Batman Forever (Mega Drive)

For other games with the same name, see Batman Forever.

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Batman Forever
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment (US, EU, AU), Acclaim Japan (JP), Tec Toy (BR)
Developer: Probe Entertainment, Black Team
Distributor: Sega OziSoft (Australia) Arcadia Software (Spain)
Licensor: DC Comics, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Fighting Action/Taisen Action (対戦アクション), Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1995-10-27 ¥8,8008,800 T-81223 US 1995-09-07 $74.9574.95 T-81336 EU 1995-10 T-81336-50 PT 1995 MD81336 UK 1995-09-07 T-81336-50 UK (Woolworths) 1995 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x FBAT23SMC AU (PAL) 199x FBAT23SMC AU (Limited Edition) 199x BR 199x 047150
Non-Sega versions IBM PC Super NES

Batman Forever (バットマン フォーエヴァー) is a Sega Mega Drive beat-'em-up game developed by Probe Entertainment and Black Team. Based on the titular June 1995 film Batman Forever, it was first released in the United States in September 1995, and was later brought to Europe, Japan, Australia, and Brazil in the following months. Batman Forever is most notable for being significantly inspired by the developer's previous home ports of the Mortal Kombat series, featuring digitized character sprites and a virtually identical control scheme.

Story

Batman, the vigilante alter-ego of billionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne, must save Gotham City from the dastardly duo of Two-Face and the Riddler. Two-Face is the former Gotham District Attorney Harvey Dent, who was accidentally disfigured in a courtroom incident, which he blames on Batman. The Riddler is disgruntled Wayne Tech employee Edward Nygma, who is angry that Bruce Wayne rejected his invention, a device that beams television signals directly into people's brains. Batman is joined by the young circus acrobat Dick Grayson, whose parents were killed by Two-Face, who takes up the identity Robin.

Gameplay

The normal mode is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up game with controls that are similar to a one-on-one fighting game. It can be played with a single player, where the player can choose to play as Batman or Robin, or with two players, where player one is Batman and player two is Robin. Two-player games can be played cooperatively, where players cannot harm each other and share credits, or competitively, where Batman and Robin can attack each other and have separate credits. Players and enemies have health bars and are defeated when the bar is depleted. Players start each level with the same health as they ended the previous level, but health can be replenished by finding items. Players lose a credit if they run out of life (or the game ends if there are no more credits remaining). Enemies can block or dodge attacks, and most have their own special attacks. Enemies can harm each other with friendly fire. Levels often require the player to defeat all the enemies in an area before pathways are opened. Levels also contain hidden areas that can be found through exploration and the use of items.

Characters walk with and and crouch with . They jump with and perform a somersault with or . They can glide with their capes, slowing their descent, by pressing while in mid-air. They normally turn around by pressing in the opposite direction unless they are fighting an enemy, in which case pressing in the away direction twice forces them to turn around. They can roll by pressing (or if facing to the left), which lets them reposition to escape surrounds and can also sweep enemies. + jumps off platforms to a lower level.

The attack controls are similar to Mortal Kombat. With a Six Button Control Pad, is high punch, is low punch, is high kick, and is low kick. + or + performs an uppercut, + performs a sweep kick, and + (or + if facing left) performs a roundhouse kick. blocks, which can be done while crouching. Blocked attacks still inflict a small amount of damage. There are two control methods, selectable before starting the game, for performing back attacks (attacking an enemy behind the character while engaged with another enemy in front of him). The first and default method simply requires pressing in the away direction and attacking. The second method requires holding the  MODE  button and attacking.

With the standard control pad, is low punch, + (or + if facing left) is high punch, is low kick, and is high kick. + uppercuts, + performs a sweep kick, and + (or + if facing left) performs a roundhouse.  START  blocks (and  START + pauses the game).

Characters can also grab enemies at close range by pressing (or depending on the direction of the enemy). Once an enemy is grabbed, they can be thrown them by pressing in the away direction. Some enemies can block grabs.

Each character carries five "gadgets," which are special abilities that can be performed by pressing certain button combinations. The gadget list is selected by the player at each level, with three standard gadgets for each character and two gadgets selected from two separate lists. There are also four hidden "blueprint" gadgets. Gadgets have unlimited supply and can be used as often as needed.

There is also a fighting game mode called "training mode" where the player can play as Batman, Robin, or many of the enemies found throughout the game against either a computer-controlled opponent, against a second player, or cooperatively against two computer opponents. Batman and Robin choose their gadgets before starting a round, as in the normal game, but the other characters have their own sets of special moves.

Gadgets

Characters always have their standard gadgets. Players choose one optional gadget from each list before each level and then use them by performing the appropriate button combination. Button combinations mostly only use , , and so they are generally the same regardless of whether the player has a Six Button Control Pad.

