Batman (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Sunsoft's 1989 NES game, Batman.
Check out the full review, screenshot gallery, and soundtrack at www.nintendocom...
This game is incredible - the graphics are top-notch, the soundtrack is easily a high-water mark for NES music, and the controls are nigh perfect. If only it weren't so demanding of utter perfection, more people could've appreciated the genius that went into this.
(Shameless self plug - check out my SNES mix of the soundtrack! • ♫BATMAN Arranged Sound... )
For the number of times I've finished this over the years, I've only twice ever managed to finish it without dying (the first time was actually recording this video!). Difficult though it may be, I promise it's possible! It just requires intimate knowledge of every enemy's placement and attack patterns. I've beaten it several times only losing a single life, but the end bosses always got me. This time playing through, equipped with a super solid knowledge of their patterns (and more than just a bit of luck), I destroyed the Joker and saved Gotham with nary a severed limb nor charred Batman corpse in sight. I think this is the bit where I say, "I'm spent" and drop the mic.
Looking back, it amazes me that I was able to get so far in this game when I was 8. I didn't quite finish it back then, but I certainly could get to Firebug. For a long time he stopped me, and I shelved the game for quite awhile after repeatedly failing at making any further progress. Something always brought me back though, and would make me renew my efforts to conquer the game once and for all.
This is a brand new recording to replace the original playthrough I had up of the game - now, not only do I finish it without dying, but it's running at 60fps, which makes the intro look the way it should. At 30fps, games like this that require the flashing effect to fake transparencies look pretty horrendous. If you never played this on the NES and find yourself wondering if you have epilepsy during the first cinematic, don't worry too much. It looked exactly the same 25 years ago on an old tube TV.
_________________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video. Some windows may have been broken during practice sessions, however.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
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[@GameSpyDarkAge]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the soundtrack!!!

[@SamuraiTacos1]

hell yeah sunsoft was epic

[@MaxonMondert]

The 2nd stage theme alone is giving me flashbacks

[@anything7441]

Doing it rite now, after Rambo was just listened to

[@nolantudor9811]

A man of taste I see.

[@lukelaser5397]

Godlike music!!

[@abesapien9930]

I got to rent this game from Dominick's (a grocery chain) for 3 days. I remember playing it nonstop in our dark, unfinished basement on half a chair without legs (but it was comfy). Total bliss.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Half a chair with no legs? Now I'm curious as to how that works. 😅👍

[@mistert800]

I'm sorry about your legs

[@paynefullytwisted8752]

@@mistert800 And that your dark. (kidding)

[@philb9015]

I've said it before. Sunsoft was most probably the most underated game developer and publisher in video game history. While everyone was singing Capcom and Konami's praise, Sunsoft was releasing outstanding game after game. Batman, Gremlins, Blaster Master, Adam's family, etc....

[@Bloodreign1]

Yet Sunsoft sullied the hell out of their name come the 16 bit era. Took Capcom and Konami far longer to do that to themselves. Sunsoft's flame burned bright, but that flame died out pretty quickly once they started farming their games out to other developers, and picking up smaller devs games to release under the Sunsoft banner. The only games Sunsoft did right in the 16 bit era, were their Hebereke SFC/SNES games, and the first Batman and Superman on the Genesis.

[@mindcrome]

@@Bloodreign1 Adams Family was good on SNES, hard as shit. Really good music.

[@slr-d]

I dont care what anybody says. These little games had more soul than most of what we have today.. games today can be pretty decent.. but they dont have soul. 👍🏾👍🏾

[@trontosaurusrex9532]

Totally agree,and with the recent years of lackluster titles,I've gone back to retro gaming.

[@slr-d]

@@trontosaurusrex9532 Absolutely. Just because it's older dont mean ots not good. Same with indie games.. I recently decided to start getting into indie games. So far I've played through Celeste on the Switch.. and that game have more soul than anything I've played in the past 5-7 years.. (excluding obvious games like Zelda or Final Fantasy)

[@trontosaurusrex9532]

@@slr-d I just got a Switch so I'll check that game out. Thanks for the recommendation. And yeah there's some really solid indie titles. I personally have been hooked on Shovel Knight.

