Superman (1988 video game)

Last updated
Superman
Superman arcade flyer.jpg
Developer(s) Taito
Publisher(s) Taito
Director(s) Toshiyuki Nishimura
Designer(s) Hidehiro Fujiwara
Noboru Yasukawa (hardware)
Programmer(s) Tohru Sugawara
Hideaki Tomioka
Hideki Hashimoto
Mari Iwano
Tadakazu Aono
Artist(s) Yoshihiko Wakita
Junji Yarita
Taira Sanuki
Shinobu Iwabuchi
Akira Saito
Minori Ishino
Takako Kojima
Toshiyuki Nishimura
Composer(s) Masahiko Takaki
Kazuyuki Onui
Shizuo Aizawa
Takami Asano
Series Superman
Platform(s) Arcade
Release
Genre(s) Beat 'em up, shoot 'em up
Mode(s)
Arcade system Taito X System

Superman is a 1989 arcade action game released by Taito and featuring the DC Comics character Superman. While not directly based on the original film series, throughout much of the game the "Superman Main Theme" and "Can You Read My Mind" from the Superman films are used as background music.

Contents

In the game, the player assumes the role of Superman, who must fight through five levels to make the world safe from the evil Emperor Zaas, a character exclusive to this game. The game can be played by up to two players simultaneously, with the second player taking control of another Superman with a different colored costume.

Gameplay

Superman faces a boss during the vertically scrolling part of game's first level. ARC Superman.png
Superman faces a boss during the vertically scrolling part of game's first level.

The player takes control of Superman, who must fight through five levels to make the world safe from the evil Emperor Zaas, a villain similar to Brainiac. The first player takes control of the traditional blue Superman, while the second player takes control of a red Superman with a grey cape. [2] The title starts out in Metropolis before going to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. Superman is able to punch, kick and fly. He can also use a projectile "Sonic Blast" attack when the player holds down then releases the punch button. There are also objects in the levels he can throw and/or break. Some of these objects release blue crystals that can restore Superman's energy, yellow crystals that allow the player to throw one projectile attack without charging or red crystals in flying stages that defeat all the enemies on the screen. [3] The first four levels have three-parts - a side-scrolling part, followed by a vertically scrolling flying part and a final side-scrolling shooter part where Superman uses heat vision instead of kicking and can destroy or dodge obstacles such as rocks. Each part has a boss at the end. The final level, the main boss' spaceship, adds a side-scrolling shooting section to the beginning and an extra final boss fight at the end.

Second player

The second player's Superman is identical to the first player's blue Superman, except for the color scheme. Whereas the first player controls Superman in his traditional color scheme (blue tights with a red cape, trunks and boots), the second Superman wears red tights with grey cape, trunks and boots. The presence of this alternate Superman is never explained in the game and is only intended as a co-operative gameplay mechanic.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Superman on their March 15, 1989 issue as being the fifth most-successful table arcade unit of the month. [4] Superman for the arcade was met with mixed reception from reviewers since its release. [5] Computer and Video Games gave the game a positive outlook. [6] Your Sinclair 's Ciarán Brennan gave the title an overall negative outlook. [7] ACE gave it a mixed outlook. [8] The Games Machine 's Robin Hogg also gave it an overall mixed outlook. [9] AllGame 's Brad Cook gave it a two out of five stars rating. [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bubble Bobble</i> 1986 video game

Bubble Bobble is a 1986 platform game developed and published by Taito for arcades. It was distributed in the United States by Romstar, and in Europe by Electrocoin. Players control Bub and Bob, two dragons that set out to save their girlfriends from a world known as the Cave of Monsters. In each level, Bub and Bob must defeat each enemy present by trapping them in bubbles and popping, who turn into bonus items when they hit the ground. There are 100 levels total, each becoming progressively more difficult.

<i>The NewZealand Story</i> 1988 video game

The NewZealand Story is a platform game developed and released in arcades by Taito in 1988. The concept and setting were inspired by a holiday trip in New Zealand by one of the Taito programmers. The player controls Tiki (ティキ), a kiwi who must save his girlfriend Phee Phee (ピューピュー) and several of his other kiwi chick friends who have been kidnapped by a large blue leopard seal. While avoiding enemies, the player has to navigate a scrolling maze-like level, at the end of which they release one of Tiki's kiwi chick friends trapped in a cage. In 2007, the arcade game received a remake for the Nintendo DS under the title New Zealand Story Revolution.

<i>Darius</i> (video game) 1986 arcade video game

Darius is a 1987 horizontal-scrolling shooter arcade game developed and published by Taito. Players control a starship named the Silver Hawk in its mission to destroy the Belser empire before they wipe out the planet Darius. Its gameplay involves traversing through a series of scrolling levels while destroying enemies and collecting power-up icons. It is notable for its unique three-screen panoramic display, upbeat soundtrack, and cute anime-influenced graphics.

<i>Flying Shark</i> 1987 video game

Flying Shark, known as Sky Shark in North America, is a 1987 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published by Taito in Japan, Romstar in North America and Electrocoin in Europe. Controlling the titular biplane, the players must fight endless waves of military vehicles while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. The plane has a powerful bomb at its disposal that can clear the screen of enemies when fired. It was the third shoot 'em up game from Toaplan, and their eighth video game overall.

<i>Operation Wolf</i> Arcade video game

Operation Wolf is a light gun shooter arcade game developed by Taito and released in 1987. It was ported to many home systems.

<i>Don Doko Don</i> 1989 video game

Don Doko Don is a platform arcade game developed and released by Taito in 1989. In the game, the player(s) control two lumberjacks, Bob and Jim, with the objective being to clear the screen of all the enemies. Bob and Jim use their mallets to stun the enemies, pick up the enemies, then throw them at a wall, or other enemies to kill them off, resulting in bonus points. Bonus items also appear during stages that will have varying effects on the players.