Button combinations assume that the player is facing right. If facing left, and should be reversed.

Batman

Standard

	Batarang
	Projectile weapon, thrown horizontally to the end of the screen with .
	Grappling Hook
	The grappling hook allows Batman to swing from or climb up to higher platforms while suspended from a cable attached to it. fires the grappling hook at a 45-degree angle. + fires the hook directly upward; this combination must be pressed simultaneously to avoid jumping. When suspended from the cable, ascends Batman to the platform above. + fires the grappling hook when using a three-button control pad. The hook can find secret passageways in ceilings or release hidden items.
	Sonic Pulse Globe
	A small bomb that is thrown with and explodes on contact with the enemy or the ground. Bombs can sometimes reveal hidden areas.

Optional 1

	Smoke Pellet
	Throws a pellet with that rolls on the ground and creates a cloud of smoke that prevents enemies from using special moves.
	Cape Morph
	Momentarily shields Batman from all damage with (or  START   START  with a three-button control pad).
	Flash Pellet
	Throws a pellet on the ground with that stuns enemies for a duration (or until they are attacked).
	Gas
	Sprays a fog in the air with that briefly stuns enemies.

Optional 2

	Slippery Goo
	Sprays goo on the ground with that causes enemies to slip if they walk over it. Enemies cannot attack while caught on the goo.
	Bat Bola
	Throws a bat bola with , which ties up any enemy that it hits, preventing them from moving or attacking for a duration (or until attacked).
	Electric Pellet
	Throws a horizontal projectile with that zaps opponents and forces them to the ground for a duration. Enemies are harmless in this state but cannot be attacked until they revive.
	Force Wall
	Drops with a device with that emits an impenetrable wall directly upward. This wall can be crossed by Batman and Robin, but enemies are harmed when they touch it. It lasts for a few seconds or until it has absorbed three hits.
	Sticky Goo
	Sprays goo on the ground with that renders enemies immobile when they walk over it. Enemies can still attack while caught on the goo.

Robin

Standard

	Batarang
	Projectile weapon, thrown horizontally to the end of the screen with .
	Extending Staff
	Functionally equivalent to Batman's grappling hook. extends the staff at a 45-degree angle, for swinging off hooks. + extends the staff directly upward, for climbing up to higher platforms. + extends the staff when using a three-button control pad.
	Staff Charges
	Robin drops a small bomb from his staff with and explodes on contact with the enemy or the ground. Bombs can sometimes reveal hidden areas.

Optional 1

	Smoke Pellet
	Throws a pellet with that rolls on the ground and creates a cloud of smoke that prevents enemies from using special moves.
	Force Shield
	Momentarily shields Robin from all damage with (or  START   START  with a three-button control pad).
	Tranquilizer Darts
	Fires a dart with that temporarily slows enemies to half speed when hit.
	Sonic Blast
	Emits a cone-shaped blast with that temporarily causes enemies caught in it to only do half damage.

Optional 2

	Slippery Goo
	Sprays goo on the ground with that causes enemies to slip if they walk over it. Enemies cannot attack while caught on the goo.
	Bat Bola
	Throws a bat bola with , which ties up any enemy that it hits, preventing them from moving or attacking for a duration (or until attacked).
	Electro Staff Prod
	Zaps enemies at close range with , which forces them to the ground for a duration. Enemies are harmless in this state but cannot be attacked until they revive.
	Wrist Rivets
	Shoots rivets at close range with , which renders enemies immobile for a duration (or until they are attacked). Enemies can still attack while immobile.
	Heat Gadget
	Shoots a bolt of energy horizontally to the end of the screen with that does big damage to enemies that it hits.

Blueprint

These weapons are hidden and can only be collected by finding all of the blueprints in a level.

	Homing Batarang
	Throws a Batarang with that attacks the nearest target and then seeks out two more enemies to attack.
	Bat Cuffs
	Releases cuffs with that seek out the nearest target and render them immobile for a duration. Immobile enemies can still attack.
	Holographic Decoy
	Creates a holographic decoy with + that distracts enemies for a duration. Enemies try to attack the decoy instead of Batman and Robin.
	Rocket Boots
	Propels the character toward an enemy with .

Items

	Partial Energy
	Partially replenishes the character's energy bar.
	Full Energy
	Fully replenishes the character's energy bar.
	Riddler Box
	Provides a clue in the form of a riddle.
	Extra Time
	Gives the player extra time in the third level.
	Two-Face Coin
	If collected when the scarred face is showing, gives the player an extra credit. If collected when the smooth face is showing, gives the player an extra credit and also fully replenishes the character's energy bar.
	Gadget Blueprint
	Collect four in a single level to gain a new gadget for use in the next level.

