Batman (1986 video game)

Last updated
Batman
Batman (Amstrad CPC game).jpg
Amstrad CPC cover art
Publisher(s) Ocean Software
Designer(s) Jon Ritman
Bernie Drummond [1]
Platform(s) ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Amstrad PCW
Release1986
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Batman is a 1986 isometric action-adventure game by Ocean Software for the Amstrad PCW, [2] Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and MSX, [3] and the first Batman game developed. The game received favourable reviews. An unrelated Batman game was released two years later, titled Batman: The Caped Crusader .

Contents

Gameplay

ZX Spectrum version ZX Batman.png
ZX Spectrum version

The object of the game is to rescue Robin by collecting the seven parts of the Batcraft hovercraft that are scattered around the Batcave. The gameplay takes place in a 3D isometric universe, which programmer Jon Ritman and artist Bernie Drummond would further develop for 1987's Head Over Heels , and is notable for implementing an early example of a save game system that allows players to restart from an intermediate point in the game on the loss of all lives rather than returning all the way to the start (in this case the point at which Batman collects a "Batstone"). [4]

Reception

Batman was received well by the computer game press at the time. Crash gave it a rating of 93%, [1] Your Sinclair scored it 9/10 [11] and Sinclair User gave it five stars and rated it as a "classic". [4] The game reached the number one position in the Amstrad, ZX Spectrum and All-Format charts in the same week in May 1986. [12]

Legacy

A freeware remake, called Watman, was released for MS-DOS in 2000. [13] A remake called GWatman has also been written for the Game Boy Advance. [14]

A remake for IBM PC compatibles was produced by Retrospec. [15]

A remake for MSX2 was produced by AAMSX and FX Software, for the MSX RU of 2014. [16]

Related Research Articles

<i>Alien 8</i> 1985 video game

Alien 8 is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Ultimate Play the Game. It was released for the ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC and MSX in 1985. The game is a spiritual successor to the best-selling Knight Lore, which was lauded by critics for its isometric graphics. In the game, the player takes control of a robot, Alien 8, whose job is to ensure that all of the cryogenically frozen passengers on board a starship remain viable during the ship's voyage.

<i>Knight Lore</i> 1984 video game

Knight Lore is a 1984 action-adventure game developed and published by Ultimate Play the Game, and written by company founders Chris and Tim Stamper. The game is known for its use of isometric graphics, which it further popularized in video games. In Knight Lore, the player character Sabreman has forty days to collect objects throughout a castle and brew a cure to his werewolf curse. Each castle room is depicted in monochrome on its own screen and consists of blocks to climb, obstacles to avoid, and puzzles to solve.

<i>Colossal Adventure</i> 1982 video game

Colossal Adventure is a text based adventure game published by Level 9 Computing in 1982. It was originally released for the Nascom.

<i>Head over Heels</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Head Over Heels is an action-adventure video game released by Ocean Software in 1987 for several 8-bit home computers. It uses an isometric engine that is similar to the Filmation technique first developed by Ultimate Play the Game.

<i>Gunfright</i> 1985 action-adventure game video game

Gunfright is an action-adventure game developed by Ultimate Play the Game and published by U.S. Gold. It was first released for the ZX Spectrum in December 1985, then released for Amstrad CPC and the MSX the following year. The player takes the role of a sheriff in the town of Black Rock and is tasked with eliminating outlaws who are scattered throughout the settlement.

<i>Nightshade</i> (1985 video game) 1985 video game

Nightshade is an action video game developed and published by Ultimate Play the Game. It was first released for the ZX Spectrum in 1985, and was then ported to the Amstrad CPC and BBC Micro later that year. It was also ported to the MSX exclusively in Japan in 1986. In the game, the player assumes the role of a knight who sets out to destroy four demons in a plague-infested village.

<i>War in Middle Earth</i> 1988 video game

War in Middle Earth is a real-time strategy game released for the ZX Spectrum, MSX, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MS-DOS, Amiga, Apple IIGS, and Atari ST in 1988 by Virgin Mastertronic on the Melbourne House label.

<i>Aliens: The Computer Game</i> (UK Version) 1986 video game

Aliens: The Computer Game is a 1986 video game developed by Software Studios and published by Electric Dreams Software initially for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. It is based on the film of the same title. Ports for the Commodore 16 and MSX were developed by Mr. Micro and published in 1987.

