The previous Batman game I covered was... an ordeal, to put it kindly. Thankfully, Batman: The Animated Series for the Nintendo Game Boy is back-to-basics action & platforming entertainment. Before going any further, I have to give credit to the amazing talent at Konami for once again making miracles happen within the confines of Nintendo's handheld. The graphics make full use of the limited palette to create a gripping atmosphere. Then there's the music, which fits the action perfectly. Oh, and I have to give an extra special mention to the 8-bit rendition of the Batman: TAS opening theme. Fantastic work.
That's all I have to say about the audiovisual stuff. Mostly, I'm just glad to have a normal video game after that nasty mess I covered yesterday. It's just a bonus that Konami put just as much effort into the aesthetics as they did the mechanics. Anyway, the idea behind this game is that it's more than just another hop & punch. In fact, if you try to rush through the danger, your suffering will be immense. The pacing is more akin to titles like Bonanza Bros. and Crackdown. If you've played either, then you know that they're arcade games that emphasize stealth, but you're also expected to move quickly. Mainly, what I'm getting at is running up to everyone and throwing hands isn't the way to go. There are only so many enemies in each area, but you're expected to use the environment and Batman's limited abilities to get the drop on them.
As early as Episode 1, you'll notice that any goon facing Batman will attempt to take a swing at him. While the Dark Knight does have a semi-decent amount of health, he won't get far trading blows with everyone. Moreover, restoratives are uncommon. You can find them, but never as drops from defeated foes. Oh, and if that wasn't enough, batarangs are extremely limited and not exactly the difference-makers they might've been in other games. All Batman (& Robin) really has is a punch, and let's be honest here, it's not even a great one. It doesn't combo into anything, and you can't mash the button to eviscerate opposition. Nevertheless, despite it being all you have, it's also all you actually need.
Episode 2 drills this concept further into your bat-skull by introducing bad guys with guns. From here on out, adversaries that aren't packing something are as rare as those restoratives I mentioned a second ago. Attack your foes from behind, above, or below, as often as you can. Alternatively, use the environment and your bat-rope to stay out of the path of their bullets. Unlike other games, the bat-rope is used exclusively to pull yourself to the ceiling. Fans of swinging will have to look elsewhere for their fix. Still, taking advantage of the level layout adds a nice bit of dimension to every situation. Getting past anything without taking damage is a thrill in itself.
The first four episodes are themed to coincide with each member of the Rogues' gallery. Episode 1 features The Joker and exploding teddy bear factory. Expect to avoid plenty of fluffy surprises while moving across conveyor belts. In Episode 2, you'll battle both The Scarecrow and Mr. Freeze. This is where Robin is introduced. He can climb across ceilings but has less health than Batman. A bit of a rough trade-off in my opinion, but it's still enough to deal with The Scarecrow and his jetpack-wearing goons. Now Mr. Freeze is when the cold realization sets in that this game does not play nicely. If you can make it past the squad of ice-gun carrying crooks, then you'll face the first of several tough fights.
The bosses in this handheld edition of Batman: The Animated Series are no joke. When you reach Mr. Freeze's lair, the worst thing you can do is immediately chase him down. He's got a freeze lazer ricocheting blasts in multiple directions and is also quick with his own cannon. Watch, wait, look for an opening. Both the timing of your jump and the angle of your approach have to be perfect. Any deviation will most likely result in a comedy of errors. If your rhythm is off, every attempt to pursue Freeze will leave you cold. Death is especially punishing in this game. There aren't any lives, and you get only two continues.
Just to be clear, the difficulty is set to an appropriate level of painful. This isn't another Return of the Joker (GB) where the simplest mistakes result in instant death. However, it's still very easy to string seven simple mistakes together, resulting in one dead Bat. Episode 3 starts off with a dangerous obstacle course and multiple run-ins with Catwoman. Try to adapt to her fighting style, leaping in to land a punch whenever you can. Poison Ivy's house leaves even less room for errors. There are a lot of ways to get hurt. While I would never consider this game cheap, it does little to dissuade the feelings of frustration and despair. Restoratives probably could've been a little more common or replenish more than three blocks of health.
Pushing the limits of "tough yet fair" is Episode 4. Mr. Riddler's base will have you running in circles and getting picked apart by enemies that refuse to die. Still, both his base and Riddler himself pale in comparison to what follows. The Penguin challenges Robin to a little game. Reach the top in 90 seconds, or it's Game Over. This is one of those sections where you're almost guaranteed to not succeed the first time. Navigating the jumps and spike beds isn't too bad, but a bomb can get in Robin's way at the least opportune moment, costing him so many precious seconds. Next up is a hallway packed with respawning birds that chase Batman around. This is just... relentless.
Now, even if you conquer the Penguin and the ensuing Episode 5, there are still a couple of additional challenges. The hard difficulty setting makes everything do double damage to the heroes. Yeah, I'll have to pass on that. Otherwise, there is replay-value in playing for score. Each episode awards a time bonus, but first-time players will most likely end up getting nothing for the troubles. Consider shooting for that elusive bonus an extra incentive when you inevitably have to restart the game from the beginning. I mean, not that you have to. Save-states make any failure easier to swallow. Also, in all honesty, two continues is ridiculous. This adventure is tightly designed and executed superbly, but there was no reason to be that stingy with the extra chances.
Altogether, Batman: The Animated Series is a dependable game. It starts off almost innocently, allowing its players to soak in the atmosphere. Give it time and you'll discover it's tougher than studded leather. Each episode builds upon what came before, testing one's patience in a series of increasingly grueling scenarios. Despite it all, there is an element of fairness to every encounter. It just takes practice, and most likely a do-over... or several. Konami's insistence that two continues is enough strikes me as unnecessary padding. Whatever. It's a 30+ year old game. Give it as many continues as you need. Fans of Konami, Batman, and/or Game Boy should definitely make an effort to check this out.
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