Best Batman game? Any platform is fine...

[ivotedforkodos]

Hi everyone, i will admit that I'm totally nerd-ed up for the new Batman movie this summer...so it got me thinking, what's the best Batman game out there? I believe that the only one I've ever played is for the original Gameboy, but I'd like to get some opinions. I know that licensed stuff usually equals garbage, but there has to be some Batman game out there that rocks, right? It doesn't have to be on a "classic" console either...I just figured this was the best place to post.

[RadiantSvgun]

I like the Nes Batman the best. Batman Returns on SNES is pretty good too.

[Dangerboy]

I 2nd the Batman NES game, followed by just the FREAKING INSANELY HARD Genesis Batman and Robin.

[Chuplayer]

I heard that the TV games Batman game is the best Batman game in a long time.

[Aussie2B]

The only correct answer is the first Batman on NES. :P Great gameplay, atmosphere, music, everything. The only real problem it has is a slight delay in jumping, but it's not a huge hindrance.

[Cloud121]

NES Batman
Super Famicom Batman Returns
Super Famicom Batman & Robin
MegaDrive Batman & Robin
Mega CD Batman Returns

[sirhansirhan]

Yeah, I vote for the first Batman game on the NES, too. It think that's your answer--hasn't every single response said that now?

[darkhades]

I vote for Batman Returns on the SNES

[DDCecil]

Batman for NES and Batman Returns for SNES.

[The Great Dane]

I've always been in love with the NES Batman :p

The music and look of it are so different from any other NES game. It has such a dark and gloomy look and sound, which is just like the original Batman movie, and how I would imagine Gotham City looking if it were real.

The music for Stage 1 is especially awesome:
http://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/nes/bm1-st1.mid

I also used to to really like the original Gameboy Batman. It has been several years since I last played it, but it was awesome when I last did.

[suppafly]

I've always been in love with the NES Batman :p

The music and look of it are so different from any other NES game. It has such a dark and gloomy look and sound, which is just like the original Batman movie, and how I would imagine Gotham City looking if it were real.

The music for Stage 1 is especially awesome:
http://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/nes/bm1-st1.mid

I also used to to really like the original Gameboy Batman. It has been several years since I last played it, but it was awesome when I last did.

The NES Batman was the best version ever imho. I loved that game and it took me months to beat it...

[Kevincal]

NES Batman. :P

[CosmicMonkey]

Gameboy version. The original one where you're a tiny little Batman. Is this similar to the NES version?

[7th lutz]

Nes Batman

[The Great Dane]

Gameboy version. The original one where you're a tiny little Batman. Is this similar to the NES version?

I don't remember a whole lot about it, but from what I do remember it is similar to the NES one. Though, the one thing I remember that stood out is that there are flying missions with the Batwing, which I always thought were pretty cool.

[Emuaust]

Mega Cd/Sega Cd Batman Returns.

[j_factor]

Batman & Robin for Genesis. Very impressive graphics, great soundtrack, really interesting bosses. High difficulty, but it's not impossible.

Batman Returns for Sega CD was pretty good, especially the driving stages.

Has anyone tried the Batman games for Amiga? I've always wondered about them.

[shoes23]

No love at all for Batman Vengeance? I thought that it was pretty well done, and mimicked the animated series fairly well. Plus, you get to drive the batmobile and use plenty of handy (and some not so handy) bat-gadgets. I certainly enjoyed it while it lasted.

I also second NES Batman though, as well as Batman Returns for the SNES (good beat-em-up). I would recommend Justice League Heroes as well, except that Batman for some reason is just about the most worthless superhero in that game.

[Xexyz]

Any Batman from SunSoft is the way to go. The first Batman for the NES is probably the best (as you can see from the recommendations so far), but the Genesis version by Sunsoft was also good, and a completely different game. Also, is there no love for the sequel, Batman: Return for the Joker? I still think the first title was better, but only by a hair. Plus, Return of the Joker is just jaw dropping amazing for what it pulled off on the NES. Multiple layers of parallax scrolling, large, 16-bit esque detailed sprites, and another great Sunsoft soundtrack.

[Rob2600]

Batman Returns on the SNES was very well done.

Batman: Vengeance and Batman Begins for the GameCube also received positive reviews.

[tom]

Batman on Amstrad CPC

[RadiantSvgun]

No love at all for Batman Vengeance? I thought that it was pretty well done, and mimicked the animated series fairly well. Plus, you get to drive the batmobile and use plenty of handy (and some not so handy) bat-gadgets. I certainly enjoyed it while it lasted.

