Welcome to Part 2 of the History of Batman in Video Games. Part 1 was surprising in that very few of the games were seen as utter bile, but now we're about to get into the real stuff. The games that scored 1s and 2s across the board. Allow me to present to you - the worst Batman games in existence.
1995 - Batman Forever (Gameboy, GameGear, Genesis, SNES, PC)
Description:
A side scrolling beat-em-up based on the Mortal Kombat engine. Basically Mortal Kombat with Batman pallet swaps.
Reception:
The game appears to have been rushed to market with sloppy bugs, terrible controls and uninteresting gameplay. An all around failure.
SNES Version below.
Genesis Version
Gameboy Version
GameGear Version
SNES Version below.
Genesis Version
Gameboy Version
GameGear Version
______________________________________________________________
1996 - Batman Forever The Arcade Game (Arcade)
Description: An arcade style beat-em-up, strikingly similar to the X-Men, Simpsons and Ninja Turtles before it.
Reception: [From a 1996 Gamespot Review]
While Batman Forever carries on the tradition of Double Dragon, Final
Fight, and Streets of Rage, it doesn't add enough new action to make it
worthwhile. Fans of the arcade version won't be disappointed, but all
things considered, it's just another uninspired game from the folks at
Acclaim.
______________________________________________________________
1998 - Batman and Robin (Game.com, PlayStation) Description: A real-time, sandbox, open world style Batman game? Oh you must be talking about Arkham City.
Nope.
Before last year's runaway hit, there was another Batman game that tried its hand at the open world thing, only to fail miserably. It didn't help that it was based on possibly - no - without question - the WORST Batman movie ever made.
Reception: Poor.
______________________________________________________________
2000 - Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (PS1, N64, GBC)
Description: A super original concept with this one. Get ready: it's Batman...in a side scrolling beat-em-up. I know, right? How did they ever think to do that?
Reception: Terrible.
______________________________________________________________
2001 - Batman: Chaos in Gotham (GBC)
Description: Based off animated series The New Batman Adventures, "Chaos in Gotham"was a decently reviewed and developed game for the time. It's a side scrolling platformer, similar to the old NES Batman game. Critics praised the attention to detail in the graphics and level of difficulty.
Reception: Fair, 7s and 8s.
______________________________________________________________
2001 - Batman: Gotham City Racer
Description: What's it sound like? A kart racer with Batman characters? Well you're wrong. It's actually a mission-based driving game where you drive around Gotham stopping crime. There is a 2-player mode, but it plays more like cops and robbers than Mario Kart.
Reception:
"The worst game I've played to date." - Gamespot user.
"The worst game I've played to date." - Gamespot user.
It appears to be very flawed - terrible driving controls, idiotic AI and short and repetitive missions. Also, based on the video below - it looks like absolute vomit.
______________________________________________________________
2001 - Batman Vengeance (PS2, GameCube, XBOX, PC, GBA)
Description: The first Batman game for the next-gen consoles, Batman Vengeance was yet another title based on the New Batman Adventures show. It seems to mix several genres together, and seems to do it quite well based on reviews.
The majority of the game is viewed from a third person, 3D perspective, but you can go into a first person mode to throw Batarangs, and also pilot the Batmobile in the games several driving stages.
Reception: The game wasn't a killer app for the early next-gen library, but it was seen as a well-made licensed game - a rarity. It was also seen as a well-made Batman game - a statistical impossibility.
______________________________________________________________
Description: I have a personal vendetta against this game. Unlike most of the other games on this list, I've actually owned this one. Here's what I remember: you start, unceremoniously in a fist fight with three thugs. Then you're immediately transported to the top of a building and swing from rooftop to rooftop. This mechanic was broken and I couldn't get any farther than this point. It was literally two minutes into the game.
Apparently the story was scripted by some big name dudes, and was supposed to be pretty good. But story doesn't matter if you can't even move forward to see how it plays out.
Reception:
"...Dark Tomorrow borders on being unplayable" - IGN
"..."a study in poorly conceived, aggravating gameplay
and marks yet another failed caper for the caped crusader." - Gamerevolution
Part 2 ends on what I consider to be the worst Batman game ever made. Stay tuned for Part 3 where things are sure to turn around for the Dark Knight.
Which Caped Crusader games have you guys played? Let me know in the comments!
I've played the two recent Batman Games, Arkham Asylum and City and they were definitely the best. I used to have one for the Sega Genesis, although I can't remember which one. And that thing was garbage. I rarely got to the third level, I would lose have of my lives on the first one.
ReplyDeleteAdventures of Batman and Robin for Genesis is awesome, and missing from this list.
ReplyDelete