[@anything7441]

Unicycles or uniracer. Sonic. Mario all starts !!! 🤩

[@dennistaylor5065]

Another Licensed Game that isn't garbage.

[@killermike8692]

Sound track of my childhood, Level 1 💯

[@tqlla]

I like that he just threw the joker off the building. Thats why Gotham was the safest city in America, in the Keaton-verse.

[@dock7777]

did he...did he just clap the joker?

[@noblue4u]

Memories... like the corners of my storage unit...

[@PaloJaurez]

Fun fact: this game was released around the same time Super Mario Bros 3.

[@DavidSamuelBl10]

Grade A for Batman.

[@BreaksBee]

instead of having to choose who to save he just beats the joker on the ground then drops him.

[@NintendoComplete]

I finally did the impossible! I finished it without dying! My eight-year-old self never dreamt it could be done, and well, it only took me a quarter of a century to get good enough to do it. What an incredible game.

[@SgtDefault]

+NintendoComplete - Great playing! Subscribed :)

[@NintendoComplete]

yeah man, pass that Thanks! :)

[@pizzahawaii6719]

wow thats really cool to hear

[@SuperKnight1010]

SHOULD BE THE MOST LIKED COMMENT EVER. I DONT THINK I EVER PLAYED THIS GAME. BUT THE SAME HAPPENED TO ME WITH DOUBLE DRAGON 1. WHICH ENDED ALMOST AFTER 20 YEARS (DIDNT PLAY IT FOR MAY YEARS)

[@horrorwhore7946]

Beat castlevania today. 27 years

[@BenJabituya]

Look at all the graphical detail at the title screen! Not bad for an 8-bit piece of console hardware!

[@gjk2012]

Wonder how much they had to pay Jack Nicholson for his likeness. I know they didn't have to pay Kim Basinger.

[@rc9612]

@@gjk2012 i always was wondering how Jack Nicholson is recognizable

[@devill2312]

true is not verry bad when i was kid before 20 years i mean 19 bc in 2001 year i become kid class one in school and i have it nes console and then in 2001 year i play this game a lot she was verry amazing game so big memories i wil rememer her forever she rly was good game for her time for that i still remember her how much nights i lose to play thisgame or sometime when i not have school early in the morning it was just the best :D or before bed time in the night i play so much just amazing :D game for that when i play her i say to myself i will rememer this day forever and i still remember her like was before one day but real was before 20 years dam it how the time fly it was amazing time big memories

[@20thcenturyfoxyoutube]

the programmers and designers and the music people on the game are incredible

[@alenaduplantier4505]

Japanese people are talented even before

[@Theshark15z]

this when they were able learn how to make full use of the nes's power. The games that were made in the late 80s and early 90s use the full power of the Nes.

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

Ehhh not really bad cintrols bad ai etc.

[@shinmegamanzx]

This and snes batman returns are the 2 best batman games

[@waynecuff3140]

You have to remember a lot of nes games used mapper chips in the carts to make the nes even better. Sunsoft had there own. Like Konami had there's.

[@peterkrug2327]

One of the rare movie-based games for the old NES that's actually worth playing. I wouldn't exactly call Gotham City "deserted" since people still live there.

[@beauwalker9820]

I assume it's a mistranslation. There are some other good movie licensed games on NES. Such as "Little Nemo the Dreamaster," and surprisingly "The Little Mermaid."

[@rjcupid]

This game is Sunsoft's masterpiece. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's a perfect game.

[@franciscotoledo0007]

Yea...

[@jessepike3565]

You’re right because this is the company that made the loony toons games porky pigs haunted holiday and bugs bunny rabbit rampage both snes games and this is was still better than both games

[@RubenDario1979]

Some serious nostalgic childhood memories in this game, makes you realize you never know the value of a moment until it becomes that, a memory

[@b.entranceperium]

I swear this soundtrack could be Iron Maiden songs. So awesome

[@genghiskhan7041]

Pretty sure I heard "The Trooper" in there! :D

[@jasontodd8071]

Exactly!!!!!

