Batman: the
Movie, from 1989 is an action/platform game based on Tim Burton’s amazing film of the
same name and was released for a bunch of systems: the ZX Spectrum, Amiga,
Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MS-DOS, Apple II and Atari ST.
There’s
five action packed stages based on the movie and, when I first tried to load the
128k version of the game on my spectrum, about 14 minutes later I was blown
away by the fantastic music by Mathew Cannon and all the 5 levels loaded at the
same time! That was just freaking amazing!
In the
first level we control Batman through the maze of platforms. We’re looking for
Jack Napier and the action takes place at his Axis Chemical plant. You know
what happens next: Jack falls into a container filled with acid. The Joker is
born.
In the
Spectrum version, the second level is a horizontal scroller where you take the
wheel of the Batmobile through the streets of Gotham dodging traffic and
avoiding the police using, for that matter, the grapple gun to go super-fast
around corners. On the other versions of the game, the action is seen from
behind the car making it look more natural but harder.
Third level
is a puzzle section where Batman needs to identify all the components of the
deadly chemical called Smilex that Joker launched into the market.
Succeeding
this stage, we’ll be facing the parade sequence in which we’ll be flying the
Batwing and use it to cut away the balloons filled with poisonous gas without
hitting them.
If you get
bored and wish to see right away the last level of this great game, just hold
down one of the following combination of keys: “E+D+2+0+9” in reference to
Robocop, or “M+I+C+K” probably referred to Mike Lamb, the programmer of the
spectrum version, and you’re good to go!
The fifth
and last level is similar to the first one and takes place at Gotham cathedral
to finally get Joker on its knees. Although, there’s new hazards to consider
like rats and platforms that crumble as you walk on them. The map seems bigger
than the one on the Axis Chemical Plant and you need extra skills to get to the
top of this huge Cathedral. At the very top, Joker makes his last move and
tries to flee using a helicopter. You need to throw one more batarang and you
get a great end sequence watching Joker falling down outside of the building.
I enjoyed
this game a lot and even continue to play finishing it over and over just to
beat the maximum score board points. Was I crazy or what?
Spectrum
version of Batman the Movie was number one on the charts and was awarded Game
of the Year in Crash magazine. Commodore 64 got the worst version that was
filled with annoying bugs.
If you’re into some platforming action featuring
a legendary comic book hero, you need to try this game!
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