Batman

This is one of my favorite video games of all time as well as licensed/comic book video games. This game of course is based on the 1989 "Batman" movie which was just a phenomenon and of course is one of my favorite movies of all time. From how big the film was a video game was inevitable. The NES game was one of the very first times "Batman" flew into the gaming world, let alone one of the first characters from the DC verse that ever had a game and suppringly and thankfully this game turned out to be good and as much of a hit as the film.

It's also thankful that the making of this game was in good hands by one of my favorite video game companies "Sunsoft" who have done a couple of other licensed games "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" which came out near the same time as this game and makes this sort of the big two. Along with the under the radar gem "Fester's Quest" which was based on the "TV show" as this game was two years before the "Adam's Family" movie.

Also, there is "Journey to Silius" which was a would be/should've been based on the film "The Terminator". What I love with that company was how in those games and this they always put extra effort and care into what they make, making sure this game became exactly what it should be fun.

I really like the graphical presentation, which really captured the essence of Gotham city in "Batman"; where it's just dark and gritty and it feels like there is danger everywhere you go, though being a video game and part of the "Batman" franchise danger is part of the territory.

Even the character designs are cool from the bad guys that are all scummy looking along with some robots, mutants and other surprises. But of course, I really like the animation of the character you play "Batman" it was the use of the dark blue and purple and it works well as it looks like the dark knight, let alone it makes sense as those colors have been used in the comic series or in some "Batman" stories for color consistency.

Gameplay is excellent, you get to play in the areas from the movie though of course several that aren't in the movie along with certain characters. But with licensed games liberties are inevitable as you need more levels and enemies to make a game, but it all fits well and organic as if those things could have been in the movie. But also makes sense as "Batman" is part of the DC verse which means he's one step away from reality and in the DC verse anything that seems impossible is most likely possible.

The game plays out pretty much like "Ninja Gaiden" only your "Batman" and it fits well as "Batman" himself is a ninja. You have the basic functions jump and punch. But I like that you get to do some other things like sticking and jumping wall to wall. I'll admit this is a little strange as this is something "Spider Man" would do, Batman does scale the walls but with his grappler. But this was used as they could use Batman's grappler in the game, so including this feature was the only way Batman's wall scaling can happen; I'm fine with this as this is a video game after all you just roll with it, and you can say Batman's wall scaling is because of one of his gadgets he created like special automated gripping gloves and soles or something.

This feature is interesting and unique as there aren't that many video games that use this except for "Gargoyles Quest 2" for the NES (game I reviewed) because this helps in getting you not just from point A to B in some places that require climbing. But it presents opportunities like accessing and alternate route or even clearing certain obstacles you can do with your regular abilities.

You have three kinds of gadgets/weapons each have strengths and weaknesses. From the trademark Batarang which has power and does come back your direction so there's minimum ammo loss but has a limited distance. Another is rocket bullets that cover the whole distance and are precise but have minimum stopping power. And third is a football grenade that detonates when thrown producing three lazer bolts, as power as this is it eats up your ammo meter real fast. The use of the gadgets and your ammo capacity for them gives the game a slight element of strategy as it causes you to figure out and determine the best places and times to use them and you need to do this carefully as you have the ammo counter to consider so use your tools wisely.

Even like the boss battles which are always something different but are different. As by their nature their kind of puzzles, from the first boss who looks like "Firefly" from the DC verse flying around and shooting and another which is a factory automated machine armed with different weapons in different places. Each of these bosses are simple to beat once you know what to do as well as what to use against them.

Of course, the highlight of the game for me is the music which has some of the best and most memorable tunes for not just a "Batman" game but video games in general. Though the only track missing is an NES rendition of the movie's theme song by Danny Elfman, hearing an NES version of that song would be so sweet. But despite that loss, all the tracks are just great in their own way as they all sing out dark gritty neo noir heroic action but in short "Batman." Two of them are my favorites are the "Chemical Factory" level, but my absolute favorite is the first level which are "The Streets of Gotham" that one is the kind of track that you can easily play when you work out, I play that when I go on a run on the treadmill or even kick, punch and use my anise sticks on the punching bag, that music just really pumps you up makes you feel like "The Dark Knight".

This vintage classic soars high.

Rating: 4 stars.