[@mariorodriguezjunior]

4:19 my favourite & most memorable part of this soundtrack ☺

[@alfredoruvi]

My Chilhood ✌🏼

[@bojangles1208]

Ye because everyone died by the second level lol

[@mike-blindedbythelights5054]

Nothing can beat NES games.. strategy, music, story telling

[@Mistraker]

What fucking story? This game is fun, but it has nothing to do with the movie's plot, and tells us Joker is the "evil leader" of Gotham. And then the game looks like you're fighting through an alien spaceship or something. It's just a generic off the shelf side scrolling action platformer that they changed the player sprite to Batman when they got the license.

[@mike-blindedbythelights5054]

@@Mistraker I didn’t mention about this Batman game.. I was generally telling about NES games.. some games have good story lines too

[@Linkknnkillnkju]

​@@Mistrakermuch of these environments, present a darker vision to the character. It's more about the journey, the underworld of gotham and the unknown of its shadows. Also what goes on inside Batman's shadow. What is he really fighting? It sometimes look like the machinations of his own psyche. And that manifests as his enemies. Like those huge sewer monsters, something straight out of a nightmare. The most interesting side to the character and surrounding universe was explored here. It's like dark art.

[@hamsterhuey3880]

Storytelling is the worst possible facet of game design you could have picked for this statement

[@mike-blindedbythelights5054]

okay@@hamsterhuey3880

[@jakebello7988]

Sunsoft, why do your soundtracks always rock?

[@party4keeps28]

I think this is the most beautiful game on the NES. The soundtrack is one of the best too.

[@smoothALOE]

As I watch this video now, as good as the music is, it’s the level design I’m most impressed with.

[@jonshiancoe8829]

This was one of my favorite games as a kid. Memories I tell you.

[@persona83]

Amazing piece of 8 bit software. This game still looks gorgeous after these years.

[@matijavuk2857]

less is more ? :P

[@Wil_Dsense]

No it doesn’t it’s crap. I’m a massive fan of this movie and this game is a joke. The Sega Megadrive version and Amiga versions are way better. Only way you can like this is if your looking thru rose tinted glasses…

[@franciscotoledo0007]

I think is gorgeous 😊

[@eramos8916]

​@@Wil_Dsensenope the NES game is better. The batman game on the Genesis is just endless enemies coming into the screen. NES is the way

[@Wil_Dsense]

@@eramos8916 Ok I’ll consider the NES game. It may not look as good as others but maby its a better game. I know The Adventures Of Batman and Robin seems very good but the difficulty makes it a unplayable for most. Maby the NES version is a better experience.

[@genghiskhan7041]

This was one of the greatest NES games. LOVED IT. I'd probably buy it if PS Store sold it!

[@TheNaturalPatHarris]

You can keep your Arkham games.... this is the best Batman game ever

[@NintendoComplete]

Agreed. Followed by Konami's SNES Batman games.

[@anthonydaro4134]

Batman murdered his ass 🤘

[@javenturac]

Felicitaciones amigo, juegas mejor que yo cuando tenia 14 años (1994) la verdad a mi me regalaron este juego muchos años después de que estuviera de moda, fue un regalo de mi Padre, saludos 🖖

[@alabamaarrowhead]

How many of yall in the first 3 seconds thought your game glitched 😂

[@austin_smith2149]

I used to play this all the time at my grandmas house as a kid. She passed a few days ago and I miss her so much.

[@wildpride1119]

I've always loved not only the music in this game but the sound effects too. Especially the sound of defeated enemies.

[@kinginblack3321]

Lol green jack nicholson

[@masseffectmafia]

I absolutely love your channel. Clearly, you're doing the Lord's work. Thank you!

[@troyandrew6154]

It would be wonderful if this game was available on the Nintendo switch online

[@enigmareach1129]

Are you using an original controller or aftermarket? Its so hard to get Batman to stick to the walls accurately enough to do those complex moves in the last few levels. Amazing job.

[@adnanasif9538]

"Batman never kills" Literally throws the joker from the top of the tower at 25:05.

[@eddyblanco7210]

NES Batman is unconfirmed Thomas Wayne 🤣

[@laffeydude3558]

BEST BATMAN GAME EVER!

