Batman Returns

[Melf]

Few icons have had as storied a history in video games as Batman. From a few bona fide classics to some real stinkers, the Dark Knight has a ton of releases under his utility belt. One of the more controversial titles was Batman Returns, based on the second film. Many debate its quality to this day, and we've a review to help you fence-sitters make up your mind. Hey, don't say we never did anything for ya!

[David J.]

I'd love the game, and it'd be *perfect* in my book, but the difficulty really killed me. I have the Sega CD version, but I also want the Genesis version

It sounds nice, looks good, and controls nearly perfect although the thingy you use to swing is a pain in the neck. That said, I have fond memories of the games, playing it at a friends house on his (new at the time) Genesis 2 which was a lot more leet and newer looking than my Genesis 1.

The Sega CD version is so overrated. The driving isn't that great, but oh so pretty. It sure is a lot better than The Adventures of Batman and Robin tho. However... I love the Game Gear/Master System version. I think they share the same engine as the GG Shinobi games. They sound, look and play a lot alike.

[daminmancejin2]

Melf good you put the review up for this game!
i still play batman returns the gameplay isn't bad at all.

[ary incorparated]

This game is worse it has some really stif shit graphics and plays to stiff Batman. and robin is way better i think even supperior to the snes version.the md cd version is better and even a fine title because you can shoose between platform or racing,Fewwwww.I give this game a 5,the snes version is way better.

[Alianger]

Stiff controls and crappy level design & ai makes this game not worth your time. I did like the dark graphics and music but the sound quality is horrible.
4/10

[TwistedReality]

The controls are a little annoying to me, but I love this game's dark and moody atmosphere. I only got to level two once, hence the controls. They're too sluggish for me.

[bigladiesman]

Boring game then, boring game now, full of cheap hits, slow and excessively hard. The 8-bit SMS/GG version is better IMHO (and don't get me started on Konami's beat 'em up on SNES, which isn't a masterpiece, but is quite entertaining). However, I for one, like the approach Sega took with the graphics: the faded palette and the overall obscurity mixes the vision of Tim Burton with the trend started way back by Neil Adams in the comics (the SNES version just stays true to the movie while IMHO, the MD mixes elements): this Gotham is true to the vision of the gothicism and depression Bob Kane and Bill Finger saw frustrated by the Comic Code.

Overall, a mediocre to bad game with some nice ideas, especially graphically-wise.

[Mega Drive Bowlsey]

I enjoyed the Mega Drive version of Batman Returns as a kid because I loved Batman (which kid didn't?) and so I overlooked some of it's problems, but ever since I got the Mega CD version of this title, which tidied up some of the gameplay elements from the platforming sections, added amazing music and truly spectacular driving stages, I have felt no need to ever play the Mega Drive port of the game ever again.

[Team Saber Rider]

I liked the SNES version very much but I never understood why the didn't include a car ride like in the Mega CD version.

[Allard]

Just out of the blue I decided to give this game a ride recently from beginning to end and it's... interesting. "A mixed bag" would be the perfect description, I guess, it definitely has its ups and downs in almost every regard. Some of the enemies and bosses are kind of lazy (gargoyles and statues?), but others are alright, being Penguin's henchmen. This game definitely took a page from Sunsoft's Batman games - the basic controls are the same as the Sega version, there are multiple weapons like in the NES version, etc, though with how stiff and slow Batman is and how easy it is to get hit, they should've polished it further. The graphics are very dirty and grainy, but weirdly enough, they kinda work in favor of the moody atmosphere of the movie. Same goes with the music: there are better sounding tunes for sure, a plenty of them, but what we have here does have its own atmosphere and it kind of works. The game is weird, murky, unpleasant at times... but I guess that makes it a perfect adaptation of the movie that is also weird, dark and unpleasant at times. I can't say I had a bad time with it. Maybe I'll even replay it someday. Then again, maybe not.

[Mega Drive Bowlsey]

Just out of the blue I decided to give this game a ride recently from beginning to end and it's... interesting. "A mixed bag" would be the perfect description, I guess, it definitely has its ups and downs in almost every regard. Some of the enemies and bosses are kind of lazy (gargoyles and statues?), but others are alright, being Penguin's henchmen. This game definitely took a page from Sunsoft's Batman games - the basic controls are the same as the Sega version, there are multiple weapons like in the NES version, etc, though with how stiff and slow Batman is and how easy it is to get hit, they should've polished it further. The graphics are very dirty and grainy, but weirdly enough, they kinda work in favor of the moody atmosphere of the movie. Same goes with the music: there are better sounding tunes for sure, a plenty of them, but what we have here does have its own atmosphere and it kind of works. The game is weird, murky, unpleasant at times... but I guess that makes it a perfect adaptation of the movie that is also weird, dark and unpleasant at times. I can't say I had a bad time with it. Maybe I'll even replay it someday. Then again, maybe not.

Very good summing up of this game. It definitely has it's plus points. A lot of people dislike the visual style and colour palette, but it worked for me. I know Batman looks dark purple in this but it just works for me, maybe because I had a Batman action figure the same colour as a kid I dunno lol. The level design and enemies are all over the place in terms of quality but it's still a fairly decent platform game using the film license. Like I said a few years back however, once you own the Mega CD port of Batman Returns you don't go back to this. The SNES got a bloody good game too though to be fair. Konami's scrolling beat-em-up plays great and sticks very closely to the events of the film.