I also second NES Batman though, as well as Batman Returns for the SNES (good beat-em-up). I would recommend Justice League Heroes as well, except that Batman for some reason is just about the most worthless superhero in that game.

I loved Batman Vengence. It might not be as good if you haven't watched the cartoons.

[cyberfluxor]

This topic should so dearly cries out for a poll.

#1 NES Batman
#2 Batman Returns

Only played my GG copy for Returns, great in my book but I'm sure the SNES and GEN versions are better.

[Rogmeister]

I'm probably one of the few here that never played the NES Batman game. I pretty much missed the whole NES era. I did have it for a few years this decade but ultimately gave my NES collection to someone else.

I liked two games for the SNES...Batman Returns (I think it was actually only the 2nd SNES game I ever bought) and the one based on the animated series...I think the official title of that one was The Adventures of Batman & Robin.

Has anyone played Batman Begins? I bought the GameCube version but haven't got around to playing it yet.

Of course, if you're going to do polls, it might be more fun to do one for worst Batman game :D

[GarrettCRW]

I loved Batman Vengence. It might not be as good if you haven't watched the cartoons.

If you haven't watched Batman: The Animated Series, you need help.

Though, with that said, the first NES Batman is still the best of the lot.

[exit]

Batman TAS for SNES wasn't that bad, but I do remember hating the driving levels.

I also have fond memories of the C64 Batman games, one was based on the movie and the other was based more on the comic or TV series. I'm not sure how well the C64 ones hold up tho, I really only remember not knowing what to do in the non-movie one and then dieing.

[diskoboy]

Definitely the Sunsoft NES Batman.

Batman: Return of the Joker is just more of the same, only with better GFX. Still good, though...

[kainemaxwell]

The 2 Batman games for the NES.

So what's great about Batman & Robin for the Sega CD?

[Sosage]

Batman NES and Batman Gameboy (original) are my two favorites. To answer an earlier question, they are not the same game. They aren't very similar aside from quality (artwork, gameplay and music is bad ass for a movie licensed OG Gameboy game).

[j_factor]

So what's great about Batman & Robin for the Sega CD?

Well, considering nobody's mentioned it yet... not much. The graphics are pretty nice but the gameplay is repetitive. It's not horrible, it's just not great.

[Tron 2.0]

NES Batman
NES Batman Return of the Joker
Genesis Batman
Genesis Batman and Robin:Even if the game is realy tough.

[Rob2600]

if you're going to do polls, it might be more fun to do one for worst Batman game :D

Yes, there are plenty to choose from! :)

[Dire 51]

Batman (NES)
Batman (Genesis)
Batman Returns (SNES)
The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES)

Batman Returns for the NES wasn't too bad from what I recall.

[8bitgamer]

Batman for the NES, without question.

[TheRedEye]

Batman on the NES is the best generic jumpy punch game that happens to be called Batman.

The best game that makes you actually feel like Batman is The Adventures of Batman & Robin on the SNES.

[Ruudos]

The 2 Batman games for the NES.

So what's great about Batman & Robin for the Sega CD?

There are 3 Batman-games for NES, but you probably ment the Sunsoft games (and not Konami's Batman Returns).

I've heard the Lynx-version of Batman Returns is good, but very hard.

[NE146]

I think it's funny NES Batman gets so much accolades. I was an early buyer of the game.. I brought it home, eventually beat it, and it went into my NES pile.

However, what I remember is my impression of the game is it left me with an empty feeling... like it was the start of the downfall of the NES. I think maybe as well by that time the Turbografx & Genesis started hitting hard. So the NES stuff, such as Batman just seemed to pale so much in comparison. Maybe I should replay now with non-'next-gen hypnotized' eyes :P

[E Nice]

So what's great about Batman & Robin for the Sega CD?

It's a driving/shooting game simialr to the Batmobile stages in the Sega CD Batman Returns. The last level has you flying the Batwing over a bridge. The music is similar style to the Genesis Batman & Robin. The VR game world is the best level IMO. Plus the game has a Batman TAS cartoon FMV with the voice actors of the show between the stages. It's almost like getting to see an exclusive episode featuring Poison Ivy, Riddler, Joker, Harley Quinn, Rubert Thorne and Clayface.

[kazuo]

NES Batman for sure... then SNES Batman Returns, and Genesis Adventures of Batman & Robin.

[Wraith Storm]

I have to agree that the Sunsoft Batman games are the best.

I even liked the pacman spin they put on the PC engine version. The fact that they took some of the best music tracks from the NES game and reprogrammed them to take advantage of the PCE sound processor didnt hurt either.

