Instructions for

Batman - The Caped Crusader

Ocean, 1988

Written by Chris Owen, HTML'd by Arnt Gulbrandsen.

Controls

Keyboard, Kempston, Cursor

Aim of the game

There are two separate "plots" revolving around Batman's deadliest enemies - The Penguin and The Joker: 1) A Bird In The Hand (BATMNCC1.Z80) - The Penguin, having been released from jail, decides to set up an umbrella factory in Gotham City, but (of course) is secretly using it as a cover for his plan to take over the world with an army of robot penguins! As Batman, can you shut down the factory computer and prevent the world from getting the bird? 2) A Fete Worse Than Death (BATMNCC2.Z80) - Robin has mysteriously disappeared, the only clue being a single playing card left behind by his kidnapper - the Joker! On the flip side of the card is a message: "Robin heads for a fete worse than death, the fuse is lit - so don't waste your time, follow your nose and remember, there's no place like home! Boom! Boom!". Can you unravel the mystery, save Robin and defeat the Joker?

Game play

The presentation on screen simulates a comic strip with Gotham City and its inhabitants appearing in multiple overlaid panels. Any text (clues, descriptions etc.) is displayed in caption boxes in the appropriate panel. The player, as the Batman, has complete freedom to move around and interact with the numerous locations, solving puzzles en route. By pressing down and fire together, Batman will enter the utility screen. This displays all the objects which you have picked up and also the control icons which are used to manipulate them. (You can also change various aspects of the game's displays and sound effects at this point). Batman's energy status bars and the game completion percentage are also displayed on this screen. By moving the Bat-cursor onto the object and pressing fire, then pressing the Utilise icon in the same manner, that object will be used.

Comments

"A finely-honed arcade advennture which is surely the best comic licence ever - you'd be batty to miss it".

Rating

93% (CRASH #60, January 1989)

Now

An excellent (and graphically impressive) arcade adventure game.

Keys

Redefinable
Without fire button pressed:
Climb left	 Face back  Climb right
\     |     /
\    |    /
\   |   /
\  *  /
Walk left ----* *----- Walk right
/  *  \
/   |   \
/    |    \
/     |	   \
Duck left	   Face	   Duck right
front
With fire button pressed:
High kick left	 Face back  High kick right
\     |     /
\    |    /
\   |   /
\  *  /
Punch/throw -----*O*----- Punch/throw
left	  /  |  \	right
/   |   \
/    |    \
/     |     \
Low kick left   Pick up   Low kick right
object/
enter utility screen
Nettverksgruppa, 10/9-94, sinclair@nvg.ntnu.no