Batman Returns (Mega-CD)

n/a

Batman Returns

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Malibu Interactive, Sega of America

Licensor: DC Comics

Genre: Action

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1993-03^[1]	$49.9949.99^[2]	4401
EU	1993		4401
DE	1993-09^[6]^[7]	DM 119.95119.95^[7]	4401
FR	1993-09^[8]		4401
PT	1993		CDJ4401
UK	1993-08^[3]^[4]	£44.9944.99^[5]	4401
AU	199x	$119.95119.95^[9]
BR	1993-10^[10]

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

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 enthralled 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

For Sega of America

Game Producer: Bert Schroeder
Music Composed and Produced by: Spencer Nilsen
Guitars: Greg Strong
Drums and Percussion: Brad Kaiser
Special Thanks to the S.O.A. Testers: Terry Banks, Greg Becksted, Joe Cain, Harry Chavez, K. Higashihara, Vy Nong, Bill Person, Chris Sinclair, S.Stangenberg

Game Developed by: Malibu Interactive

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

For Sega of America

Lead Tester: Vy Nong
Marketing: Greg Suarez
Manual: Carol Ann Hanshaw, Paula Polley

Source:

US manual^[11]

Magazine articles

Main article: Batman Returns (Mega-CD)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

120x120px

US print advert

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #41: "December 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

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

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Consoles + (FR)

79

^[23]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

88

^[5]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

53

^[24]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

93

^[15]

GameFan (US)

NTSC-U

93

^[25]

Game Players (US)

NTSC-U

70

^[26]

Game Power (IT)

PAL

80

^[27]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

68

^[2]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

93

^[28]

Hyper (AU)

86

^[29]

Joker (SI)

83

^[30]

Joypad (FR)

NTSC-U

81

^[31]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

NTSC-U

85

^[32]

Mega (UK)

NTSC-U

81

^[33]

Mega Action (UK)

PAL

90

^[34]

Mega Force (FR)

89

^[35]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

73

^[17]

Mega Play (US)

NTSC-U

63

^[36]

Mega Power (UK)

PAL

70

^[37]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

94

^[4]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

90

^[38]

Megazone (AU)

85

^[39]

Power Up! (UK)

75

^[40]

Sega Magazin (DE)

80

^[41]

Sega Power (UK)

NTSC-U

85

^[42]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

86

^[43]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

55

^[44]

Sega Force Mega (UK)

NTSC-U

83

^[45]

Sega Force (SE)

73

^[20]

Sonic the Comic (UK)

PAL

85

^[46]

Supergame (BR)

80

^[21]

Super Juegos (ES)

94

^[47]

Todo Sega (ES)

89

^[48]

Video Games (DE)

NTSC-U

78

^[49]

	81
Based on 34 reviews

Batman Returns (Mega-CD)

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual Reg Card

Mega-CD, EU
Cover
Disc

Mega-CD, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Mega-CD, PT

Mega-CD, BR

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

?

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

527,137,296

CD (EU)

4401

✔

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

527,137,296

CD (US)

4401

?

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

1993-04-23

Page

References

Batman games for Sega systems / published by Sega
	Batman (1990) \| Batman: Revenge of The Joker (1992) \| Batman Returns (1992) \| The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995) \| Justice League Task Force (1995) \| Batman Forever (1995)
	Batman Returns (1992) \| The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995) \| Batman Forever (1995)
	Batman Returns (1993)
	Batman Returns (1993) \| The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995)
	Batman (1991) \| Batman Forever (1995)
	Batman Forever (1996) \| Batman & Robin (unreleased)
	Gotham Knights (2022) \| Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024)

[:File:GamePro_US_045.pdf_p122-1] GamePro, "April 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 122

[:File:GamePro_US_047.pdf_p66-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 GamePro, "June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 66

[:File:CVG_UK_140.pdf_p100-3] Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 100

[:File:MegaTech_UK_19.pdf_p68-4] 4.0 ^4.1 MegaTech, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-19), page 68

[:File:CVG_UK_140.pdf_p40-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 40

[:File:Megablast_DE_1993-04.pdf_p34-6] Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 34

[:File:SegaMagazin_DE_01.pdf_p11-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 11

[:File:SelectRound_FR_01.pdf_p2-8] Select Round, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 2

[:File:Megazone_AU_32.pdf_p33-9] Megazone, "October 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 33

