Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Asylum drops in just two days across North America and those who have played it are already hailing it as the best Batman game ever released. I’d like to take this time to have a look back at some of the finer Batman games that have preceded Arkham Asylum. So sit back, put on your nostalgia glasses and utility belt, and enjoy.
Batman: The Video Game (NES, 1989) – Not only one of the best Batman games, but one of the best superhero games in the entire NES catalogue, Batman: The Video Game offered a platforming experience that could rival any of the greats from it’s era. Players would go through 5 stages (all locations from the Tim Burton film released earlier in the year) with cinematics akin to Ninja Gaiden seperating each one. The game’s dark graphics were praised upon it’s release, as well as the detail and fluid movements that Batman himself possessed. Aside from regular physical attacks, players could use batarangs, batdisks, a speargun, and a handy wall jump (another resemblance with Ninja Gaiden) to get themselves to the final battle against, you guessed it, the Joker.
The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES, 1994) – Konami were never known to be slouches when it came to beautiful looking games, and The Adventure of Batman & Robin was no exception. Reflections in the floor? Check. Mode 7? Check. This game was stunning. However, we all know looks aren’t everything, and the team behind The Adventures of Batman & Robin knew that as well. The game was based on the critically acclaimed animated series Batman: The Animated Series, and featured a wide range of familiar villains such as The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler, Two-Face, and many others. Gameplay consisted of your typical platformer features, 8 stages with a boss fight at the end of each one. As expected Batman can equip a plethora of different gadgets throughout the game (bombs, x-ray lenses) to help him complete some of the more difficult stages and take care of the evil-doers. Players were also given the option to return to the Batcave in order to set-up their equipment and restart stages. Unfortunately, despite being in the very title of the game, Robin doesn’t really do much of anything throughout the game. That being said, when has Robin really done much of anything anyway?
Read the rest of Video Game Retrospective: Batman @ The Bigbag.
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