Batman review - Nintendo Entertainment System

Ever had one of those birthday parties where everything goes wrong? Gotham city's 200th Anniversary Festival has turned out like that. Criminals are in the middle of a spree, and the city is paralysed by violence and mayhem.

Of course someone's masterminding this diabolical scheme - Jack Napier, aka the Joker. It's up to one man (or flying rat, if you prefer) to stop him - Batman. With five stages, each divided into four levels, this is no easy task. There are fifteen types of baddie and five death-dealing end-of-level bosses to be disposed of as the Caped Crusader hacks his way through to the final showdown with the Joker.

Aiding the Batman in his meanderings are numerous power-ups that are scattered around the landscape. These give extra points, more ammunition, or replenish life energy. As Batman can only take eight hits before exploding in a spectacular fashion, more energy is a must. As well as the standard punch the Batman picks up a spear gun, a Batarang, or a Dirk (not Bogarde, but a shuriken thing) along the way. The bosses come in many shapes and sizes; Killer Moth, the Electrocutioner, Firebug and would you believe it a Dual-Container Alarm all try to ruin Dark Knight's day. Die, and the joke's on you...

What the Mean Machines staff thought

Holy console action! Batman on the Nintendo has turned out to be a real event, with gameplay oozing from every pore (do cartridges have pores?). The graphics are well-defined and rather pretty also; and the array of foes, each with it's own form of attack, puts this game way ahead of most NES games being released at the moment. The animated sequences - especially the Batmobile - left me with my jaw agape they were so good. It's a shame that Batty doesn't have any Batarangs from the word go, and has to rely on his fists, but that's just the psychopath in me coming out. For once, the TV advertising has some real muscle behind it, and if you are a Nintendo owner, miss this game at your peril.

Sporting an extra chip which enhances the graphics, Batman is a visual treat. The backgrounds are sombre-looking, but give the game a dark and brooding atmosphere so prevalent in the film. And it's not just a pretty face. The gameplay is platform-based, with loads of baddies to kapow and extra weapons to collect. There are 20 levels to beat, but the difficulty level is very nicely balanced and the gameplay is addictive enough to keep you coming back time and time again. Batman is expensive, but it's a first class cart that's deserving of any Nintendo owner's collection.