<i>The Legend of Kage</i> 1985 video game

The Legend of Kage is a side-scrolling hack-and-slash game developed and published by Taito in 1985. In this game, the player controls the ninja Kage, with the objective being to get through five stages in order to save the pincess Kirihime. These stages are littered with enemies, however Kage has various skills and weapons on his hands in order to get through them.

<i>Blood Money</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Blood Money is a side-scrolling shooter video game developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis in 1989 for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS. A Commodore 64 version followed in 1990. The game is set in four different locations on a planet, where the player must fight off enemies and bosses.

<i>Double Dragon</i> (video game) 1987 arcade game

Double Dragon is a 1987 beat 'em up video game developed by Technōs Japan and distributed by Taito for arcades across Asia, North America and Europe. It is the first title in the Double Dragon franchise. The game's development was led by Yoshihisa Kishimoto, and it is a spiritual and technological successor to Technos' earlier beat 'em up, Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (1986), released outside of Japan by Taito as Renegade; Kishimoto originally envisioned it as a direct sequel and part of the Kunio-kun series, before making it a new game with a different cast and setting.

<i>Rastan Saga II</i> 1988 video game

Rastan Saga II, known in Europe as Nastar and in North America as Nastar Warrior, is a hack and slash platform arcade game developed and released by Taito in 1988. It is the sequel to Rastan. The story in this game tells how Rastan got his titular name and saved a vast region called 'Rastania' from evil monsters known as "The Wicked Group". Rastania which Rastan saves in this game subsequently becomes a kingdom for Rastan to rule.

<i>Black Tiger</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Black Tiger, known in Japan as Black Dragon, is a hack-and-slash platform game released for arcades by Capcom in 1987.

<i>Rally Bike</i> 1988 video game

Rally Bike is a racing arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published by Taito in May 1988. In Rally Bike, players compete against computer-controlled opponents in races across locations in the United States. Initially released in arcades, the game was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System and X68000 by different developers.

<i>Mr. Heli</i> 1987 video game

Mr. Heli, fully titled in Japan as Mr. HELI no Daibōken is a multidirectional scrolling shooter developed and published in arcades in 1987 by Irem. It was released in North America as Battle Chopper.

<i>Slap Fight</i> 1986 video game

Slap Fight is a 1986 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published by Taito. Set on the colonized fictional planet of Theron in the future, where an alien race led by Gaudy have invaded the human-controlled location, players assume the role of an Allied League of Cosmic Nations (ALCON) fighter pilot taking control of the SW475 space fighter craft in an effort to counterattack the invaders. Initially launched for the arcades, the game was later ported to other microcomputer and console platforms by various third-party developers, with each one featuring several changes or additions compared to the original release.

<i>Aliens</i> (1990 video game) 1990 video game

Aliens is a 1990 run and gun video game developed and published for arcades by Konami. It is based on the 1986 film of the same title. Two players can play the game cooperatively in addition to single-player.

<i>Space Gun</i> (video game) 1990 first-person shooter arcade game

Space Gun is a 1990 first-person shooter arcade game released by Taito. The game is set aboard a crippled space station that has been overrun by hostile alien creatures. The objective is to rescue human crew members while destroying the alien creatures. The game lets the player shoot limbs off the creatures, resulting in blood splatters.

<i>Twin Hawk</i> 1989 video game

Twin Hawk is a 1989 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published by Taito. Taking place at the end of an alternative World War II setting, where general Giovanni and his army plots to take over the fictional country Gorongo, players assume the role of a wing commander from the Daisenpū squadron taking control of a Flying Fortress fighter aircraft in an effort to overthrow the enemy.

<i>Menace</i> (video game) 1988 video game

Menace is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis. It was originally released for the Amiga in 1988, and was ported for the Atari ST, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS in 1989. The game is set on the planet of Draconia, where players are tasked with destroying the planet's defence mechanisms in order to kill the harmful creatures.

<i>Kuri Kinton</i> 1988 video game

Kuri Kinton (功里金団) is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game published by Taito. Players control a Chinese policeman who must dispatch numerous enemies while progressing through the game's levels. The object of the game is to rescue a senior policeman and his daughter, both of whom have been kidnapped by a gang and spirited away to an underground hideout.

<i>P-47: The Phantom Fighter</i> 1988 video game

P-47: The Phantom Fighter is a 1988 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by NMK and published by Jaleco. Set during World War II, players control a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft to face against the Nazis, who are occupying multiple countries around the world. Its gameplay involves destroying waves of enemies, picking up power-ups and new weapons, and destroying bosses. It ran on the Mega System 1 hardware.

References

  1. Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). タイトー (Taito); Taito America; S. pp. 43, 137, 166. ISBN   978-4990251215.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. "The Killer List of Videogames: Superman" . Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  3. "Arcade Flyers: Superman" . Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  4. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 352. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 March 1989. p. 21.
  5. Caswell, Mark (April 1989). "Arcades - Superman (Taito)". Crash . No. 63. Newsfield Publications. p. 28.
  6. "Arcade Action - Superman". Computer and Video Games . No. 85. EMAP. November 1988. p. 140.
  7. Brennan, Ciarán (December 1988). "Slots Of Fun - Superman (Taito)". Your Sinclair . No. 36. Dennis Publishing. p. 103.
  8. "Arcade Ace: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's... Superman! (Taito 30p)". ACE . No. 18. Future Publishing. March 1989. pp. 29–30.
  9. Hogg, Robin (March 1989). "Confrontation: Coin-Op - Superman". The Games Machine . No. 16. Newsfield Publications. p. 70.
  10. Cook, Brad (1998). "Superman (Arcade) - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-16. Retrieved 2020-07-13.