Batman Forever: The Arcade Game#Development

{{Infobox video game

| title = Batman Forever: The Arcade Game

| image = Batman Forever - The Arcade Game arcade flyer.jpg

| caption = Arcade flyer

| developer = Probe Entertainment
Iguana Entertainment
Iguana UK (PS1, Saturn)

| publisher = Acclaim Entertainment

| producer = Neill Glancy

| designer = David Dienstbier
Ian Dunlop
Jason Carpenter

| programmer = Carl Wade
Stephen Broumley

| artist = Michael McCallion

| composer = Rick Fox

| series = Batman

| platforms = Arcade, MS-DOS, PlayStation, Sega Saturn

| released ={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|March 1996}}|Arcade{{vgrelease|NA/UK|March 1996{{Cite news |last=Elizondo Jr. |first=Juan B. |date=February 18, 1996 |title=Small Tex. company building video game hits |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/218657072 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |work=The Town Talk |pages=36 |quote="Batman Forever," Acclaim's first coin-operated arcade game, is due on the market in March.}}{{Cite news |date=March 23, 1996 |title=News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/833152799 |archive-url= |access-date=May 16, 2024 |work=Paisley Daily Express |pages=13 |quote=It's Acclaim, whose first coin-op, Batman Forever, should be appearing in your local arcade, ooh, about now if you're lucky.}}}} Saturn{{vgrelease|EU|16 November 1996|NA|21 November 1996|JP|14 February 1997{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SGC3_SS1997.html|title=SEGA SATURN Soft > 1997|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214843/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SGC3_SS1997.html|archive-date=2018-08-18|url-status=live}}}} MS-DOS{{vgrelease|NA|30 November 1996}} PlayStation{{vgrelease|EU|16 November 1996|NA|3 December 1996|JP|14 February 1997{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SNC1_PS1997.html|title=PlayStation Soft > 1997|publisher=GAME Data Room|access-date=2018-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052540/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SNC1_PS1997.html|archive-date=2018-09-04|url-status=live}}}}}}

| genre = Beat 'em up

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| arcade system = Sega ST-V{{cite web|url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=batman-forever&page=detail&id=191|title=Batman Forever|website=arcade-history.com|access-date=2018-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105134027/https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=batman-forever&page=detail&id=191|archive-date=2019-01-05|url-status=live}}

}}

Batman Forever: The Arcade Game is a beat 'em up video game based on the movie Batman Forever. The subtitle is used to differentiate it from Batman Forever, another beat 'em up published by Acclaim at around the same time. One or two players, playing as Batman and Robin, fight Two-Face, the Riddler, and numerous henchmen.

Gameplay

File:Batman Forever arcade.png

Taking on the role of either Batman or Robin, players can punch, kick, and use special combination attacks to defeat waves of enemies.

The special combinations applied to enemies can add up to a possible 150+ hits on a single villain.

Special weapons, such as Batarangs, can be found throughout the levels.{{cite magazine |title=Batman Forever: I Whupped Batman's Butt |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=90 |publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 1997|pages=176–9}} It is sectioned off into stages, and arranged with waves of enemies before ending with a boss.

The game has a two-player mode, which allows both players to use the same character if so desired.{{cite magazine |title=Preview: Batman Forever|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine |issue=15|publisher=Emap International Limited|date=January 1997|pages=26–27}}

Development

Acclaim first demonstrated the game at the 1996 American Coin Machine Exposition.{{cite magazine|last=Sherman|first=Christopher |title=Acclaim Makes Coin-Op Debut |magazine=Next Generation|issue=17|publisher=Imagine Media|date=May 1996|page=24}} Batman Forever: The Arcade Game was Acclaim Entertainment's first arcade game.{{cite magazine |title=Batman Forever |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=79|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=February 1996|page=81}} It was built on Sega's "Titan" technology, the hardware which formed the foundation for the Sega 32X and Sega Saturn.{{cite magazine |title=Acclaim Activity Report|magazine=GamePro|issue=60|publisher=IDG|date=July 1994|page=168}}

