Superman Returns

"Fair review of a decent game"

Superman Returns

First of all I'll admit that I am a big Superman fan. That said, I am not going to unfairly review this for that reason. While I love Superman, I hate poorly made games that aren't any fun. Yes, if you are a Superman fan you will enjoy this game more than if you're not, but who would buy this game if they are not a fan of Superman? Apparently some non- Superman fan reviewed it I will say that!

Graphics: 8/10

The graphics on the 360 are very good. Those out there saying they aren't apparently need to have their eyes checked. While it's no Gears of War, it looks good on my 26” Wide Screen Samsung LCD TV. The trees in Metropolis look kind of bad, especially close up, but over all it looks good and in some instances it looks great. Superman himself looks exactly like Brandon Routh (good or bad depends on what you think of Brandon) and the environments (except the trees) look very nice too. The buildings look good, the roads, bridges, skylines, clouds, water, and cars, all are very well done. The citizens of Metropolis don't look all that great, but they are acceptable. At least they used more than two or three models! I am very pleased with the visuals of this game and unless you think every game on the 360 should look as good as G.o.W. you should have no problem with them either.

Sound: 6/10

I take away from this score simply because the Superman theme isn't in the game! I know, I know it was supposedly a cost saving measure. Well excuse me, but EA makes enough money to pay the damn fee. We're talking about the company that paid MILLIONS to keep other companies from making an NFL Football game! They can afford the rights to a song. In the very least couldn't they have at least used the Superman cartoon theme?

Controls: 9/10

Like this game or not, you can't tell me that the controls aren't spot on! Flying, using the super powers, fighting with your fists, charging up your powers, leaping into the sky, etc. are all done very, very well and makes it feel like you are SUPERMAN! Some people have complained of lag in the controls, but I have not had that. I seamlessly pull off combos with no trouble at all. What's cool is swooping down from the sky to pick up a big tanker truck flying way up with it in order to toss it on an enemy in ONE big motion. When I play this game I believe a man can fly and that man is ME!

Gameplay: 7/10

The story follows the movie, but pretty much just in cut scenes. That doesn't bother me as much as it does others though. You see, I get what this game is doing. This game is telling a story in between the plot of the movie. If you've seen the movie you know what Superman does in it, why would you want to play that again? Instead, you get to see what else was happening in Metropolis during the movie! I mean Superman just returned, doesn't it make sense that other villains would return to take him on? Here's where another complaint comes in from the critics as they cry and whine about “only fighting robots”. Hello, you are taking on Metallo and his minions. Metallo has attacked and his little robot servants are trying to distract Superman by attacking his City and people. It's all a part of the plan to keep Superman busy until Metallo can unfold his coup degras' as you will at one point in the game when he grows to gigantic proportions and goes on a rampage. I loved this part of the game. It's wild and lots of fun as you fly around finding stuff to throw at the giant while also destroying his little flying beasts that chase you. The missile launch and your determination to take out the giant metal monster at the end is icing on the cake of a great battle sequence.

Along the way you get to face Mister Mxyzptlk who has placed stranded cats all over the city that you must find in order for him to cooperate with you and not add more head aches to you day. Now, I will admit that finding stray cats is a strange mission, but it's Mister Mxyzptlk and he would do something like that just to be annoying!

Bizarro is also a part of the game and you get to play as him for a while. It's fun because you get to stop rescuing people and instead destroy everything you can. It's a nice break in the game play of saving everyone and every thing and another enemy hitting town to welcome Kal El back!

Yes, it would be even more fun if EA had added different enemies, more varied missions, and a deeper story and that's why I am only giving it a 7/10 in game play because it's not real deep. However, what is here is FUN and punishing a game in your review because it's not all it could be seems wrong to me. Rate what it IS not what you WANT it to be.

Replay Value/Fun: 6/10

Depends if you like flying around. I would rate it higher because I enjoy exploring the city, and other things so I will go back and do that often. Truth be told, when I am stressed it's a little relaxing to turn this game on and fly around. That may sound weird, but for me, it's true. I won't rate this section too high though because once you beat this game I am not sure how many will return to it over and over. Not because it's bad, just because they may not feel like it.

Rent or Buy?

Tough to say. I am glad I bought it but if you are on the fence you have to at least rent this! If you like Superman a rental is an absolute must as you may enjoy this as much as I did. To be safe I will say RENT. Those of you who like it will buy it and tell me I should have recommended a buy for everyone.

Final: 7/10

Not the perfect Superman game but a good one, a fun one, one that makes you feel like you are Superman. EA could have done more and it's my hope that this game was just to get the ball rolling. Next time give us more missions (that are up to us to accept or refuse), more enemies, maybe a little time as Clark Kent (even if it's just a few minutes or even a mini-game during loading times-which this game doesn't have by the way!) and some situations where we can meet our friends Jimmy and Lois. Throw in a trip to Smallville or the literal fortress not just the pause/update screen. But again, I am rating what this game IS not what I want it to be. You should do the same.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/27/06