[@imeverywhere3969]

Why batman threw him and killed him? Batman doesn't kill anyone.

[@InjusticePower]

Joker Murder Wayne's Parents In Crime Ally

[@VanBurenPhilips]

How does this look so amazing on the NES?? Looks more like a 16-bit game! 😍

[@Harri927]

For 2 years I had this game and I wanna see how I can beat the Joker and I did without dying by learning his pattern and for 2 years I've played this game and beaten it without dying 250 times and I love it every single time I've played it every time and It's really now my favorite game on the NES of all time and the music is really a masterpiece. I'M BATMAN, and I find the game very easy cause I play it all the time.

[@81rbutler]

That's a lot of wasted time my friend. Beat it once, call it good, and use that time to educate yourself.

[@dauchin_noobin]

It's time for a no hit run I think. You can do it!

[@rpersen]

Lol me to, could play through it in my sleep. Good times.

[@rpersen]

@@81rbutlerI beg to differ, for a kid it was great.

[@81rbutler]

@@rpersen I hear ya, I did beat that game he he :)

[@tonywilliams6428]

Wow, Batman just flat-out murders the Joker in this one!

[@eddyblanco7210]

*NES Batman don't have time for that BS!* Lol My head canon is you were Jason Todd all along. & the end is where he gets his revenge. Lol

[@ishanbhowmick4807]

25:38 I remember this shot exactly looked like a cross between Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson's joker

[@groowanderer]

I never really got close to beating this one as a kid. I definitely didn't predict the murder ending haha

[@brentage5000]

Yeah, it is a little bit more deliberately homicidal than the movie. There he just lassos Joker to a too loose gargoyle and things progress badly from there. Here, though.....ouch.

[@groowanderer]

@@brentage5000 I actual just watched it again. Batman killed a lot of people in this movie. He sent his batmobile into the goons warehouse by itself and it dropped a bomb, destroying jokers base along with a bunch of people, then right before he killed Joker he threw that boxer black guy off the roof. My son watched it with me and he was confused, thought batman wouldn't kill people lol

[@brentage5000]

@@groowanderer don't forget the sequels. At one point he literally straps a bomb to a guy's chest and kicks him down an open sewer grate and then we see the smoke from the explosion. Burtonverse Batman was hardcore.

[@lt.branwulfram4794]

I was thinking maybe that level 1 boss was Firefly and the ninja was Deathstroke.

[@denniscooper8483]

Level 1 boss is Killer Moth, apparently the game designers have stated the red ninja was indeed based off of Deathstroke.

[@catmeme4life220]

The ending is so dark…I like it.

[@DanielAyy]

Does anyone else think the controls are slightly delayed in this game?

[@marhansgamingchannel4732]

Yeah. I've noticed the jump is a bit delayed, but doesn't delayed too much as Kyle's jump in The Terminator game on NES.

[@MelloDeeBeats]

Damn Batman wasn't supposed to murder him lol

[@bluemouthwash8161]

they should have put this on the nintendo classic.

[@guitarzan5328]

I really cannot say enough overwhelmingly positive words about _Batman._ The gameplay, graphics, soundtrack... everything. I owe my childhood to the people responsible for this masterpiece, I get goosebumps just from the soundtrack alone. The Stage 4-1/4-2/4-3 music especially is my favourite... parts of it remind me of "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC!!! 🤘

[@christines1821]

I have an android box and found a Nintendo, sega, Super Nintendo etc emulator and let me tell you the memories as a kid I could never finish this game and still can’t 😂

[@ghostninja5035]

I like how in the ending of the game Batman just throws the Joker off the Cathedral.

[@eddyblanco7210]

*"NES Batman is Thomas Wayne!"* 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@m4v3rick1]

I never understood as a child why batman's color was dark violet and not balck, now I know! 😄

[@logansteban6201]

excelente Batman es uno de mis juegos favoritos que buen video gracias

[@TheNaturalPatHarris]

You can have your Arkham Knight, And Arkham city, this is the best Batman game ever

[@aronpop1447]

how is the music so good? I dont understand, its much better than alot of game music these days, why is modern in-game music so shit compared to this?

