Batman Longplay (Amiga) [50 FPS]

Developed and published by Ocean in 1990.
Follow me on Twitter: / al82_retro
Add me on Google+: bit.ly/1tPwL1u
Released to coincide with the brilliant 1989 move adaptation of D.C. Comics' most famous of characters, Commodore secured a deal with Ocean to bundle the game with Amiga 500 computer as part of the 'Batman Pack' bundle.
Ocean had made a reputation for themselves by developing games based on blockbuster film licenses and Batman was the next in a long line of movie tie-ins. Anyone familiar with Ocean will also know that the quality of these tie-in games could vary considerably depending on the platform and the team that developed the software.
The game broadly follows the Dark Knight through five of the film's key sequences, culminating with a showdown with Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker. The game includes a number of different play-styles ranging from traditional platforming to driving, as well as a puzzle section.
The first level sees Batman attempting to stop Jack Napier's raid on Axis Chemical Works and is the first of two platform sections in the game. The player must guide Batman through the plant, avoiding toxic chemicals and taking out Napier's henchmen with a well placed Batarang. Batman must use a grappling hook to latch on to platforms and swing across gaps in the pipework, reach higher platforms and even kill enemies. The level ends when Batman dunks Napier into a vat of toxic chemicals, unleashing the Joker in the process.
Level two changes things up by putting the player behind the wheel of the Batmobile as our hero attempts to outrun the Joker's henchmen before time runs out. To complicate matters, the police have set up roadblocks to catch both the henchmen AND Batman, who they still perceive as a dangerous vigilante. The player must make use of the car's grappling hooks to latch on to street signs at intersections and pull the car into the next street in order to avoid being caught.
Level three is a simple puzzle where Batman needs to determine which health and beauty products make up the Joker's deadly 'Smilex' chemical before it claims innocent lives. The section is really very basic and requires almost no effort to solve.
Level four puts Batman in the cockpit of the Batwing as he attempts to prevent the Joker from releasing Smilex gas on the unsuspecting public during Gotham's carnival. The player must use the Batwing to cut the ropes tethering the balloons to the carnival floats before time runs out. As usual, all this must be done against the clock, forcing the player to fly as fast as possible, collecting all the balloons without bursting the balloon, colliding with the floats OR crashing into any buildings.
The final level is another platform section set in Gotham's cathedral as Batman attempts to climb up to the roof to prevent the Joker from escaping by helicopter. A veritable legion of goons stands in his way, as well as collapsing platforms and ravenous rats.
I guess you might think that everything sounds pretty good thus far. With the best scenes from the film chosen for the game and a range of different play-styles, this should make for a fresh and exciting experience, right? The actual results are, in my opinion, something of a mixed bag.
Firstly, the game is very, very short; with only five levels, there's not much in the way of content. Ocean's solution to this problem was to make each level as teeth-grindingly hard as possible to try and extend the game's life. Chief amongst the frustrations are the time limits on stages two and four; make too many mistakes and it will be impossible to complete the level in time. I drove as fast as possible, avoided the traffic and even then I finished with less than a second on the clock!
As for the platform sections, it's not so much time that's the chief enemy here as the amount of energy Batman has (or how little of it there is...). The first grenade-lobbing henchman can kill you in a few hits if you're not careful and even gently nudging walls whilst swinging on the grappling hook saps energy! Mix in some generally annoying controls and you've got a recipe for frustration.
I will give the game credit where it's due, particularly with reference to the technical aspects of the driving and flying sections. Sludgy controls aside, both of these sections look very impressive and the concepts behind them are sound. I guess the fact that the coders wrote routines to create a driving section that's head and shoulders above some full-price driving games (e.g. the Amiga conversion of OutRun) is impressive.
Unfortunately, the impressive technical aspects of these sections are not enough to save the game from it's other problems. Whilst the game might have been short on content, I'd have much rather Ocean have made it easier and had 20 minutes of fun playing it, rather than the hours of frustration I actually experienced whilst making this video.
#retrogaming

[@MediumPoo]

jammmmmmmmmmmm funny how you remember silly stuff 30 years later

[@michaelgcuk]

Being an 80s kid, I grew up with Amiga and Batman was one of many games I played the shit out of. Still remember the cheat code JAM (Keep pressing M until Batman & Joker flip upside down).