Prior to the release of the arcade and home versions, an Atari Jaguar CD port was in development by Probe Entertainment after Atari Corporation and Acclaim announced their partnership in 1995 that included plans to release three titles for the system, but Batman Forever: The Arcade Game was later licensed to Atari Corp. a few months later after the announcement of the partnership and was going to be based upon the PlayStation version that was also in development at the time.{{cite web|url=http://host.fptoday.com/melek/Jaguar/jag-95.htm|title=ATARI AND ACCLAIM JOIN FORCES IN MAJOR SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT|website=Nine Lives|date=March 22, 1995|access-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214015334/http://host.fptoday.com/melek/Jaguar/jag-95.htm|archive-date=December 14, 2004|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/HiTechMagazine/HiTech%2003#page/n26/mode/1up|title=Reportaje - Jaguar ya ruge en España -- Asómate al futuro|magazine=Hobby Hi-Tech|issue=3|publisher=Axel Springer SE|date=May 1995|page=27|lang=es}}{{cite magazine|url=http://retrosprite.proboards.com/post/34/thread |title=Acclaim join Atari for a bit of a Jag 'n' Jam|magazine=Ultimate Future Games|issue=7|publisher=Future Publishing|date=June 1995|page=23}}{{cite web|last=Vendel|first=Curt|url=http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/jaguar/jagfiles/jag64-payments.PDF|title=Payment Schedule for Jaguar games to Developers|website=atarimuseum.com|date=August 26, 1995|access-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211091716/http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/jaguar/jagfiles/jag64-payments.PDF|archive-date=2014-12-11|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-jaguar-batman-forever-the-arcade-game_32670.html|title=Atari Jaguar - Batman Forever - The Arcade Game|website=atarimania.com|access-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926164824/http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-jaguar-batman-forever-the-arcade-game_32670.html|archive-date=2018-09-26|url-status=live}} The port was originally slated to be published around the third quarter of 1995 and was later rescheduled for an April/Q1 1996 release,{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/MANIAC.N020.1995.06/MANIAC.N020.1995.06-DURiAN_Searchable#page/n39/mode/1up|title=Feature - XT Generation Report - Atari Jaguar|magazine=MAN!AC|issue=20|publisher=Cybermedia|date=June 1995|page=40|lang=de|access-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129120834/https://archive.org/stream/MANIAC.N020.1995.06/MANIAC.N020.1995.06-DURiAN_Searchable#page/n39/mode/1up|archive-date=2018-11-29|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:VideoGames_DE_1995-08.pdf&page=41|title=Release Liste|magazine=Video Games|issue=46|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=August 1995|page=43|lang=de|access-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914203501/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:VideoGames_DE_1995-08.pdf&page=41|archive-date=2018-09-14|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Gore|first=Chris|url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_79_August_1995#page/n13/mode/1up|title=The Gorescore - Industry News You Can - Upcoming Jaguar Software Titles|magazine=VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|issue=79|publisher=L.F.P., Inc.|date=August 1995|page=14|access-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129120834/https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_79_August_1995#page/n13/mode/1up|archive-date=2018-11-29|url-status=live}} but work on the port was discontinued sometime in 1995 and was never released.{{cite web|last=Dragon|first=Lost|url=http://forums.atari.io/index.php/topic/2674-the-ultimate-jaguar-unreleasedbetasourcedev-master-list/page-5#entry34184|title=The Ultimate Jaguar Unreleased/Beta/Source/Dev Master List! - Page 5|website=atari.io|date=July 5, 2017|access-date=2018-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104015428/http://forums.atari.io/index.php/topic/2674-the-ultimate-jaguar-unreleasedbetasourcedev-master-list/page-5#entry34184|archive-date=4 November 2018|url-status=dead}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| EGM = 4.75/10 (SAT){{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Batman Forever |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=90|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 1997|page=62}}

| GSpot = 5.6/10 (SAT){{cite web|last=Rubenstein|first=Glenn|author-link=Glenn Rubenstein|title=Batman Forever: The Arcade Game Review|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-forever-the-arcade-game-review/1900-2533806/|website=GameSpot|access-date=6 January 2018|date=January 3, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105134027/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/batman-forever-the-arcade-game-review/1900-2533806/|archive-date=5 January 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