[boatofcar]

There's actually an isometric puzzle-style Batman game that came out for the Spectrum (I think). Any UK gamers play that one?

[sidnotcrazy]

Any Batman from SunSoft is the way to go. The first Batman for the NES is probably the best (as you can see from the recommendations so far), but the Genesis version by Sunsoft was also good, and a completely different game. Also, is there no love for the sequel, Batman: Return for the Joker? I still think the first title was better, but only by a hair. Plus, Return of the Joker is just jaw dropping amazing for what it pulled off on the NES. Multiple layers of parallax scrolling, large, 16-bit esque detailed sprites, and another great Sunsoft soundtrack.

Yeah, all the Batman games by Sunsoft were awesome. I really liked the batwing stage from the Genesis version.

Also Batman & Robin for the Snes was amazing. How they encorperated exploration, action and light puzzle solving into one game, and maintained the style of the animated series was pure genius. I remember it was one of the few rentals I seriousely had problems bringing back to the store.

[EX-Soldier]

NES Batman
NES Batman Return of the Joker
Genesis Batman
Genesis Batman and Robin:Even if the game is realy tough.

finally someone who played that impossible batman & robin game apart from me, jesus christ hard is not the word, took me & my brother 6 months to beat it & even then that was with a game genie

anyone who can beat it without cheating deserves a medal & a parade in there honor

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

My two favorites are -

Batman on the NES

and

The Adventures of Batman and Robin on the Sega Genesis

Both are straightforward, accessible platform action games...

...though, neither really "capture" the essence of being "The Dark Night Detective" ... no Batman game really has.

Batman Vengance came close (and, like Batman and Robin game on Genesis features the excellent Bruce Timm animated style) ... but was ultimately too slow, boring, and slightly wonky to seal the deal.

In a day and age where games like Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell are commonplace ... it almost boggles my mind that we haven't gotten a Batman game that balances action, stealth, and detective work.

Go figure.

[TheRedEye]

...though, neither really "capture" the essence of being "The Dark Night Detective" ... no Batman game really has.

I feel that The Adventures of Batman & Robin on the SNES came the closest, give it a try.

[Xexyz]

Batman on the NES is the best generic jumpy punch game that happens to be called Batman.


True the little purple Batman and simple colored backgrounds didn't really capture the "Gotham feel", but I'd hardly call wall jumping in a 1989 NES video game generic.

[rbudrick]

Batman for NES hands down, no contest. The game is outstanding, the music is incredible, and it almost looked like a next-gen game. Certainly one of the best games in the NES library. The game captured the feel of the movie better than any other movie to game conversion in history at the time, and the music, while not from the movie, was very Elfman-esque. The game is top notch. I spent countless hours playing it. I played it so much I was able to beat it on one life. Though I only did it twice, I caught one of those times on tape.

-Rob

[ivotedforkodos]

In a day and age where games like Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell are commonplace ... it almost boggles my mind that we haven't gotten a Batman game that balances action, stealth, and detective work.

Go figure.

I say "Amen" to that...i think that's what I was getting at. Thanks to everyone for all the replies, I had no idea how many people would weigh in. NES Batman it is...until someone makes a "real" Batman game.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

TheRedEye, I owned it at one point.

It had some very nice animations, and dealt with just about all of the rogues gallery from the 1st run of the animated series ... but it was on the opposite end of the spectrum of the Genesis version (which was WAY too hard, but still fun) .... it was fun, but almost way too easy. It's not the mess that Batman Forever or Dark Tomorrow were by any means, but as a "fondly remembered" Batman title, it's a near miss.

I prefer the NES and Genesis versions respectively simply because their high difficulties kept me playing.

[shadowfire36]

batman was the best and i play on my psp all the time ..the genesis version by sunsoft was a good version as well

[Kid Fenris]

I think it's funny NES Batman gets so much accolades.

So do I, because it's really not that good; the weapons are lame, the levels are dull, and Batman moves like a sack of turd hammers. It's also too hard to be much fun, a problem common to older Sunsoft titles.

Amazing soundtrack, though.

[Ruudos]

So do I, because it's really not that good; the weapons are lame, the levels are dull, and Batman moves like a sack of turd hammers. It's also too hard to be much fun, a problem common to older Sunsoft titles.

Amazing soundtrack, though.


It's hard, but not impossible. That was especially at that time perfect for me. It was always disappointing to buy a new game for a lot of money and then beating it one lousy day.

[tom]

Also excellent is the Amiga 'Batman The Movie' game, which was a pack-in in UK