|
|
|
BATMAN (SPC)
|
Publisher: Ocean.
Developer: Bernie Drummond, Jon Ritman. Released: 1986. Genre: Isometric Platformer. Other versions: CPC; MSX. Posted 30th September 2013. By Tom Clare © 2013 |
Batman has certainly enjoyed a favourable rub of the green in gaming circles down the years. The Caped Crusader has appeared on so many formats, encompassed so many genres and been interpreted by so many different development houses, that picking a definitive favourite, particularly in the context of its own release, is always going to be a tricky ask. Few would dispute though that Ocean's original Batman, the Gotham crime fighter's first ever video game outing, made a major impact. A brilliant slice of platform design, it was a class apart from other Spectrum titles of the time.
Ocean's 1986 Batman sees the superhero needing to locate, retrieve and reassemble parts of the Batmobile, as well as some of his powers of agility, in order to rescue Robin. And in doing so, you'll discover a game of outstanding ambition and quality, labyrinth design and scope, and one the best 48k games in existence.
|
|
Batman demands nimble footwork, as the caped crusader faces a multitude of unusual hazards
It's an isometric platformer, a more extravagant version of the earlier Knight Lore if you will. Bats may be largely defenceless and lack for high tech equipment, but he's blessed with something far more potent; the full freedom that's granted by multi-directional movement. And with it comes a convincing sensation of three dimensional space, where you can make use of blocks, lifts and ledges to reach the higher echelons of the screen when called for. Although gauging perspective can prove tricky at first (you'll kill yourself as much by walking into hazardous scenery as you will foes), but the amount of freedom Batman allows is a revelation. And not merely in the sense of its dimensions either, there are countless junctures throughout your quest where you'll have a choice between two or three different doors. It's cunning but eminently rewarding; sometimes you'll encounter dead ends, red herrings or downright evil, instant-kill trap rooms, but equally, a bit of exploring yields new and exciting challenges, as well as smoother routes to your goal.
It looks absolutely stonking. There's an absolute abundance of quality about every facet of the visual design. Each of the one hundred and fifty-odd rooms and corridors is unique, with its own intricate detailing that evolves as you progress. Interactive objects such as boxes, blocks, conveyor belts and switches all look sharp, whilst the enemy design is big, bold and wonderfully quirky. The icing on the cake is the Batman sprite itself; he looks tops, moving, gliding and jumping in smooth, graceful animations, whilst he even has time to look impatient and start tapping his foot should he be left to stand stationary too long. Whilst tunes are used sparingly, there's some great Batman jingles whenever you collect a Batmobile piece or lose a life, whilst the pitter-patter SFX of Batman walking are hypnotically pleasant.
It looks absolutely stonking. There's an absolute abundance of quality about every facet of the visual design. Each of the one hundred and fifty-odd rooms and corridors is unique, with its own intricate detailing that evolves as you progress. Interactive objects such as boxes, blocks, conveyor belts and switches all look sharp, whilst the enemy design is big, bold and wonderfully quirky. The icing on the cake is the Batman sprite itself; he looks tops, moving, gliding and jumping in smooth, graceful animations, whilst he even has time to look impatient and start tapping his foot should he be left to stand stationary too long. Whilst tunes are used sparingly, there's some great Batman jingles whenever you collect a Batmobile piece or lose a life, whilst the pitter-patter SFX of Batman walking are hypnotically pleasant.
|
|
Whilst the need for some pixel-perfect, feet-three-quarters-off-the-ledge jumping can be a touch painful, the comparatively generous seven lives the player starts with coupled with an innovative checkpoint system not only offers respite from the litany of ways the game likes to kill you, but gives players a sporting chance at moving toward the business end of what is a ultimately a very expansive environment. Completing it is super-tough, due to the requirement of pin-sharp timing and a fair bit of good fortune, whilst the number of sneaky disappearing blocks, treacherous conveyor belts and perilous one-chance jumps mean the lives will be a necessity to all but the very most gifted of gamers.
Chocked full of great rooms, Batman constantly finds ways to keep the player thinking. In between the platform barrage, there are some fantastic block puzzles. These utilise Batman's ability to collect and walk around with one item at a time, you'll find they're not only a necessity for reaching higher spots, but can also be stood on to deflect enemy collisions, and stacked on top of one another to go higher still. You'll be faced with death-defying leaps from moving platforms, edging within a pixel's breadth of a patrolling enemy as you make a desperate break for the door, and are tasked with keeping a cool head when picking safe routes through dangerous and unpredictable trap rooms. Small margins dictate success and failure, but it offers pure adventuring in spades.
Chocked full of great rooms, Batman constantly finds ways to keep the player thinking. In between the platform barrage, there are some fantastic block puzzles. These utilise Batman's ability to collect and walk around with one item at a time, you'll find they're not only a necessity for reaching higher spots, but can also be stood on to deflect enemy collisions, and stacked on top of one another to go higher still. You'll be faced with death-defying leaps from moving platforms, edging within a pixel's breadth of a patrolling enemy as you make a desperate break for the door, and are tasked with keeping a cool head when picking safe routes through dangerous and unpredictable trap rooms. Small margins dictate success and failure, but it offers pure adventuring in spades.
|
|
There's plenty of puzzles and platforming to master and the freedom to tackle challenges in different orders
The downsides tend to manifest almost as by-products of the good bits. Having so much scope to pick your route is extremely gratifying, but it also makes completing the game that much harder as there's lot of backtracking and a considerable reliance on trial and error. Likewise, whilst the power-ups (which include super-speed, large jumps and temporary invulnerability) are cool, they're also extremely short-term, and can only be made use of once. Some of them are near-imperative to progressing through the trickier rooms, yet if you see one in the middle of a room with several exits, it can be hit and miss as to whether you opt for the right one or not.
Still, it's heartening to know that, even back at the very beginning of his virtual journey, Batman's games rocked. Challenging, clever, lengthy, fun, attractive and addictive, Bernie Drummond's and Jon Ritman's platformer is a true Spectrum classic, offering a level of complexity (both in terms of 3D architecture and puzzle design) that would dwarf the vast majority of platformers that would follow on higher-spec formats in the years that followed. These days, it stands as a model example of why quality gameplay and intelligent design, above all else, grant games the most favourable passage into old age.
Still, it's heartening to know that, even back at the very beginning of his virtual journey, Batman's games rocked. Challenging, clever, lengthy, fun, attractive and addictive, Bernie Drummond's and Jon Ritman's platformer is a true Spectrum classic, offering a level of complexity (both in terms of 3D architecture and puzzle design) that would dwarf the vast majority of platformers that would follow on higher-spec formats in the years that followed. These days, it stands as a model example of why quality gameplay and intelligent design, above all else, grant games the most favourable passage into old age.
|
VERDICT
Visual: 10/10
Audio: 8/10 Gameplay: 9/10 Longevity: 9/10 OVERALL: 9/10 |