Sunsoft: Batman [1989] for Sega Genesis

Next up on our trip through Batman’s video game trophy room is….another Batman 1989 game! Woo!

As a general rule, I’m going to try and avoid “ports” on my Batman list here.  Reason being, there’s not much point in running down the usually very minimal changes a game gets between consoles.  In modern gaming, ports are a way of life, and AAA titles are obviously going to be just about the same game across comparable consoles.

During the 3rd and 4th Generation, though, this was not always the case. Different systems having different capabilities meant one developer may make several versions of a game, or more often, a game may have had several different developers, meaning sometimes the only thing a title would have in common across releases would be just that, a title.

Batman for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive was developed by Sunsoft, the same crew that made the NES version, and while it’s obvious they’re related, this looks, feels and plays like a very different game.

Released in the US in 1991 (I think), this movie game was a little late to the Batmania party, but it was right on time to be part of the Genesis’ first year releases. Because of this, though, this game is somewhat of a sleeper hit, never quite getting the reverence or recognition of it’s 8-bit brother.

Changes to the game are pretty obvious in the first level.  Instead of the platformer-based experience on the NES, the Genesis version is more of a traditional run n’ gun, with a little platforming here and there.  The weapons system is very simplified, just back to the Batarangs, but you pick up several new melee moves.  The wall-climb is gone, replaced with the grappling hook for more traditional climbing.

The difficulty of the game isn’t as punishing as the NES one, and I found this easier to pick up and play without having a mastery of it.  The boss fights are pretty short and sweet, and should you die in the midst of one, their health doesn’t regenerate.  I appreciate that.

Storyline is a little closer to the movie, with less unusual enemies and references, but that does make the bad guys a little duller than the 8-bit version. The music however is just as good, and the graphics are of course even better with some nice rain effects here and there.  It isn’t quite the visual powerhouse that later Genesis games would be but it stands out among the early games as very clean, and retains a classic look.

Also added here are some side-scrolling vehicle levels, with the Batmobile and Batwing.  These can be surprisingly challenging, but make for a great change in gameplay.

It’s a little on the short side, but Batman for the Genesis makes for a much more casual experience than the NES version, while still showing off some nice quality and providing some solid gameplay.  Luckily, this game while often overlooked was produced in big numbers, so whereas you might not find it at a thrift store, it can be had from retro gaming sites for relatively cheap.