[@MortimurGrimm]

Such an iconic game! A fantastic soundtrack and awesome gameplay! Not much of a story, but it was a lot of fun!

[@lefrederico9952]

The sound track of this game is WEASOME!!!!!!

[@es-ed5ug]

I rented this game and couldn't beat the joker. Damn lightning bolts

[@AeroGold1]

The second level boss at 7:45 reminds me of all the multi part bosses from all the Megaman games, even the music. Who came up with this boss fight format first - Sunsoft or Campcom?

[@thlamuana2526]

This game is one of the most badass game during my childhood.

[@DerekStewart]

Warner Bros: "We're really excited to make this game with you! You watched the advanced copy of the film on which it should be heavily based, right?" Sunsoft: "...suresuresuresuuuure.. yeah! We got it." Sunsoft: "Joker should call forth lightning with his hands. Also.. alien technology."

[@darrylwolfrey3647]

The movie starring Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton was the best one!

[@Bloodreign1]

Still quite an enjoyable film today, because Nicholson chewed the scenery he was in, Keaton was a great Batman. They worked off of each other quite well.

[@speedgriffon2504]

After watching this earlier today, I pulled it up on the emulator half an hour ago and... still couldn't get pass the second boss level, just like when I was 13, lol. My failure? If I don't make it to the machine boss with at or near the maximum level of "ammo" allowed (99), I fail miserably. And some of the jumps on the electrified ground in those preceding levels still seem impossible to make. Looking back, I don't think I'd necessarily want to return to the days of games being virtually unbeatable and requiring months of maddening failure to master... but it sure was a fun trip down memory lane! Thanks for the exemplary video.

[@matheus5230]

If you think that the wall jumps in Stage 2-2 are tough, you have no idea how hard they get later in the game. The game is hard, but fair.

[@pyramidhead138]

i always found it odd that they used the soundtrack for the 1st level for the last

[@michaelrich1012]

LoL I'm 44 and STILL cannot beat Batman game yet.

[@retrosven8928]

I'm 40 and I say this batman and return to the joker are the best from sunsoft who they maked 🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟 for the old gamer honor 😊😊😊😊

[@michaelrich1012]

@@retrosven8928 agreed but still it is a hard game though

[@retrosven8928]

@@michaelrich1012 yes that is true

[@chucksucks8640]

Does anyone know how they managed to squeeze out such good graphics for this system?

[@kristoffersevillena7657]

When I was a kid, I remember an episode of Gamepro on Batman. JD Roth talked about how it had an enhanced chip to stimulate 16-bit graphics.

[@binguloid]

@@kristoffersevillena7657It's the same chip as is used in super mario bros 3. It allows you to swap graphics (among other things) at a specific point in the frame. They also seem to do a background effect that simulates 50% transparency (the flashing during the opening cutscene)

[@binguloid]

the gears use simple palette cycling, and the blue bars on the road use a combination of palette cycling and graphics swapping at the same time. Other than that it's just good use of sprites and great pixel art. Some of it is probably digitized, too.

[@ovecka17]

A mix of extra rom data on board the cartridge and clever use of palettes and especially dithering. First of all it had extra things that allowed it to switch through memory banks so it could have way more space to store the sprites and tiles allowing for much less repetition. The color palettes are also done very well, and the art uses a lot of completely black shadows which not only helps gives lots of atmosphere and create high contrast but it also makes it so you only need to allocate colors for the light sections allowing for more colors. Finally, this game uses dithering really well, making it look like theres way more colors than there are.

[@TeryJones]

Ah yes, the one Nintendo Entertainment System game that trolled you just after the licencing screen loaded properly........prick......

[@anthonyhickey4299]

Does anybody else remember the part of the 1989 Batman movie where the Joker was able to call down lightning from the sky to attack Batman? …. Yeah…Neither do I. Still a great game, though.

[@Zaxares]

As someone who never played this game, what exactly does the B powerup do? I figured out that the Rocket icon replenishes ammo, and the Hearts obviously refill your life bar, but I have no clue what the B icons do. (The game doesn't seem to have points, so it's not a point boost either.)

