"Fight The Joker at home or on the train."
"It's Batman in your back-pocket!"
Sunsoft has returned with another Batman game. This time around it's for the Nintendo Game Boy. Before you ask, yes, it's also based on the movie. In an interesting turn, the Dark Knight doesn't rely on his fists and bat-gadgets to battle the endless crooks of Gotham City. He just shoots everyone with a gun. It's not a bat-gun that shoots bat-knockout gas pellets either. He fires large bullets that cause criminals to explode like they had nitroglycerin for blood. Basically, you'll be running from left to right shooting anything that moves, while taking great care not to fall off of ledges or moving platforms.
Like a lot of the Game Boy's earliest titles, there is a certain quaintness to Batman. The very fact that he's using a gun seems like a concession the developer made because they hadn't unlocked the hardware's full potential yet. Each stage has a rudimentary charm to it. They're filled with tiny blocks that can either be used as stepping-stones or destroyed to reveal power-ups. In most cases, there's plenty of room to move around in, with bottomless pits being the most prevalent obstacle. Moving platforms and the presence of enemies near ledges represent the extent of platforming difficulties that you'll have to deal with.
The method Sunsoft employs to ease players into this adventure lies in the implementation of Batman's jump. It's a leap that has a fair amount of float to it, carrying the hero a bit further than in similar games. Little effort is required to recover from a mistake, so if you jump but realize you likely won't make it, getting back to where you started is still possible. You'll be forgiven for at least a few of the things that can go wrong during your quest to stop The Joker. Just don't push your luck, because the screws tighten with every passing stage.
For starters, this isn't an everyday run & gun. If you run up to every bad guy guns all a-blazing, you'll end up getting hurt... a lot. Batman dies in four hits, and there aren't any mid-stage checkpoints to ease the suffering. What you're expected to do is watch, wait, and attack when an enemy's back is turned. Using the environment to block their bullets is also a solid idea. Shoot, if you have a weapon that fires through walls, then that's even better. Speaking of, there are several to choose from, so try to hold onto the one that suits your playstyle the best. The wave shot is a personal favorite, though it means I have to be careful in avoiding any other weapon pick-ups. It's also important to grab every weapon power-up. They're gun-shaped and will make life harder for the bad guys. Watch out if you see a pick-up with inverted colors, because touching it will make life harder for you.
It might not seem like it in the first half, but Batman (GB) does have a mean streak that could throw the unaware for a loop. The lack of mid-stage checkpoints will become very noticeable in stages 3-1 & 3-2. These take place in the Batwing and... oh indeed they are shmup stages. Holding down both the B & A buttons will fire shots in both directions. It drowns out the great music but helps with staying alive. You're liable to retry these rather tough stages a few times. The small health meter and bullet-spewing bosses don't leave a lot of room for error. At least the extra lives aren't uncommon...
The one stage that's really going to push your buttons is 4-2. It's an auto-scroller with no shortage of difficult jumps and turrets. This is where the generous jumping controls become very important. Both your timing and arc have to be nearly perfect to avoid landing on bullets. Maybe you'll stumble over one or two restoratives but stumbling into pits is the far more likely event. Finally, The Joker is going to put up a heck of a fight. Try to aim for the face while dodging waves of bullets.
Wait a minute. Is this a review or a half-assed walkthrough?
Honestly though, after taking everything into consideration, I believe that Batman on the Game Boy deserves a rating of "Not bad." Its simplistic while also being functional and entertaining. To the surprise of no-one, Sunsoft delivered a killer soundtrack. The modest difficulty curve ends with just enough bite to make anyone sweat.
Give it a shot.
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