[:File:VideoGame_BR_31.pdf_p6-10] Video Game, "Outubro 1993" (BR; 1993-xx-xx), page 6

[:File:Batmanreturns_mcd_us_manual.pdf_p33-11] File:Batmanreturns mcd us manual.pdf, page 33

[:File:CVG_UK_140.pdf_p40_.2840-41.29-12] Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 40-41 (40)

[:File:CVG_UK_140.pdf_p108-13] Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 108

[:File:EGM_US_047.pdf_p34_.2834.2F160-161.29-14] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34/160-161 (34)

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p119-15] 15.0 ^15.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 119

[:File:MegaForce_FR_Supplement_20.pdf_p28_.2828-29.29-16] Mega Force, "Mega-CD Force: Le Supplément Spécial Mega-CD" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 28-29 (28)

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1993-09.pdf_p33-17] 17.0 ^17.1 Mega Fun, "09/93" (DE; 1993-08-18), page 33

[:File:MeanMachinesSega10UK.pdf_p68_.2868-71.29-18] Mean Machines Sega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-30), page 68-71 (68)

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_01.pdf_p36_.2836-38.29-19] Sega Force Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 36-38 (36)

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1994_05.pdf_p33-20] 20.0 ^20.1 Sega Force, "5/94" (SE; 1994-08-10), page 33

[:File:Supergame_BR_23.pdf_p20-21] 21.0 ^21.1 Supergame, "Junho 1993" (BR; 1993-06-xx), page 20

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-09.pdf_p36_.2838.29-22] Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 38 (36)

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_022.pdf_p130-23] Consoles +, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 130

[:File:EGM_US_047.pdf_p34-24] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34

[:File:GameFan_US_0107.pdf_p16-25] GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 7: June 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 16

[:File:GamePlayers_US_0608.pdf_p118-26] Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 8 August 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 118

[:File:GamePower_IT_20.pdf_p46-27] Game Power, "Settembre 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 46

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_024.pdf_p56-28] Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 56

[:File:Hyper_AU_001.pdf_p55-29] Hyper, "December 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 55

[30] Joker, "Oktober 1993" (SI; 1993-xx-xx), page 22

[:File:Joypad_FR_022.pdf_p92-31] Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 92

[:File:MDAG_UK_12.pdf_p48-32] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 48

[:File:Mega_UK_11.pdf_p42-33] Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 42

[:File:MegaAction_UK_03.pdf_p28-34] Mega Action, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 28

[:File:MegaForce_FR_Supplement_20.pdf_p28-35] Mega Force, "Mega-CD Force: Le Supplément Spécial Mega-CD" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 28

[:File:MegaPlay_US_0403.pdf_p58-36] Mega Play, "June 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 58

[:File:MegaPower_UK_01.pdf_p42-37] Mega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-29), page 42

[:File:MeanMachinesSega10UK.pdf_p68-38] Mean Machines Sega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-30), page 68

[:File:Megazone_AU_32.pdf_p32-39] Megazone, "October 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 32

[40] Power Up!, "Saturday, October 16, 1993" (UK; 1993-10-16), page 1

[:File:SegaMagazin_DE_01.pdf_p10-41] Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 10

[:File:SegaPower_UK_45.pdf_p42-42] Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 42

[:File:SegaPro_UK_22.pdf_p42-43] Sega Pro, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-08), page 42

[:File:SegaZone_UK_10.pdf_p38-44] Sega Zone, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-22), page 38

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_01.pdf_p36-45] Sega Force Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 36

[46] Sonic the Comic, "12th June 1993" (UK; 1993-06-12), page 11

[:File:SuperJuegos_ES_017.pdf_p104-47] Super Juegos, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 104

[:File:TodoSega_ES_06.pdf_p30-48] Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 30

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-09.pdf_p38-49] Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 38

[1]

[2]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

Batman games for Sega systems / published by Sega
	Batman (1990) \| Batman: Revenge of The Joker (1992) \| Batman Returns (1992) \| The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995) \| Justice League Task Force (1995) \| Batman Forever (1995)
	Batman Returns (1992) \| The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995) \| Batman Forever (1995)
	Batman Returns (1993)
	Batman Returns (1993) \| The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995)
	Batman (1991) \| Batman Forever (1995)
	Batman Forever (1996) \| Batman & Robin (unreleased)
	Gotham Knights (2022) \| Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024)

Batman Returns (Mega-CD)

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Reception

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

ROM dump status

References