[@1980orangeman]

Reminds me of being 11 years old. Excellent memories of this game. Thanks so much for the nostalgia 😊

[@paul2k2b21]

One of my absolute fave games as a kid. I was 6 when this came out in amiga, used to sit and watch my bros play it for hours.

[@macman975]

I've just watched this video with a silly grin on my Chevy Chase. I was 14 years old when this came out and i played many a happy hour on my Amiga. Great memories.

[@g8kpr3000]

Same, I was 14 as well and when i got this, I wasn't sure if it would be any good, and then my friend and I were instantly hooked and eventually beat it. So much satisfaction knocking the Joker off that building. Man this game was so good.

[@VectorOmega]

The only Batman game so far where we learn if you lose all your energy, Batman becomes the Joker. Now, let's BATDANCE!

[@MrThunderwing]

That title music is bangin'!

[@HowlingMoonCinemas]

Amiga never fails to make awesome music! 👍🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@DrGonzo123456789]

Soundtrack is boss, especially the 'street' sections. Honestly who wouldn't want to be Batman gunning it 200mph, grappling hook around corners from the Jokers henchmen and police. Sick.

[@scottblanco5991]

I remember as a kid never finishing that driving section, now I know why. It’s way too hard!

[@DevilMaster]

JAMMMMMMM

[@karatekid6494]

Thank you very much for uploading your let's play / play through. I enjoy it and it brings back nostalgic memories. I played this version of the game several times with a friend. I like the Batcave level.

[@andrewashcroft84]

JAMMMMMMMM Cheat used to turn that screen upside down. Can’t remember what it gave you, extra lives??

[@stewartmcminn7773]

Level skips

[@lzandman]

Even after 30 years I still remember the level design and the enemy movement. Everytime you got a hit I cringed. Because I know how to avoid them all :-)

[@g8kpr3000]

I loved this game, this was amazing

[@stewartmcminn7773]

Jammmmmmm

[@AL82RetrogamingLongplays]

Batman Longplay (Amiga) [50 FPS]: It's a dark day for the Dark Knight in Ocean's frustratingly tough movie-tie in. Read the video description for my review!

[@enricomazzarellosimracing6502]

It was an amazing game... maybe the Batmobile and the Bataero, are a way too difficult, but the game it's an amazing 16/8 bit movie experience. .. i loved it, even if i never succesfully done, as you did

[@Rtype90mk2]

@@enricomazzarellosimracing6502 Take off the nostalgia glasses, this is mediocre at best.

[@moealaydrous8075]

" jammmm" my first ever game to use a cheat. Knowing that there cheats for games was a revelation for me at that time :)

[@ZEUSDAZ]

God, if only Outrun moved as good as the driving sections in this, to hell with U.S Gold >:-(

[@thegreenmanofnorwich]

Really? I was only a little kid, but I just never got the hang of the driving bits

[@speckledjim5150]

Weren't USG the publisher? They'd have different development pools for various games. Would have been great if several driving games had the magic touches of Super Hang On or the Lotus games too!

[@NovembersEnd]

That background in those Batmobile/Batwing levels... damn, there sure are a lot of churches in Gotham! 🤣

[@thecoyotespeaks9649]

Never realised this one existed and prob inspired the Sega CD driving sequences

[@gamoviede3460]

i was so fascinated by the 1st batman screen, this orange/gold made me so jealous cause my parents had no money for an amiga. 25 minutes? really? omg so short

[@zeeox]

I was so jealous as a child seeing the forward perspective Bat Car and Bat Wing levels for this 16-bit version of the game in reviews compared to the humble sideways-scrolling of my 8-bit platform version. But, on reflection here, I see that the music is, in a way, not as atmospheric for either level (just an opinion I guess!) as they, oddly, haven't shared the same (excellent) themes used in those two levels despite using the same ones being rebooted with the amazing Amiga sound chip for the other three. Also, those levels end rather abruptly too, without a transition to countryside and a 'hidden' entrance to the Bat Cave for Level 2 or a slowed landing in front of the cathedral (if it is the cathedral!) for Level 4. That said, I would still have been most happy having this version overall...as it would also mean I'd have had an Amiga upgrade full-stop!

