through.

Attachment: 7/10 Not a bad game by any means, but I have many other 1989 platformers I am more likely to return to.

Overall: 7.4/10

Completion: Start of Stage 4

Playtime: 40 mins (wow that was longer than I realized, maybe I'm being a bit harsh with it)

Batman (NES) is a huge leap ahead for Batman in video games, teaming challenging gameplay with great platforming action and gorgeous NES environments.

VERY loosely based on the movie of the same name, you play the Caped Crusader as he battles through five levels to a final showdown with the Joker at the Gotham Cathedral. Unlike grappling like in the other Batman games (and in similar NES games like Bionic Commando), Batman can do a wall jump and slide down the side to be able to control wall scaling. He has three subweapons that he can get ammo for within the stage: batarangs, batdisks, and a bat harpoon (batpoon sounded dirty). Apart from Batman's punches some enemies can be very frustrating to deal with up close so managing subweapons is essential to surviving. One of the downsides of this game is that even for an NES game the jumps can get a little brutal and the endgame bosses unfairly tough.

The stages are varied, with each of the five "levels" split into 3 or so sublevels. The environments are GORGEOUS, taking advantage of the NES's color palette to make areas seem draped in shadow, with moving gears, rushing water, and other things mesh well with a solid black color. Cutscenes are short and to the point, telling the quick story of Joker (and his quick end!) Music is moody but exciting, well matching the game's tone.

Batman (NES) is a great entry into the Batman game canon. Although it can suffer from NES-era frustrating design, it has remarkably solid platforming chops on a platform that was already saturated with the genre.