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Batman Returns is a Sega Mega-CD action platform and driving game developed by Malibu Interactive and published by Sega. Based on the June 1992 film Batman Returns, the game is an enhanced port of the earlier Batman Returns (Mega Drive) and was released in early 1993 to more positive reception, particularly in regards to the newly-added driving stages.
Gameplay
Batman Returns contains both the original action platforming game and a new pseudo-3D arcade driving game on the same disk. As both games follow the same plot, their stage order was interwoven to best match the movie and deemed the “full” game, although each can also be played individually. Smaller changes were made to accompany the move to CD, such as reducing the cartidge soundtrack, increasing PCM sample quality, and replacing the playable fight from the staff roll with a non-interactive sequence.
Reception
The game was released to mixed reception. Reviewers were immediately impressed with the new driving sections, but were still unimpressed with the previously-released action platform stages.
The scaling and rotation effects displayed in the driving sections were very well-received, and the game was resultingly considered a showcase of the Sega Mega-CD hardware. Spencer Nilsen’s soundtrack was also well-received, with the track City Limits frequently being used in Sega of America promotional videos.
Production credits
- Driving Game Designers: Jeff Godfrey, James Maxwell, John O'Brien
- Platform Game Designers: James Maxwell, Bert Schroeder
- Additional Platform Design: Nancy Nakamoto, Bernie Wang
- Driving Game Backgrounds Lead Artist: Stephen Thomson
- Driving Game Vehicles Lead Artist: Jeff Godfrey
- Additional Driving Game Artists: Tom Applegate, Jeremy Cantor, Russel Comte, Damon DuBois, Robert Hemphill, Ray Huerta, Jayne Shrigley
- Platform Game Artwork: Tom Applegate, Todd Tomlinson
- Additional Platform Game Artists: Robert Hemphill, Ray Huerta, Stephen Thomson
- Driving Game Programmer: John O'Brien
- Platform Game Programmer: Andrew Green
- Game Shell Programmer: Chris Shrigley
- Sound Programmer: Brian Howarth
- Testers: Darin Johnson, Justin Monast
- Game Directors: James Maxwell, John O'Brien
Source: In-game credits
Source: US manual[11]
Magazine articles
- Main article: Batman Returns (Mega-CD)/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Print advert in
Sega Visions (US) #14: "August/September 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
Print advert in
Supergame (BR) #28: "Novembro 1993" (1993-11-xx)
Physical scans
Mega-CD, US
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Cover
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Mega-CD, FR (Blister pack)
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Cover
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Technical information
ROM dump status
System |
Hash |
Size |
Build Date |
Source |
Comments |
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?
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527,137,296
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CD (EU)
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4401
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✔
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527,137,296
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CD (US)
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4401
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?
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1993-04-23
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Page
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References
- ↑ GamePro, "April 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 122
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 GamePro, "June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 66
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 100
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 MegaTech, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-19), page 68
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 40
- ↑ Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 34
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 11
- ↑ Select Round, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 2
- ↑ Megazone, "October 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 33
- ↑ Video Game, "Outubro 1993" (BR; 1993-xx-xx), page 6
- ↑ File:Batmanreturns mcd us manual.pdf, page 33
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 40-41 (40)
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 108
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34/160-161 (34)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 119
- ↑ Mega Force, "Mega-CD Force: Le Supplément Spécial Mega-CD" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 28-29 (28)
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mega Fun, "09/93" (DE; 1993-08-18), page 33
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-30), page 68-71 (68)
- ↑ Sega Force Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 36-38 (36)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Sega Force, "5/94" (SE; 1994-08-10), page 33
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Supergame, "Junho 1993" (BR; 1993-06-xx), page 20
- ↑ Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 38 (36)
- ↑ Consoles +, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 130
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 7: June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 16
- ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 8 August 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 118
- ↑ Game Power, "Settembre 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 46
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 56
- ↑ Hyper, "December 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 55
- ↑ Joker, "Oktober 1993" (SI; 1993-xx-xx), page 22
- ↑ Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 92
- ↑ Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 42
- ↑ Mega Action, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 28
- ↑ Mega Force, "Mega-CD Force: Le Supplément Spécial Mega-CD" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 28
- ↑ Mega Play, "June 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 58
- ↑ Mega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-29), page 42
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-30), page 68
- ↑ Megazone, "October 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 32
- ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, October 16, 1993" (UK; 1993-10-16), page 1
- ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 10
- ↑ Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 42
- ↑ Sega Pro, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-08), page 42
- ↑ Sega Zone, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-22), page 38
- ↑ Sega Force Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 36
- ↑ Sonic the Comic, "12th June 1993" (UK; 1993-06-12), page 11
- ↑ Super Juegos, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 104
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 30
- ↑ Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 38