Batman

""What are you?!" "I'm Batman........""

Everyone knows superheroes, but few have been as old as Batman. From the TV show, starring Adam West, to Batman & Robin, starring George Clooney, Batman has become a famous hero among the rest. Batman is the story of Bruce Wayne, a tycoon who wishes to seek revenge on Jack Napier, a cruel thief for shooting his parents right in front of him in an alley. Batman finally catches up with Napier and throws him into a vat of chemicals. Then emerges the psychotic Joker, a man with a permanent smile on his face. In the game you play as Batman and from the Gotham City Streets to the Axis Chemical Factory, to the Gotham City Sewers, to the Chemical Laboratory, and to the Gotham City Cathedral, it is your job to crack down on crime and eliminate the Joker. Here it is, in more depth.

Gameplay: 9/10
Gameplay on this game is excellent. Every level is a side-scroller, and there are some pretty tough vertical parts in it. Batman has four weapons: boomerang, gun, a triple star, and his fists. Throughout the game, most of the time you use your fists, unless it requires you to use a weapon (a boss for example.)

Visual Appeal: 6/10
The NES is not the best game for display, although, everything in this game is very distinct and clear. In places, the game has dark areas, which help to display the cruel, dark nature of the city.

Sound/Music: 10/10
The sound effects in this game are excellent. The music is even better. You can't help but start humming the music, it is so great. You will especially like the Boss theme, the Laboratory theme, the Chemical Factory theme, and the Sewer theme.

Difficulty: 9/10
This game is VERY difficult. I would not recommend it to people who are short-tempered. This game requires lots of patience, skill, and good timing. Unless you have played this game before, you will probably not get past the third world (The Sewers). Once you get the hang of this game, however, you can beat it in half an hour.

Conclusion
Batman is a great game. It poses a very legitimate challenge, coupled with great music and sound. If you love straight-up action, you will love this game. Just make sure you have a good solid controller and great patience, because your controller could be going for a ride the first couple of months you play it.

Final Rating: 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/15/03, Updated 02/15/03