<i>180</i> (video game) 1986 video game

180 is a darts video game released for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit family in 1986 and MSX in 1987.

<i>Bruce Lee</i> (video game) 1984 fighting video game

Bruce Lee is a platform game written by Ron J. Fortier for the Atari 8-bit family and published in 1984 by Datasoft. The graphics are by Kelly Day and music by John A. Fitzpatrick. The player takes the role of Bruce Lee, while a second player controls either Yamo or alternates with player one for control of Bruce Lee.

<i>Dark Sceptre</i> 1987 video game

Dark Sceptre is a strategy adventure video game by Mike Singleton's design team Maelstrom Games, for Beyond Software. It was published by Firebird Software for the ZX Spectrum in 1987 and for the Amstrad CPC in 1988.

<i>Rambo</i> (1985 video game) 1985 video game

Rambo is a 1985 video game based on the film Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). The game was designed by David Collier and Tony Pomfret with the ZX Spectrum version converted by Platinum Productions.

<i>Attack of the Killer Tomatoes</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a computer game released in 1986 for the Sinclair Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and MSX. It is based on the 1978 comedy film of the same name.

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

Goody is a platform game developed by Gonzalo Suárez Girard and released in 1987 by the Spanish company Opera Soft. The game was released for Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, MSX, ZX Spectrum, and for MS-DOS compatible computers.

<i>Movie</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Movie is a video game written by Duško Dimitrijević for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC and was published by Imagine Software in 1986.

<i>BMX Simulator</i> 1986 racing video game

BMX Simulator is a racing video game designed by Richard Darling and released by Codemasters in 1986 for the Commodore 64. It is part of a series of games that includes ATV Simulator, Grand Prix Simulator, Professional Ski Simulator, and a sequel: Professional BMX Simulator. BMX Simulator was ported to the Amiga, Atari 8-bit family, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Commodore Plus/4 and Commodore 16.

<i>Light Force</i> 1986 shooter game

Light Force is a 1986 vertically scrolling shooter designed by Greg Follis and Roy Carter, developed by their company Gargoyle Games, and published under their Faster Than Light imprint. It was released for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum platforms.

<i>Brian Cloughs Football Fortunes</i> 1987 video game

Brian Clough's Football Fortunes is a sports video game featuring English football player Brian Clough. It was released in 1987 for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari 8-bit family, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 16, Plus/4, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Acorn Electron, MSX, and ZX Spectrum.

<i>Xeno</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Xeno is a 1986 video game for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 in which players take turns attempting to knock a ball between two goal posts.

<i>Ghostbusters II</i> (computer video game) 1989 video game

Ghostbusters II is a 1989 action game based on the film of the same name. It was published by Activision for various computer platforms. British studio Foursfield developed a version for Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum, which also got ported to the MSX by New Frontier. It features three levels based on scenes from the film. Dynamix developed a separate version for the DOS, also based on the film. The non-DOS versions were praised for the graphics and audio, but criticized for long loading times, disk swapping, and the final level. The DOS, Commodore 64 and Amiga versions were the only versions released in North America.

References

  1. 1 2 "Batman". Crash . Newsfield Publications Ltd. May 1986. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  2. ↑ Ainsley, Rob (1989). "Batman hints". The 8000 Plus Collection: The Ultimate Tips Book for the Amstrad PCW. Bath: Future Publishing. p. 105.
  3. ↑ Smith, Martin; Игги Друге. "Batman". MobyGames. MobyGames. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  4. 1 2 Muir, Jerry (May 1986). "Batman". Sinclair User . EMAP . Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  5. ↑ "Magazine Review". Crash. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Magazine Review". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  7. ↑ "Magazine Review". Sinclair User. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  8. ↑ "Magazine Review". Your Sinclair. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  9. ↑ "Magazine Review". Your Computer. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  10. ↑ "Magazine Review". ZX Computing. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  11. ↑ Nash, Tommy (May 1986). "Batman". Your Sinclair . Dennis Publishing. Archived from the original on 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  12. ↑ "Charts". Popular Computing Weekly. No. 20. Sunshine Publications. 15 May 1986. p. 54. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Watman For DOS (2000)". Mobygames. Blue Flame Labs. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "GWatman". GBADev.org. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "Retrospec". Retrospec.sgn.net. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  16. ↑ MSX Resource Center. Retrieved 2017/05/24
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.