| IGN = 5/10{{cite web|last=Nelson|first=Randy|date=November 1, 1996|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/02/batman-forever-review|title=Batman Forever Review|work=IGN|accessdate=10 August 2021}}

| NGen = {{rating|3|5}} (ARC)
{{rating|1|5}} (SAT)

| Play = 41% (PS){{cite magazine|last=Wynne|first=Stewart|date=December 1996|url=https://archive.org/details/play-015/page/17/mode/2up?q=|title=Batman Forever: The Arcade Game|magazine=Play|issue=15|pages=54–55|accessdate=10 August 2021}}

| rev2 = Sega Saturn Magazine

| rev2Score = 63% (SAT){{cite magazine |last=Nutter|first=Lee |title=Review: Batman Forever|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=16 |publisher=Emap International Limited|date=February 1997|pages=68–69}}

}}

Reviewing the arcade version, a Next Generation critic praised the large selection of elaborate moves and combos, likening it to the Street Fighter series in this respect, as well as the use of sprite scaling to enable a wider range of movement and deeper gameplay, but still argued that the game lacks sufficient innovation to save the aging 2D beat 'em up genre. He also criticized the predictable level design and the gloomy graphics, saying they make it difficult to follow the action.{{cite magazine |title=Batman Forever |magazine=Next Generation|issue=19|publisher=Imagine Media |date=July 1996|page=89}}

The Saturn conversion received mediocre reviews. Criticisms widely varied from review to review, but the most commonly cited problems were that the gameplay is too repetitive and the character graphics are blocky. Critics mostly assessed the game on its own terms rather than its quality as a conversion, though a Next Generation critic noted that the Saturn version is missing frames of animation from the arcade version. He summarized the game, and beat 'em ups in general, as "All flash, and absolutely zero substance."{{cite magazine |title=Batman Forever: The Arcade Game|magazine=Next Generation|issue=25 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=January 1997|pages=178, 180}} Lee Nutter of Sega Saturn Magazine called it "a poor man's Guardian Heroes, except that it is actually quite expensive." GameSpot{{'}}s Glenn Rubenstein and Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s Shawn Smith and Dan Hsu were somewhat more positive, remarking that while the game is objectively weak, its sheer loudness and chaotic energy are not without a certain charm. GamePro, while having little but criticism for the game, said that fans of side-scrolling beat 'em ups should try the game as a rental, since the genre had largely died out by the time of the game's release.{{cite magazine |author=The Rookie|title=Saturn ProReview: Batman Forever: The Arcade Game|magazine=GamePro|issue=101 |publisher=IDG|date=February 1997|page=82}}

In a feature on the game, Electronic Gaming Monthly stated that the Saturn and PlayStation versions are identical aside from minor cosmetic differences, such as differing loading screens and the PlayStation version lacking the Batmobile intro's screen blurring effect. GamePro{{'}}s review of the PlayStation version said it was a faithful conversion, but that the fun of the arcade version simply does not translate to the home console experience.{{cite magazine |author=Gideon |title=PlayStation ProReview: Batman Forever|magazine=GamePro |issue=102 |publisher=IDG |date=March 1997|page=75}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/19980424202221/http://www.acclaimentertainment.com/anation/twitch/interactive/batman/index.html Acclaim Entertainment page]
[http://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/583663-batman-forever Batman Forever: The Arcade Game] at GameFAQs
[http://www.giantbomb.com/batman-forever-the-arcade-game/3030-6476/ Batman Forever: The Arcade Game] at Giant Bomb
[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290454/ Batman Forever: The Arcade Game] at IMDb
[http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7028 Batman Forever: The Arcade Game] at Killer List of Videogames
[http://www.mobygames.com/game/batman-forever__ Batman Forever: The Arcade Game] at MobyGames
Batman Forever: The Arcade Game can be played for free in the browser on the Internet Archive