Batman Returns

Batman Returns on the Nintendo Entertainment System garnered average reception from critics. Electronic Gaming Monthlys four reviewers criticized the game's outdated visuals and sound, but felt that the Batmobile and Batskiboat sequences added variety to the linear and repetitive gameplay. GamePros Matt Taylor said that while the graphics were "sharp and distinct", they were "not even close to an 8-bit masterpiece", and felt that the audio "could be from any Konami action game". Electronic Games Danyon Carpenter praised the game's well drawn stages, cutscenes, catchy music, controls, character interactions, and password system. VideoGames Zach Meston said that while the game's graphics matched the film's cinematography, the soundscapes were forgettable. Meston expressed disappointment with Konami for not taking a fresh gameplay approach, suggesting Batman: Return of the Joker instead. Eddy Lawrence and Tim Boone of Nintendo Magazine System (Official Nintendo Magazine) considered it a fun game and commended its presentation, soundtrack, and longevity, but felt the password system made it easier to finish. They also criticized the overall graphical department, lack of options, and slow playability. Game Powers Marjorie Bros. lauded the game's varied action, stages, and visuals, regarding it as "An example for all the other companies that stopped releasing good games for NES". Total!s Julian Eggebrecht called it a solid game and praised its audiovisual presentation for making good use of the NES hardware, but criticized its unfair action, lengthy stages, and limited number of on-screen enemies. Joypads Jean-François Morisse highlighted the music as the game's strongest feature, but nevertheless faulted its linear nature, strange use of colors, flickering sprites, and controls. Player Ones Olivier Scamps compared it unfavorably with its Super NES counterpart, criticizing its aggressive color palette and flickering sprites. Scamps also added that the previous Batman titles on NES had more class. Megablasts Michael Schnelle commended the game's controls, but stated that the "run-of-the-mill graphics and the drumming sound won't knock a bat off the ceiling". Super Gamer said that the game was a "Better than average beat-'em'-up which follow the film closely". AllGames Skyler Miller gave the game favorable remarks for its above average graphics, soundtrack, enemy variety, and Batmobile and Batskiboat sequences, but noted that the Double Dragon-style gameplay can become repetitive. Hardcore Gaming 101s Robert Naytor opined that both the NES and SNES versions were fine on their own, but said that "the fact that the NES version is quite a bit easier may make some people lean one way or the other. Either way, however, it's still a pretty fun game, as opposed to a lot of the many, many inferior game tie-ins the movie actually got".