Batman: Return of the Joker | |
---|---|
Developer(s) |
Sunsoft Ringler Studios (GEN/MD) |
Publisher(s) | Sunsoft |
Designer(s) | Yoshiaki Iwata Tadashi Kojima |
Programmer(s) | H. Suzuki, Hirokatsu Fujii (NES) Chris Oke (GEN/MD) Michio Okasaka (Game Boy) |
Artist(s) | Lance Hutto, Karen Ffinch, Klee Miller, Chris Oke, Simon Ffinch, Ed Ringler (GEN/MD) |
Composer(s) | NES Naoki Kodaka Game Boy Manami Matsumae Genesis Tommy Tallarico |
Platform(s) | NES, Game Boy, Sega Genesis |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Platform |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Batman: Return of the Joker [a] is a 1991 platform video game, the follow-up to Sunsoft's first Batman game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Unlike that game, which was based on the 1989 Batman film directed by Tim Burton, Return of the Joker is entirely self-contained and based more on the modern comic book iteration of Batman, but the Batmobile and the Batwing are featured from the 1989 film. A remake of Return of the Joker, titled Batman: Revenge of the Joker, was released on the Sega Genesis by Ringler Studios in 1992. A Super NES version of Revenge of the Joker was completed but never officially released; a ROM image surfaced online in later years.
A completely different version of the game was released on the Game Boy in 1992.
In Batman: Return of the Joker, the titular hero is on journey to the Joker's secret hide-out after called by Gotham City to find metals stolen by the Joker, one of which is highly toxic and used to build explosives for missiles. [1] The NES version of Batman: Return of the Joker consists of seven stages, each of which have two sub-levels (except for the last stage) and a boss level (except for the second and fifth stages); from beginning to end, they are the Gotham City cathedral, the Joker's warehouse, a snowy mountain, a refinery, an underground conduit, an ammunition base, and the Island of Ha-Hacienda. [2] Although Batman has three lives, the game has unlimited continues [3] and stage passwords that can be accessed by pausing the game. [4] The game's five bosses include the Ace Ranger, a Minedroid, the Master C.P.U. of the refinery, and two battles with the Joker; [2] for regular levels, Batman's health is represented in increments, but in the boss stages, both Batman and the boss's life meters are represented in numbers. [5]
Return of the Joker is a side-scrolling run and gun platformer. [6] [7] Batman's weapon is a wrist projector [8] which the player change its type of ammunition by collecting icons throughout the levels: "C" icons for the crossbow, which shoots arrows that makes an enemy explode, "B" icons for "Batarangs", where its direction follows the movement of on-screen enemies, N for "Sonic Neutralizers" that shoots two patterns of Batarangs in a criss-cross shape, and "S" for "Shield Stars" that shoots three darts going separate directions. [9] Batman can slide by pressing the A-button and down on the D-pad, a move that is also an attack (although it only works against some enemies). [8] Batman can also collect energy capsules that, if eight are obtained, will make him become invincible for a few seconds. [9]
The Game Boy version, unlike the NES version where the character shoots, is only a platformer. [7]
Publication | Score | ||
---|---|---|---|
Game Boy | NES | Sega Genesis | |
AllGame | [10] | [11] | |
Computer and Video Games | 79% [12] | 59% [13] | |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 29/40 [b] | 29/40 [b] | |
GamePro | 17/20 [c] | 3/5 [17] | |
GamesMaster | 68% [18] | ||
GameZone | 78/100 [19] | ||
Jeuxvideo.com | 15/20 [20] | ||
Nintendo Power | 3.6/5 [e] | 3.85/5 [d] | |
Official Nintendo Magazine | 78% [23] | ||
Total! | 86% [25] | 64% [24] | |
Zero | 90/100 [26] | ||
Game Zero | 50.5/100 [27] | ||
Nintendo Acción | 2.75/4 [f] | ||
GB Action | 83% [29] | ||
N-Force | 82% [30] | ||
Mega | 67% [31] | ||
Mega Drive Advanced Gaming | 78% [32] | ||
Mean Machines Sega | 68% [33] | ||
MegaTech | 75% [34] | ||
Sega Force | 60/100 [35] | ||
Sega Pro | 84% [36] | ||
Sega Zone | 81/100 [37] |
Publication | Award |
---|---|
Nintendo Power | Game of the Year (nominee) [38] |
Dave Cook of Nintendo Life wrote that while Batman: Return of the Joker was "fun and challenging it doesn't feel as revolutionary as its predecessor despite being a commendable effort". [39]
Syfy Wire, in 2017, ranked the NES version of Batman: Return of the Joker the fourth most essential DC Comics video game adaptation to play. [40] Den of Geek ranked the Game Boy version the 22nd most underrated Game Boy game, praising its return of wall-jumping and beat 'em up mechanics of the 1989 Batman NES title, although complained about its limited continues. [41]
In 2019, IGN ranked the game's final boss the third best video game portrayal of the Joker of all-time. [42]
The Gamer, in 2020, claimed Return of the Joker to be the best-looking NES game ever, reasoning that the "sprites are fluid, the game's color palette is moody & atmospheric, and the backgrounds are as fleshed out as can be for an NES game". [43] Yacht Club Games artist Nick Wozniak has named the game's Batman sprite as one of his all-time favorite in games: "As an adult, I was in shock at what I was seeing… There's only ever one or two humanoid enemies on screen because they are completely bombing the NES with the graphics. They give him a powerup where he turns gold and he shoots a bunch of guys. It's like Super Batman. They don't care". [44]
The Gamer has also called it one of the best all-time Batman video games: "The graphics are surprisingly spritely for an early 90s game, with entertaining gameplay and an intriguing storyline helping make this game an enjoyable experience". [6] It has also been ranked the ninth-best Batman game by Uproxx [45] and the tenth-best by IGN Spain. [46] In a worst-to-best list of Batman video games by The Things, Return of the Joker came in number 12: "Almost everyone who reviewed it remarked on how amazing the graphics and backgrounds were. This was 16-bit quality on 8-bit machines. The gameplay wasn't as good as the prior Batman game, but only just. Building off the '89 game, combat-focused from attacks to gadgets, giving players greater variety. A better difficulty curve was also introduced". [47]
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