Levels

	Arkham Asylum
	Second Bank of Gotham City
	The Circus
	Two-Face's Hideout: Warehouse
	Ritz Gotham
	Abandoned Subway Station
	Wayne Manor/Destroyed Batcave
	Claw Island

History

Development

The video game adaption of Batman Forever was created simultaneously with the movie, likely as the film was going through its post-production phase. Acclaim's development team in the US were given access to the movie's 70 sets, and would both record footage and take notes of the design before sending it off to the UK-based Probe Entertainment to be implemented in-game.

Probe would then attempt to convert what assets they were given into backdrops, initially by scanning the footage into an SGI workstation and then by drawing rough guidelines, placing computer generated light sources and attempting to turn the results into 2D backdrops.

The characters in-game were motion captured using the film's stuntmen against green screen, which again would be sent to Probe in video form. No members of the film's main cast reprise their roles for the video game, though their likenesses are used in promotional material.

Release

A limited edition release of Batman Forever was sold exclusively in branches of Woolworths in the United Kingdom. In addition to a boxed version of the game, the package includes a VHS cassette documenting how the game was made, a Batman Forever-themed notepad and stickers. The package is thought to have sold poorly, and has subsequently become a rare collectors' item. Both Mega Drive and Super NES versions were available.

Production credits

• A Probe Production
• Programmer: Paul Carruthers
• Producers: Tony Beckwith, Tim Bradstock
• Designer: Nick Baynes
• Storyboards: Alex Lawrence, Darren Goodacre, Dimitri Bakalov
• Music: Tim Follin
• Arrangements: Andy Brock
• Sound Effects: Andy Brock
• Backgrounds: Ned Langman, Phil Williams
• Clay Models: Alex Lawrence
• Model Digitsation: Cybersite UK Ltd.
• 3D Model Animation: Jason McDonald
• Animation Editors: Kevin Watts, Tim Bradstock
• Additional Graphics: Terry Ford, Darren Goodacre, Ned Langman, Pierson Lippard, Kevin McMahon, Phil Williams
• Level Designers: Jonathan Gibson, Simon Bland
• Q.A. Team: Gary Patino, James Brown, Nick McGee, Michael Movel, Clifford Ramsey, Mark Viccary
• A.I. Logic: Dan Phillips
• Compression: Nick Pelling, Rob Northen
• All Pies Eaten By: Gary Liddon

Acclaim Black Team

• Producer: Douglas Yellin
• Assoc. Producers: Michael Archer, Tyrone Miller
• Analysts: Simon Gouldstone, J.J. Maziotto
• Admin. Assistant: Kristen Muzer
• Q.A. Project Leader: David Sanchez
• Q.A. Staff: C. Caracciolo, A. Ingberman, H. Reimer, J. Gonzalez, H. Perlman, C. Shanley, A. Falk, C. Chamberlain, R. Morton, R. Tucker, P. Lindsay, A.K. Brown, J. Rosa, D. Tabb, M. Mazziotto

Ultimatte Shoot

• Producer: Douglas Yellin
• Director: Fiona Milburn
• Stunt Coordinator: Jeff Gibson
• Lighting Design: Leslie Hankey, Brian Danitz
• Camera Operator: Chris Caris, Eric Schmitz
• Production Assts.: Rich Nelson, Ron Sommers, Ray McDonough
• Directors Asst.: Cynthia Graham
• Costumes: Izquierdo Studio, New York
• Wig Design: Edward Sylvia
• Harvey Two-Face Make-Up: Bryant Holt
• Special Thanks: Larry Kelley, Jeremy Schwartz, Rob Zimmelman, Rob Muzer, Howard Schwartz, Roger Booth
• Shot At: Acclaim Studios, Glen Cove, New York

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Batman Forever (Mega Drive)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Batman Forever (Mega Drive)/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 92

	92
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 80 Cool Gamer (RU) 80 Computer & Video Games (UK) 81 Digitiser (UK) 77 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 80 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 53 Freak (IL) 90 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 50 GamePro (UK) 75 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 72 Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL 83 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 65 Mega Force (FR) PAL 84 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 80 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 90 Player One (FR) 70 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 47 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 83 Sega Power (UK) PAL 91 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 80 Svet Kompjutera (YU) 86 Sega Megazone (AU) 65 Todo Sega (ES) 84 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 80 Video Games (DE) PAL 70

	76
Based on 25 reviews

Batman Forever (Mega Drive)

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB Competition Card

Mega Drive, UK (Woolworths)
Cover
Cart Manual Contents VHS tape Organiser Competition Card

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, PT (alt)
Cover

Mega Drive, SE rental (SF)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU (PAL)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (NTSC)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU (Limited Edition)
Cover

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Batman Forever (Mega Drive)/Technical information.

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)