[@MrCodes84]

I remember my cousin's had this game on their Amiga when I was a kid. Scum never let me play it

[@JMDAmigaMusic]

There were rumors in 1989 that Chase HQ would use the driving routines made for batman, but unfortunately that was not the case :(

[@childofthesun32]

23:12 That's that Batman, shit right there, yo!

[@arturbrzezinski7955]

My very first C64 game!

[@muzz2108]

JAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[@AmigaJunglism]

My mum took me to town as a kid and brought the Batman from rumalows for my dad for a whopping £499 back in the day.

[@chapelyardmot7709]

Wow I was about 5 years old used to play on my amiga for hours with the batman joystick 🕹

[@LiezAllLiez]

Have to say, the batmobile is literally made for Carmageddon. Its a shame the devs havnet picked the design up... before splat pack, that is.

[@jarekblaminsky]

And when I got this game for my A600 I thought it was sooo cool and way better than c64 version.. hahahah

[@enricomazzarellosimracing6502]

C64 version, was amazing too... and better soundtrack in my opinion

[@Rtype90mk2]

Sunsoft's Batman on Nes was waay better than both.

[@jerzyk8849]

Can I use this video in my it presentation ?

[@MarcGameplays]

12:16 One second left!! I love this game, but the second level is difficult because of the time. I don't understand, all other levels have plenty of time and this one hasn't.

[@enricomazzarellosimracing6502]

I'm definitely agree with you, level very long as well... maybe because the lack of levels, for making the game longer... but still, i love this game

[@1000sofusernames]

My brother bought the batman pack and I was jealous as hell. Didn't last long as I spent my Xmas job wages on an import Megadrive which was obviously the superior machine!

[@jamesmeader2261]

I had this with the ten star pack Amiga 500 🤩

[@bigmacrmuk]

Me too! Christmas 1989.

[@TheGoodShepherd117]

Can anyone find a video with the game over screen where the joker is laughing? Was it in this replay?

[@kw4970]

How do you know what items to pick for the Batcave?

[@darrannash7452]

It's you pick 3 and the computer tells you how many are correct. Then pick another 3, a process of elimination until you find correct ones. It's like the old mastermind game

[@jasontighe9692]

Awesome looking game. Love the graphics

[@ratius1979]

Insanely hard game lol

[@napalmhardcore]

I started playing this yesterday. I'm not going to watch because I don't want spoilers or tips, but I wanted to check my version is correct by watching the beginning. I don't understand why there are three Batman symbols for lives yet you only have two, and from what I've seen so far (I'm up to the cathedral, without save states) you can't pick-up extra lives, and I've not been given the impression you can earn them either. I also think it's pretty stupid that, due to not being able to crouch and fire, a rat becomes a serious threat. The movie would have been a lot different! "Ow my ankles! I am completely defenceless! If only there were some way I could duck AND throw, or even kick. But alas, this rat has bested me, the mighty Batman! I'd best find a way around". Edit: I've realised you do earn lives when you surpass a particular amount of points. Must have been so concentrated on not dying to notice when I received one.

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

The 'three lives' thing is an old video game trope - developers counted the life that the player started with as one of the three lives on the counter, so technically you only get two actual retries when you die. I used to complain about it all the time as a kid.

[@GretgorPooper]

That driving section takes FOREVER, why? Also, the balloon section manages to be worse than that of the C64.

[@peterjulskov8081]

I was able to clear the first part without getting hit.

[@enricomazzarellosimracing6502]

This game, together with Robocop ( Robocop 2 as well, but only Amiga version ) and Ghostbusters 2 ( only Commodore versions ) were the best movie licence games ever released ...

[@element7526]

Level 1, Bob gets killed wirh Bat-rang or w/e, few seconds later, respawns. atleast he kinda looks like Bob.

[@Vrabsher_-Supreme_Perhinther-]

Batarangs don't kill , they just knock you out , but then again they can be used as knives .

[@physxme]

So it's just like bionic commando but slower and worse...?

[@napalmhardcore]

I finished it (without saves)! I also edited my other comment. Still annoyed about the rats though.

