Batman Returns
DOS - 1992
Description of Batman Returns
A very disappointing adaptation of the blockbuster movie license, Batman Returns is a hodge-podge of elements from adventure, action, and role-playing genres, the whole of which is much less than sum of its parts.
The plot loosely (make that very loosely) follows that of the 1992 movie Batman Returns starring Michael Keaton. If you want to understand the plot, seeing the film is a prerequisite to playing, since the game has plot holes large enough to drive the Batmobile through, and never explains why you, as Batman, are doing what you are doing. Although you can control Batman as he battles his foes, that control is limited to selecting weapons, and setting the 'ferocity' of Batman's attack. The battles are not very interactive, since batman seems to win easily no matter which weapon he chooses, although they are fun to watch.
To add insult to injury, certain objects and people will appear in certain locations only during particular times of the virtual "day." Often the time of their appearance is a mystery without any clues, meaning that you will need to retrace your steps to various locations over and over again until someone or something shows up. This adds a level of complexity, but in a way that is unfair to the player. Puzzle are limited to scanning the various objects into the evidence monitor to further the plot, given of course that you are there at the right time when they show up.
In the final analysis, Batman Returns is only an average adventure that could have been so much more, given the powerful license. Is it worth it? Only for dedicated bat-fans, and perhaps those who are new to the adventure genre. The game basically ignores the movie's plot, sends you on ludicrous object hunts, and lacks all the atmosphere that makes the movie a cult classic.
Be warned: once you have the walkthrough, the game takes less than an hour to complete. Without a walkthrough, it takes only a little longer.
Review By HOTUD
Another long review on the blog DC in 80s: http://dcinthe80s.blogspot.fr/2016/08/reviewing-batman-returns-computer-game.html
External links
Captures and Snapshots
Comments and reviews
Robotas 2024-07-10 0 point
This game was a refreshing Batman game, while the other Batman games at that time were action arcade, platformers and fighting games. This one was the second adventure Batman game (the first adventure Batman game was the 1986 ZX Spectrum from Ocean software), this time is mostly a point & click adventure with awesome backgrounds and visual graphics in the same style as Beneath a Steel Sky or Blade Runner, with some action parts. There was two Batman Returns games in 1992, one was an arcade action for consoles and the second was this adventure game only for PC.
As a movie adaptation is bad, because there's only a few moments from the movie, but the plot of this game is original, not seen in movie, and for that I think it was a great thing, making the adventure more compeling to play and to know what this game is all about. If I made a top 10 of Batman games of all time, the first 4 would be the Arkham trilogy (and Blacksite), next The Telltale Adventures, and then this Batman Returns adventure, right after this one would be 1988 Batman The Caped Crusader with is unique comic book style.
Nicolas 2023-10-22 1 point
This game was awesome. The animations were great. The problem it had was the genre was not clearly established, some people thought it was an RPG, others an Adventure game, others an Arcade.....the fact is IT WAS ALL OF THAT!.......the mechanics are simple, you collect evidence, you analyse it, and this open more places to visit and collect more evidence, you also have to question enemies (when you fight the circus foes, you need to KO the clowns, but TRAP the other "bosses" (like the human torch or Strong Man), because they need to be interrogated to get further clues (so having the sonic batarang or the grapple batarang is a must).......also you have to consider you have TIME limits (for example to collect evidence from the Fish store, you need to go during working hours, if you go too late, the store will be closed and you will not be able to move forward, and also some evidence show up at certain times, after that they dissappear, therefore you also can get stuck........also, if I don't recall wrong, the game has two or three different endings.
Stabby McStab Face 2018-12-15 4 points
The "review" for this sounds like it comes from someone who doesn't enjoy oldschool adventure games at all
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