Batman: The Caped Crusader
Encyclopedia
Batman; The Caped Crusader is an action adventure
game developed by Special FX Software (Jonathan Smith, Charles Davies, and Keith Tinman) and published by Ocean Software
for the 8-bit home computer
s such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 and by Data East
for other platforms such as the Apple II
, Commodore Amiga
and PC
in 1988
.
, using comic book style panels to show the action. In this game, Batman is faced with two of his most well-known adversaries, The Penguin
and The Joker
. The game is split into two different parts, one for each villain. These parts are separate and can be played in any order. Batman uses punches and kicks and his batarang
(a thrown weapon) in order to fight the villains' henchmen as well as solving puzzles.
On its original release, Your Sinclair
awarded it 9 out of 10, praising the colorful and expressive graphics and the inclusion of two separate adventures. Computer Gaming World
also gave a positive review, praising the graphics, particularly the Atari ST's graphics over the C64's. However, it was noted the game emphasizes mazes and puzzles over beating up bad guys, and as such did not quite meet expectations.
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
game developed by Special FX Software (Jonathan Smith, Charles Davies, and Keith Tinman) and published by Ocean Software
Ocean Software
The British company Ocean Software was one of the biggest European video game developers/publishers of the 1980s and 90s...
for the 8-bit home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
s such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 and by Data East
Data East
also abbreviated as DECO, was a Japanese video game developer and publisher. The company was in operation from 1976 to 2003, when it declared bankruptcy...
for other platforms such as the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
, Commodore Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
in 1988
1988 in video gaming
-Events:*June — Nintendo releases the last issue of "Nintendo fun club news";*July — Nintendo releases the first issue of Nintendo Power magazine.-Notable releases:*January 8, Konami releases Super Contra....
.
Summary
It was an arcade adventureAction-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
, using comic book style panels to show the action. In this game, Batman is faced with two of his most well-known adversaries, The Penguin
Penguin (comics)
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot III is a DC Comics supervillain and one of Batman's oldest, most persistent enemies. The Penguin was introduced by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, making his debut in Detective Comics #58 .The Penguin is a short, rotund man known for his love of birds and his...
and The Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
. The game is split into two different parts, one for each villain. These parts are separate and can be played in any order. Batman uses punches and kicks and his batarang
Batarang
A batarang is a roughly bat-shaped throwing weapon used by the DC Comics superhero Batman. The name is a portmanteau of bat and boomerang, and was originally spelled baterang. Although they are named after boomerangs, batarangs have become more like shuriken in recent interpretations...
(a thrown weapon) in order to fight the villains' henchmen as well as solving puzzles.
On its original release, Your Sinclair
Your Sinclair
Your Sinclair or YS as it was commonly abbreviated, was a British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum.-History:...
awarded it 9 out of 10, praising the colorful and expressive graphics and the inclusion of two separate adventures. Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
also gave a positive review, praising the graphics, particularly the Atari ST's graphics over the C64's. However, it was noted the game emphasizes mazes and puzzles over beating up bad guys, and as such did not quite meet expectations.