Batman (1986 video game)

Batman is a 1986 isometric action-adventure game by Ocean Software for the Amstrad PCW,[2] Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and MSX,[3] and the first Batman game developed. The game received favourable reviews. An unrelated Batman game was released two years later, titled Batman: The Caped Crusader.

Batman
Amstrad CPC cover art
Publisher(s)Ocean Software
Designer(s)Jon Ritman
Bernie Drummond[1]
Platform(s)ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Amstrad PCW
Release1986
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay edit

 
ZX Spectrum version

The object of the game is to rescue Robin by collecting the seven parts of the Batcraft hovercraft that are scattered around the Batcave. The gameplay takes place in a 3D isometric universe, which programmer Jon Ritman and artist Bernie Drummond would further develop for 1987's Head Over Heels, and is notable for implementing an early example of a save game system that allows players to restart from an intermediate point in the game on the loss of all lives rather than returning all the way to the start (in this case the point at which Batman collects a "Batstone").[4]

Reception edit

Batman was received well by the computer game press at the time. Crash gave it a rating of 93%,[1] Your Sinclair scored it 9/10[11] and Sinclair User gave it five stars and rated it as a "classic".[4] The game reached the number one position in the Amstrad, ZX Spectrum and All-Format charts in the same week in May 1986.[12]

Legacy edit

A freeware remake, called Watman, was released for MS-DOS in 2000.[13] A remake called GWatman has also been written for the Game Boy Advance.[14]

A remake for IBM PC compatibles was produced by Retrospec.[15]

A remake for MSX2 was produced by AAMSX and FX Software, for the MSX RU of 2014.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Batman". Crash. Newsfield Publications Ltd. May 1986. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  2. ^ Ainsley, Rob (1989). "Batman hints". The 8000 Plus Collection: The Ultimate Tips Book for the Amstrad PCW. Bath: Future Publishing. p. 105.
  3. ^ Smith, Martin; Игги Друге. "Batman". MobyGames. MobyGames. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  4. ^ a b Muir, Jerry (May 1986). "Batman". Sinclair User. EMAP. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  5. ^ "Magazine Review". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  6. ^ "Magazine Review". Crash. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  7. ^ "Magazine Review". Sinclair User. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  8. ^ "Magazine Review". Your Sinclair. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  9. ^ "Magazine Review". Your Computer. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  10. ^ "Magazine Review". ZX Computing. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  11. ^ Nash, Tommy (May 1986). "Batman". Your Sinclair. Dennis Publishing. Archived from the original on 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  12. ^ "Charts". Popular Computing Weekly. No. 20. Sunshine Publications. 15 May 1986. p. 54. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Watman For DOS (2000)". Mobygames. Blue Flame Labs. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  14. ^ "GWatman". GBADev.org. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Retrospec". Retrospec.sgn.net. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  16. ^ [1] MSX Resource Center. Retrieved 2017/05/24

External links edit