GRAPHICS: the graphics are a mixed bag...on one hand they are nice-drawn, the sprites are large by NES standards and the backgrouds detailed. However, in most cases, the colours chosen for the backgrounds are awful, as you can see from the pics. Come on, green buildings?? Green street??? It is a pity since the graphics are far from being bad-drawn. Some of he levels, though, look good.

SOUND: Typical 8-bit action game music. Of course it has nothing to do with the film. The SFX just do their job.

GAMEPLAY: Very similar to Double Dragon. You move in a pseudo-3D setting and you can punch, perform a 'sweep', glide or do a jump kick. The control is responsive but the collision detection not the best possible and the enemies are too fact, while Batman is a bit slow. The game is a tough nut! Even from the first level the difficulty is very high. You have just one life but infinite continues. Each time you lose you go at the beginning of the level. There are 6 levels total. At the end of each there is a boss, including the Tattooed Strongman, Catwoman and of course, the Penguin. A nice variation is that two of the levels are a-la R-Type where you control Batman's vehicles, Batmobile or Batskiboat. The gameplay here is a bit better but the point where you fight the circus train is frustrating.

OVERALL: An average film adaption. Not as bad as, say, Batman: Revenge of the Joker, but NES could do better. If at least it had better gameplay it would be fairly enjoyable. If you are (or were) a hardcore fan of Batman give it a go. If you simply like the film you are better off if you play Batman Returns for Super NES. It's a million times better!NES Batman games weren't good, and Batman Returns is not exception. Konami is also responsible for the supreme SNES version, but there is no need to draw any comparison between the two. The SNES version is so much better. What we have here, is a sub-standard NES action game, similar to countless others, with only the Batman license being the real advantage. The graphics aren't that bad, the music is standard NES fare, but the problem is that the control is a bit unresponsive. The game's setting is similar to, say, Final Fight (like the NES version), but it lacks all the good features of the genre (body slams etc.). All in all, worth a play if you like Batman, but don't expect anything much. I will say it again… Batman Returns for SNES.

Level 1: Gotham Plaza

Level 1: The Tattooed Strongman

Level 4: The Batmobile

Level 5: Circus Train

Level 6: Batskiboat

Level 6: The Penguin