Batman: The Caped Crusader
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Key people | Jonathan Smith, Zach Townsend, Charles Davies, Keith Tinman |
| Parent | Ocean Software (publisher) |
Batman: The Caped Crusader is an action-adventure title created by Special FX Software, with key contributors Jonathan Smith, Zach Townsend, Charles Davies, and Keith Tinman, and released by Ocean Software in 1988. Licensed through Data East and Erbe Software for distribution in North America and Spain, this game marked the second installment in a trio of unrelated Batman games produced by Ocean, succeeding Batman (1986) and preceding Batman: The Movie (1989). The Apple II edition, developed by Quicksilver Software based in California, requires a 128k IIe or IIc model. The Commodore 64 version was made available separately on both cassette and disk formats; the North American NTSC release utilized the disk version, which featured remixed audio tracks and modified enemy placements.
Gameplay
The visual style of Batman: The Caped Crusader is characterized by a unique comic book-inspired layout, a concept introduced by Jonathan Smith and Charles Davies. Each in-game location is presented within its own comic panel accompanied by stylized captions, while panels not currently in use are dimmed into the background. This innovative approach was later expanded upon by Sega’s Comix Zone.
The game is structured into two distinct chapters: "A Bird In The Hand," which centers on the Penguin, and "A Fete Worse Than Death," focusing on the Joker. Players engage in a blend of fighting mechanics—employing punches, kicks, and Batman’s iconic batarang—and puzzle elements to defeat the adversaries’ minions.
Reception
Your Sinclair rated the title 9 out of 10, commending its vibrant and expressive graphics as well as the presence of two separate storylines. Computer Gaming World lauded the graphical quality, particularly on the Atari ST compared to the Commodore 64 version, but pointed out that the emphasis on maze navigation and puzzles rather than direct combat might affect player expectations. Crash magazine identified it as a Smash hit.