Batman: The Video Game

Batman: The Video Game is a platformer created by Sunsoft for the NES in 1989, right after the Batman movie by Tim Burton.

It should not be confused with the Batman videogame created by Ocean (aka Batman: The Movie), that was released the same years but for different platforms such as Amiga and Commodore 64. Instead, Sunsoft would port its game to the Genesis too, but only in 1991.

Batman: The Video Game is one of the best super-hero videogames released for the NES. Even if it does not follow the plot of the film strictly, it's able to transport the players in a very Gothamesque atmosphere. The title is full of cutscenes that will show you Batman, the beautiful Vicky Vale, the Joker (Jack Nicholson in that movie), the unmistakable Tim Burton's Batmobile, and much more. The graphics of the cutscenes are really top-notch.

In terms of gameplay, many people saw similarities with Ninja Gaiden/Shadow Warriors, which is not a bad thing. Batman, in fact, can jump on the walls (which is maybe a skill more appropriate for Spiderman, but it makes the game very fun). The primary weapon is punch, but you can switch to batarang, batdisk, or bat spear gun.

Maybe the only problem with this game is the difficulty level. Unlike other NES titles, it's not easy to complete this one. But apart from this, we are talking about one of the best appearances of the caped crusader in 8-bit.