[@Rykiz_Vidz]

I had this game when I was a kid and I'm pretty sure the B boxes contain Boomerangs. You only have 2 weapons. The little rocket gun, and the boomerang.

[@Torico94]

How Lucky,😅🎮

[@vitya1733]

Very hard dame. Очень тяжёлая игра сан софт хардкорщики.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

DEVELOPERS TAKE NOTE: This is what it looks like when you actually TRY! My only complaint, my ONLY complaint, is blue would have been better than purple. Or even grey.

[@kefkarothsephka7708]

ahh to be 11 years old again when this came out in 89 man i would love to re-live that year again

[@rekimaru3258]

Feels like batman got dropped into a megaman game

[@sandman8920]

Why couldn’t samus have had a tight controlling wall jump like this 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@daniramirez5321]

Este es una Maravilla de Juego de NES, y es Jodidamente dificil parece Nivel Imbatible, La Nintendo NES son los verdaderos Videojuegos ❤

[@danylovera5541]

Este Batman me saco canas verdes pero es muy bueno exelente video me recordó mi infancia

[@xFlareLeon]

Back then it probably would have been mind-blowing to see that final scene play out, but seeing it now as an adult I'm just disappointed at what little we see, as well as Joker being responsible for the Waynes' death and Batman actually killing him. In any case, awesome job, glad I finally got to see past level 2. :)

[@TheGavinh32]

13 when I got this what a game took me weeks before I finished it absolute masterpiece of a game I'm 43 now and just watching this brings back so many happy memories

[@spacewocky]

The soundtrack is like a mix between Ninja Gaiden and Contra

[@LetsTalkFrankly]

1:23 "... AND AVENGE HIS PARRENTS DEATH." 🤯🤯🤯 PAR'R'ENTS ??? SERIOUSLY ??? 👀👀👀

[@SurpriseMechanics]

I remember renting this game from the local movie store. I could never get past maybe the second or third level, way too much coordinated jumping for my 6 year old self. Kids today will never know the joy of renting a game and it makes me a little sad tbh.

[@HallowedHalls]

The movie Drive totally copied the essence of this game.

[@brentage5000]

Huh. Never knew Joker had the power of Thor and could call down lightning strikes

[@jasontodd8071]

I love this game, but the prototype ran so much smoother!

[@jonbradley4044]

Impressive gameplay. No deaths and minimal hits taken.

[@mrdboggs85]

Batman with guns ? Murdering the Joker in cold blood ? Wth lol. Batman doesn’t do that shit lol

[@amigodejesus6141]

your video is very good i am written and you use an amazing technique i have been playing for a week i am learning with this video think i can reach the end thanks Big boy

[@alenaduplantier4505]

Japanese people are the best in game programming even in the 80s also there game soundtrack are good

[@Cotivity]

I remember getting through ALL of this game, only to die at the end boss. Watching this footage, I have ZERO idea how I managed it.

[@deathshadowx5128]

Bruh this got recommended to me today and then that trailer dropped… what timing.

[@fernandojosedossantos9769]

É muito difícil ver um game da SUNSOFT sendo criticado. Geralmente tinham muita qualidade e faziam uso de recursos inovadores aproveitando o máximo do potencial do NES. O que sempre me ligou a esse jogo em específico foram as canções, Naoki Kodaka realmente foi mestre na era NES e ouvir "STREETS OF DESOLATION" é demais..

[@fabienavix1317]

Can finally beat the second boss which is awkward boss never seen before in any batman game. Don't know what you took Sunsoft but it is powerful!!!

[@damnburger7351]

Did Batman just kill joker?

[@xx03_p19]

Remember stage 1 and stage 2 sounds track like it was yesterday!😭🙌

[@treyvon4444]

I use to play the hell out this game when I was 6 to 10 and Dick Tracy

[@febriansyahfebry6474]

Ini termasuk game sulit di zaman q, tp bsa di lewatin klo kita pencet select.

[@kaleljoseph9729]

A glitch jump overhead the joker, ending

[@filmnstuff]

Now THAT'S how you do a movie to video game adaptation!

[@zerocool1884]

Dude, just found your channel. It's effin' awesome!

[@NintendoComplete]

Thanks! I really appreciate that!