The Adventures of Batman & Robin

"This is more like the cartoon! Much better now!"

The Sega Genesis version of Batman and Robin was a complete flop. The game was difficult and it hardly followed the cartoon. This is version is more accurate and much more playable than the Genesis version. And it's made by Konami, who's produced one of the best Batman games to date.

Plot: N/A

It's given no score for a reason-every level has it's own plot. For example, in Stage One, you track down the Joker into an amusement park, while in stage 2, you must stop Poison Ivy from having too many plants flood Gotham City. It goes on in 8 different stages, each with a different villain to fight.

Graphics: 10

Excellent!! These are an exact replica of the cartoon in every way! The animation is wonderful and fluid and very lifelike! More importantly, The backgrounds are full of wonderful detail. And it shows! Thugs fire pistols and machine guns at you, but when you disarm them with the batarang, they become stunned and are forced to fight with their fists! All the characters sprites are full of detail. They're small, but small enough to cram lots of animation in them and lots of detail as well thanks to the way the SNES handles the graphics. While it has no weather effect like the Genesis version, it doesn't need it. The gas in Stage 6 is realistic enough to pass off as special effects. Wonderful and well done!

Sound: 10

Excellent as well. Once again, it's just like the cartoon, and maybe better. I hope your TV has good speakers and surround sound, because the music is what it should be like-composed in an orchestral tunes like suspensful, dramtic tone all the way through the game. It's a complete masterpiece and should be praized for it's wonderful effort. Sound effects are nearly realistic-guns firing, explosions, it's all done very well, and of course, some familiar sound effects from other Konami games (Like Contra) is there (Does the pause sound ring a bell). There's little voice acting, but it's enough to pass for this game. One good example is the Joker laughing at you in a taunting fashion.

Gameplay: 9

This is Batman at it's finest and more importantly, it's best. Some stages are similar to some Batman episodes we've all seen at one time or another, such as the Riddler's maze. They introduce the stages like they do for episodes in the cartoon, then you see a cut scene with dialogue explaining the situation. You then have several weapons and gadgets to choose from if nesscessary, and some will be cruical to completing a stage should the need arise. For Example, in stage 3, you'll need to use the flashlight to see mines hidden in the dark while navigating the corridors of the museum during a power outage. Keep in mind, though, that you always have the batarang and the Grappling hook. Everything else is completely optional (Unless otherwise noted).

Batman can punch, jump kick, and use his gadgets to get through stages while avoiding traps and solving puzzles. You have 3 lives (5 if you're playing on easy) and three continues. There's a password feature for normal and easy only. Plus, should you not have brought what you need for a stage, you can pause the game and return to the batcave to get what you need for a stage. Not only that, but any lives you lost will be regained!

It fits the cartoon very well in every stage! Chase Catwoman across the rooftops of Gotham City! Chase down Two-Face in the Batmobile after he robs a bank! Work your way through an fun house full of traps and fight the Joker to the death on a rollercoaster! It's all exciting and wonderful! And you have nothing to worry about, this is much easier than the Genesis version, but to see the full ending, you must beat the game on hard. The only gripes I have is that it's too short, and the game gets difficult near the end in certain parts-one where you must board the Scarecrow's blimp by using a grappling hook! Some bosses are tough to beat, as well. Thankfully, it's easy once you've gotten the hang of it.

Replay Value: 5

There's three difficulty settings, but in reality, there's nothing to do after you beat it. Look on the bright side though-it's not as pain-inducing like the Genesis version, that's for sure.

Buy or Leave on Shelf:

Buy it. BUY IT. BUY IT! BUY IT! This is a great game and one of Konami's best!

Overall: 9

This game clearly demonstrates on what a Batman game should be like-and it does so very greatly. A must have for your collection!

Ending Quote
Today I'd like to bring to you, Batsy, some good old-fashioned PAIN.
The Joker

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/13/02, Updated 08/13/02