1991 video game From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Batman: Return of the Joker[a] is a 1991 run and gun video game, the follow-up to Sunsoft's first Batman game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Unlike that game, which was based on the 1989 Batman film directed by Tim Burton, Return of the Joker is entirely self-contained and based more on the modern comic book iteration of Batman, but the Batmobile and the Batwing are featured from the 1989 film. A remake of Return of the Joker, titled Batman: Revenge of the Joker, was released on the Sega Genesis by Ringler Studios in 1993. A Super NES version of Revenge of the Joker was completed but never officially released; a ROM image surfaced online in later years.[2]
| Batman: Return of the Joker | |
|---|---|
Packaging for the NES version | |
| Developer(s) | Sunsoft Ringler Studios (GEN/MD) |
| Publisher(s) | Sunsoft |
| Designer(s) | Yoshiaki Iwata Tadashi Kojima |
| Programmer(s) | H. Suzuki, Hirokatsu Fujii (NES) Chris Oke (GEN/MD) Michio Okasaka (Game Boy) |
| Artist(s) | Lance Hutto, Karen Ffinch, Klee Miller, Chris Oke, Simon Ffinch, Ed Ringler (GEN/MD) |
| Composer(s) | NES Naoki Kodaka Game Boy Manami Matsumae Genesis Tommy Tallarico |
| Platform(s) | NES, Game Boy, Sega Genesis |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Run and gun Platformer (Game Boy) |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
A completely different version of the game was released on the Game Boy in 1992.
In Batman: Return of the Joker, the titular hero is on journey to the Joker's secret hide-out after called by Gotham City to find metals stolen by the Joker, one of which is highly toxic and used to build explosives for missiles.[3] The NES version of Batman: Return of the Joker consists of seven stages, each of which have two sub-levels (except for the last stage) and a boss level (except for the second and fifth stages); from beginning to end, they are the Gotham City cathedral, the Joker's warehouse, a snowy mountain, a refinery, an underground conduit, an ammunition base, and the Island of Ha-Hacienda.[4] Although Batman has three lives, the game has unlimited continues[5] and stage passwords that can be accessed by pausing the game.[6] The game's five bosses include the Ace Ranger, a Minedroid, the Master C.P.U. of the refinery, and two battles with the Joker;[4] for regular levels, Batman's health is represented in increments, but in the boss stages, both Batman and the boss's life meters are represented in numbers.[7]
Return of the Joker is a side-scrolling run and gun platformer.[8][9] Batman's weapon is a wrist projector[10] which the player change its type of ammunition by collecting icons throughout the levels: "C" icons for the crossbow, which shoots arrows that makes an enemy explode, "B" icons for "Batarangs", where its direction follows the movement of on-screen enemies, N for "Sonic Neutralizers" that shoots two patterns of Batarangs in a criss-cross shape, and "S" for "Shield Stars" that shoots three darts going separate directions.[11] Batman can slide by pressing the A-button and down on the D-pad, a move that is also an attack (although it only works against some enemies).[10] Batman can also collect energy capsules that, if eight are obtained, will make him become invincible for a few seconds.[11]
The Game Boy version, unlike the NES version where the character shoots, is only a platformer.[9]
| Publication | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | NES | Sega Genesis | |
| AllGame |   [12] |  [13] | |
| Computer and Video Games | 79%[14] | 59%[15] | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 29/40[b] | 29/40[b] | |
| GamePro | 17/20[c] | 3/5[19] | |
| GamesMaster | 68%[20] | ||
| GameZone | 78/100[21] | ||
| Jeuxvideo.com | 15/20[22] | ||
| Nintendo Power | 3.6/5[d] | 3.85/5[e] | |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 78%[25] | ||
| Total! | 86%[26] | 64%[27] | |
| Zero | 90/100[28] | ||
| Game Zero | 50.5/100[29] | ||
| Nintendo Acción | 2.75/4[f] | ||
| GB Action | 83%[31] | ||
| N-Force | 82%[32] | ||
| Mega | 67%[33] | ||
| Mega Drive Advanced Gaming | 78%[34] | ||
| Mean Machines Sega | 68%[35] | ||
| MegaTech | 75%[36] | ||
| Sega Force | 60/100[37] | ||
| Sega Pro | 84%[38] | ||
| Sega Zone | 81/100[39] | ||
| Publication | Award |
|---|---|
| Nintendo Power | Game of the Year (nominee)[40] |
Dave Cook of Nintendo Life wrote that while Batman: Return of the Joker was "fun and challenging it doesn't feel as revolutionary as its predecessor despite being a commendable effort".[41]
Syfy Wire, in 2017, ranked the NES version of Batman: Return of the Joker the fourth most essential DC Comics video game adaptation to play.[42] Den of Geek ranked the Game Boy version the 22nd most underrated Game Boy game, praising its return of wall-jumping and beat 'em up mechanics of the 1989 Batman NES title, although complained about its limited continues.[43]
In 2019, IGN ranked the game's final boss the third best video game portrayal of the Joker of all-time.[44]
The Gamer, in 2020, claimed Return of the Joker to be the best-looking NES game ever, reasoning that the "sprites are fluid, the game's color palette is moody & atmospheric, and the backgrounds are as fleshed out as can be for an NES game".[45] Yacht Club Games artist Nick Wozniak has named the game's Batman sprite as one of his all-time favorite in games: "As an adult, I was in shock at what I was seeing… There's only ever one or two humanoid enemies on screen because they are completely bombing the NES with the graphics. They give him a powerup where he turns gold and he shoots a bunch of guys. It's like Super Batman. They don't care".[46]
The Gamer has also called it one of the best all-time Batman video games: "The graphics are surprisingly spritely for an early 90s game, with entertaining gameplay and an intriguing storyline helping make this game an enjoyable experience".[8] It has also been ranked the ninth-best Batman game by Uproxx[47] and the tenth-best by IGN Spain.[48] In a worst-to-best list of Batman video games by The Things, Return of the Joker came in number 12: "Almost everyone who reviewed it remarked on how amazing the graphics and backgrounds were. This was 16-bit quality on 8-bit machines. The gameplay wasn't as good as the prior Batman game, but only just. Building off the '89 game, combat-focused from attacks to gadgets, giving players greater variety. A better difficulty curve was also introduced".[49]
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