BATMAN RETURNS

Why Batman Returns?

Because Batman “returns” this month, that’s why. Duh.

Also because this is one of the Batman games I played the most growing up, both on the Genesis and on the Sega Master System, so I thought I’d take another look and see if they still hold up as well as I think they do today.

The Genesis version begins with one of my favorite game intros out there as the scene from the movie in which The Penguin releases a swarm of bats startling the Ice Princess who then falls to her death is re-enacted. Love that intro: the music, the gothic feel of it, it just fits in perfectly with the style and mood of Tim Burton’s film. It’s about as perfect a start to a Batman Returns game as I could have hoped for.

The game really gets it right atmospherically throughout and although it has been criticized for its hardly groundbreaking graphics, I really don’t mind the look of the game, I never did. Yes Batman is purple but you’re just gonna have to accept that.

Besides, so many awesome things are purple!

The river of slime…

Barney…

Aubergines…

…

Barney…

The list is LITERALLY endless.

You go through several levels roughly linked to the film such as the city rooftops, the streets, Max Schreck’s department store, the sewers, and you fight off The Penguin’s circus gang with the villain himself or Catwoman appearing once in a while Robotnik-style to end pretty much each “act”. Playing through it again I realized just how tricky that game actually is. At first I thought it was just about getting used to the controls, which you need to do if you want to get anywhere in this game, but in fact it really is just those damn villains.

No matter what you do, somehow they usually hit you first, those jumping and twirling circus guys especially. Hate those guys. Then there’s those flying gargoyles (yeah, remember THEM from the movie?) which follow you around and drop down on you faster than you can hit them a lot of the time. The game really demands repeat plays: you HAVE to remember Catwoman’s jumping patterns and any shortcuts you might find whenever possible. The bosses take a while to get rid of but if you jump around and figure out their route you can just about pull it off, it’s not impossible.

Overall, Batman Returns may not have lived up to the Genesis’ full potential but it’s a game I remember fondly and still enjoy playing to this day. It just has that unique, gothic atmosphere I associate with Returns and as frustrating as the game can get, it’s one I don’t mind struggling with.

Check out the Sega CD version for badass cut scenes.

CREEEEAM…

Now for the Sega Master System version.

A side-scroller, Batman Returns on the SMS definitely feels more fluid gameplay-wise than its 16 bit cousin. Swinging around and throwing that Batarang definitely proving to be much less of a mission. It also feels less cramped with plenty of space up and around to maneuver. The game follows the same levels as the Genesis version but it’s all more straightforward, going for less style but more playability. This is not a hard game but once you finally get to The Penguin, he doesn’t f*** around: he throws all he’s got at you and you better be ready.

Weirdly, this 8 bit Batman Returns turned out to be a much more rewarding experience than its own updated model. More fun to play, more satisfying overall, with less repetitive boss battles and smoother gameplay, Returns on the SMS is quite possibly the better game. What it lacks in “bits” it makes up for in basic playability. But as much as it tries to rival the first Batman game on the NES it just never reaches that level of relentless entertainment. It’s fine and I like that it’s not a beat ’em up but it remains slightly underwhelming in comparison to many other Batman games out there.

And I still like the feel of the Genesis version better…

For cool-looking driving levels, check out the Sega CD version, for mindless but fun beat ’em up takes on Batman Returns head over to Nintendo but if you just want to punch a duck boat in the face…

You know where it’s at.