batman

While players in the West are hunting Batman in arcades or waiting for movie releases, Japan is preparing something quite different. This is how this platformer for the Mega Drive comes into being — an ambitious attempt that bites off more than it can chew.

It's a classic action platformer with Batman in his suit. He collects items, jumps across branches and rooftops, fights enemies — everything you'd expect from such a game. But it differs fundamentally in how you control it. Jumping, attacking, moving — everything is tied into a system that demands timing and learning. It's not a straightforward platformer with linear progression.

The problem lies precisely in the controls. To make the game interesting, it unnecessarily complicates the basics. Batman's movement feels stiff, reactions come with a lag that's noticeable. It doesn't feel polished, but rather like a game struggling with itself. Jumping and aiming your attack simultaneously creates frustration, especially when you've got a time limit hanging over your head, constantly pushing you forward.

The backgrounds and level design stick to the theme — gothic rooftops, staircases you navigate through, a dark color palette. The Sega Mega Drive handles this without issue. The sound is adequate, the music doesn't jar, the effects are audible. Nothing memorable, but it does its job.

Today you'll play it in an emulator, because physical copies aren't common. It won't be a breakthrough — rather a lesson in how not every platformer attempt with a famous character is automatically fun. But if you're curious about what was created on the Mega Drive outside the mainstream, it's worth a shot. A brief diversion, not dozens of hours.