[@floodd3527]

I like this game and this my classic game

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

Call me insane but I actually liked the C64 music better. Everything else about this version is definitely superior, though

[@superpatriot77]

C64 music is better and I think driving sections are better on C64.

[@tranzorz6293]

youre right. its got more oomph, especially on the platform stages.

[@oscarjimenezgarrido7591]

@@superpatriot77 Dude, I love the C64 version, but I had both, played them to death and the driving and flying sections on Amiga were and still are SUPERB, not only compared to the C64 but to other contemporary fake 3D-style racing games from the era - including many arcade ones. It may look dated and uninteresting now in late 2020 by today's standards, but back then it was something truly marvelous that had to be seen to be believed. The Ocean chaps really outdid themselves here, both with the engine and the artistic and technical uses they put it to.

[@leighbennett1961]

@@superpatriot77 lol

[@YQN2149]

totally agree. the sound quality of the amiga was impressive at the time but does it really serve the music better than a SID chip? the C64 is a better music instrument imo :)

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

The earlier Amiga Batman action-adventure game ("The Caped Crusader") had FAR better graphics/animation/music (and innovative style) despite being a 16-color Atari ST port. Better game, too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpLXdnp8nMZqqKc (Granted, the driving sequences are quite well done here.)

[@EdgyNumber1]

Awesome game. The only thing I disliked about 80's British game music was the over reliance on arpeggiation in order to create fake chords, where Namco, Konami, Sega, Nintendo, etc., etc., didn't have to do this. I was surprised to find this appearing in 16bit game music like the Atari ST and especially shocking, the Amiga, where this was totally unnecessary where chords on insttuments can be sampled. Thankfully, as British game producers moved forward with samples, those awful arpeggios were left behind.

[@Antonio-hx7yh]

the first game I played on my than brand new Amiga. Coming from the almighty C64 I was blown away from the graphics and sound. It seemed to me to have an arcade machine in my house

[@CoverBoy_Official]

why does he walk like that lol

[@digitalranger4259]

I was always so disappointed with the end of the game. No screaming, or laughing at the end... kind of disappointing.

[@rafaellima83]

I'll never understand how no one got that racing level engine and made a full game of it. Good framerate, music+sfx, nice parallax background, lots of objects moving... There was no racing game on Amiga that did better than that before Lotus Turbo Challenge which was released like 1 year after, and that still played in like half-screen when just 1 player playerd, and less detailed backgrounds. And After Lotus there were still comercial racing games on Amiga that did it worse than the racing section here.

[@joehoy9242]

They were talking about using it for an Ocean France conversion of WEC Le Mans, I think I read once, but a combination of technical and licencing issues nipped it in the bud. Some of the sprite sheets can be found online though.

[@rafaellima83]

@@joehoy9242 yeah, somebody also told me this a couple of weeks ago. They should have went like they did with Beach Volley. Just shameless copy the arcade game and name it something else. :)

[@rottenfist220]

Too pixelated. You should see these games on a real 1084 monitor.

[@florre]

Actually i think the C64 version is much better on all levels , music is much better , more levels ? Sure the driving part is great in amiga verison but.... c64 > Amiga @ Batman

[@oscarjimenezgarrido7591]

I had both and I must admit that this one was one of the very rare cases where I loved both. The driving stages where vastly superior on the Amiga, but they also had their charm - and way better music - on the C64. The two platforming stages, albeit different between versions, managed to sort of retain the same look and feel to me in spite of Bats being a bit more agile on the Amiga. Platoon and the Untouchables were also great examples of excellent C64 to Amiga upgrades that improved and built upon the excellent work done on the 8 bit versions. IMHO.

[@Midwinter2]

A game lives or dies on how visually appealing the main character is. This is even more the case with such an iconic character as Batman. This game fails miserably. The Batman sprite is terrible: badly drawn, overweight, and no attempt is made to match his costume to the one used in the movie. His walking animation is laughable. What were they thinking? Strangely, the enemy sprites are quite well-drawn by comparison. On top of that, there is no attempt to recreate the dark, moody atmosphere of the movie in the platform sections. At least the driving sections take a decent stab at it with a dark palette.