Batman

"Great movie based game for the NES!"

Introduction- Very few games licensed from movies or TV shows are passable, and even fewer are actually good. Most of the time, they're rushed out the door, and sell because of popularity, not because they're good. That's why the original Batman for the NES is such a surprise, it does almost everything right, and is still a blast to play today. If it wasn't for the often high difficulty, this would be a perfect platformer/beat-'em-up for the system.

Gameplay (9/10)- This was made back when two buttons were all you needed, one punches, one jumps. You can also use three weapons you permanently own (considering you have enough ammo), which really helps take out bosses. Not only that, but you have the ability to jump off walls, making getting through each stage slightly easier. The game controls perfect, within seconds you'll have it down.

However, it is extremely hard. A lot of times, getting hit is simply unavoidable, and life hearts don't show up very often (most of the time, you get ammo or little B's, which are just for points, I assume). The game is not so hard that you get frustrated, though, it presents a decent challenge.

Story (10/10)- Just like the dark story found in the movie, adapted to fit the NES, of course. The Joker and his thugs are running rampant in Gotham City, and only Batman can stop them. The locations of the game follow the plot of the film well, but they're obviously not the exact same.

Graphics (9/10)- Very impressive visuals for the NES. Batman is well animated, but he's blue instead of black (not so hard to understand considering the dark backgrounds). The sprites are small, but look pretty detailed. The backgrounds are incredible, dark, detailed, and they look excellent. I swear, level 2's background could pass on the SNES, it looks that good. There's some flicker, especially in the intro sequence, but the photos look good, especially that dark shot of Batman himself on the title screen (an image from my childhood I'll never forget)

Sound (10/10)- Ah yes, in my opinion, some of the best tunes on the system. It's dark and very fitting for the game. Most of them are memorable, but especially the level 1 theme, I can't tell you how long that one stays in my head. Sunsoft did a great job doing the music for the game, it never seems out of place.

Replayability (8/10)- The difficulty is high, and while I found it to be a good challenge, it may get on the nerves of some gamers before long. If you like a good challenge, then this is the game for you, but if you want an easy ride, look for another game.

Final Recommendation- This one is a genuine NES classic. Who didn't have it back in the day? Still one of my most fondly remembered games on the system, along with the Super Mario Bros. and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games. The difficulty is high, but the game is so much fun, it's hard to put down. Dust off your old NES, move the PS2 or Gamecube out of the way, and get this one going, it's a must have. Better than the Genesis port, and one of the best movie licensed games ever.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/03