Batman: The Animated Series (video game)
1993 video game
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Batman: The Animated Series is a platformer video game by Konami released for the Game Boy in 1993, based on the television series of the same title. In the game, the player controls either Batman or Robin as they thwart the villains of Gotham City such as Joker and Mr. Freeze.
| Batman: The Animated Series | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developer | Konami[1] |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Series | Batman |
| Platform | Game Boy |
| Release |
|
| Genre | Platformer |
| Mode | Single-player |
The game was the third Batman game for the Game Boy following two titles from Sunsoft: Batman: The Video Game (1990) and Batman: Return of the Joker (1992). Reviewers complimented the graphics of the game and complimented how it captured the look of the animated series. The game had lukewarm in terms of its gameplay which they said fine but featured little variety and minimal challenge.
Gameplay
Batman: The Animated Series is a single-player game.[2] The game is an side scrolling platformer.[1] The player can switch between Batman or Robin to gain access to character-specific abilities. Batman uses a grappling hook to scale heights, Robin walks across ceilings, and both characters can perform wall jumps.[1] Bat shaped power-ups provide the player with a small supply of batarangs that allow Batman to attack enemies from a distance. A life meter at the bottom of the screen presents how much damage the player character heroes can take. Power-ups shaped liked hearts can be found that provide energy that restores lost life. When this life meter is depleted, the player loses a life and a continue can be used.[3] The amount of continues and the games difficulty level can be adjusted prior to beginning the game.[3]
The game has six levels, and at the end of each level has Batman face a boss being one of Batman's rivals such as the The Riddler and Penguin.[4][5] Each of the game's levels as being presented as their own set stories. The first involves Batman stopping Joker from sending out exploding teddy bears to Gotham City's residents. Others range from stopping a pact between Mr. Freeze and Scarecrow and rescuing Harvey Dent from Poison Ivy. The final level involves a second battle against Joker.[5]
Development
Batman: The Animated Series is based on the Batman: The Animated Series television series.[2] The music in the game borrows cues from Danny Elfman's Batman music from the Batman film series and the animated series of the period.[3][2][6] When the character approaches a boss scene, the music changes to having what an Electronic Games reviewer described as faster more "tension building" music.[3]
It was the third Batman game made for the Game Boy following Sunsoft's Batman: The Video Game (1990) and Batman: Return of the Joker (1992).[6] Batman: The Animated Series was released in November 1993 and published by Konami.[3][7]
Release and reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Aktueller Software Markt | 9/12[4] |
| Consoles + | 85%[8] |
| Computer and Video Games | 84%[9] |
| Joypad | 91%[6] |
| Mega Fun | 77%[10] |
| Total! | 89%[2] |
| Video Games (DE) | 82%[11] |
| Electronic Games | 77%[3] |
Reviewers in video game magazines Consoles + , Joypad , Electronic Games and Total! complimented the graphics in the game. A reviewer in Joypad noted the small sprite size of the character but found it not nearly as small as the previous Game Boy Batman games.[6] Total! commented that "The look and feel of the cartoon have been captured wonderfully, with your Batman sprite leaping around, punching baddies and avoiding traps against stunning backdrops which really convey the atmosphere of a dark, rainy city. "[2] A reviewer in Electronic Games added that there was "little blur that is associated with Game Boy games" and that the it had "heavily detailed, well done backgrounds are the closest Batman: The Animated Series comes to recreating the animated television series."[3]The reviewer continued that it lacked the drama of the television series it was based of of, saying that being "there is no way the Game Boy can recreate the dramatic writing, muted colors and gripping action of the cartoon." and that "it doesn't feel like we are running through the streets of Gotham with Batman. Fighting super villains should be more exciting than this."[3]
Aktueller Software Markt found the game's difficulty level to be moderate, while reviewers in Nintendo Power said most enemies presented little to no challenge and Total! said the game was quite easy to complete.[2] [4][12] While Nintedo Power said the game had excellent play control, GamePro said the described the controls as requiring "plenty of patience."[13][12]
The reviewer in Joypad said the game contained superb music, while reviewers in GamePro and Electronic Games grew tired of the "Batman Theme" being used continuously throughout the game.[3][13] The Electronic Games review said that added that this "wouldn't be so bad if the piece in question were something quick and driving, suitable for an action game. Instead, we hear a sort of low key, mid-tempo piece that sounds like music to creep through a haunted house by."[3]
The review inJoypad ultimately found better than the second Batman game for the Game Boy, but does not surpass the first title.[6] The Total! reviewer said the game felt a little too similar to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games of the time.[2]