Batman & Robin is an action-adventure video game for the PlayStation based on DC Comics character Batman, and the 1997 film Batman & Robin. It was developed by Probe Entertainment[3] and published by Acclaim Entertainment in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics. It is a sequel to Batman Forever, which was based on the 1995 film Batman Forever.
| Batman & Robin | |
|---|---|
 North American cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Probe Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Acclaim Entertainment |
| Producer(s) | Peter Jones |
| Designer(s) | Matt Nagy |
| Programmer(s) | David Shea |
| Artist(s) | Guy Mills |
| Composer(s) | Tim Follin |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, Game.com |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editThe game uses elements of a sandbox style game, such as real-time events, traffic simulation, and civilian population. The player can choose one of the film's three heroes, Batman, Robin or Batgirl.[4] Each character uses a unique vehicle. Batman drives the Batmobile, Robin the Redbird motorcycle and Batgirl uses the Batblade. In the game, the player travels around Gotham City and completes various individual missions, such as preventing Mr. Freeze from robbing a bank. Most of the events are not triggered; instead, each event occurs at a certain time. For example, Mr. Freeze's bank robbery occurs at 7 p.m. The player must find clues and discover the plot with the help of the Batcomputer. If the player cannot find enough clues, the event occurs, failing the mission. Some situations are derived directly from the plot of the film, while others were conceived for the game.
Development
editAcclaim originally scheduled Batman & Robin for release in the third quarter of 1997, in order to coincide with the film's theatrical release.[4] Acclaim chairman and CEO Greg Fischbach commented on the decision to delay the game until 1998: "We recently told analysts that we might take a small loss this financial quarter because we chose not to release product that we felt wasn't done. I'm talking about Forsaken and Batman and Robin. Now, the old Acclaim may have pushed these products into the marketplace and wouldn't have dreamed of saying to Wall Street, 'We're sorry, but we're not going to be profitable this quarter.' So this is a new stance for us."[5]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 47%[6] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |   [7] |
| CNET Gamecenter | 4/10[8] |
| Consoles + | 75%[9] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 2.375/10[10][a] |
| Game Informer | 5/10[11] |
| GameSpot | 5.7/10[12] |
| IGN | 5/10[13] |
| Next Generation | [14] |
| PlayStation Official Magazine – UK | 6/10[15] |
| Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | [16] |
Like the film, the PlayStation game was critically and commercially unsuccessful, as it received generally unfavourable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6] Game Informer gave it a mixed review, over two months before it was released Stateside.[11] IGN gave a mixed review; they praised the graphics, music and a selection of characters to play, but were critical to the controls.[13] Next Generation was more critical to the game, criticizing the graphics, level design, gameplay and controls.[14] GamePro gave a positive review in terms of graphics, sound, and gameplay, but was critical to the controls.[17][b] There was also a version for the Game.com handheld which got worse ratings than the PlayStation version.
The game won the award for "Most Faithful Use of a Movie License" at the 1998 OPM Editors' Awards.[18]
Notes
edit- ^ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the game, one critic gave it 3/10, two critics gave it each a score of 2/10, and the other one gave it 2.5/10.
- ^ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and sound, 1.5/5 for control, and 3.5/5 for fun factor.
References
edit- ^ "Special Reserve Discount Superstore". Staines Informer. August 21, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
Key Dates//August 21st//Breath of Fire 3//PlayStation - Save £7//August 21st//Batman & Robin//PlayStation - Save £7//August 28th//WWF: Warzone//N64 - Save £7
- ^ "Acclaim Ships Batman* & Robin * for PlayStation". Acclaim Entertainment. 4 August 1998. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004.
- ^ "Sneak Previews: Batman and Robin". GamePro. No. 108. IDG. September 1997. p. 59.
- ^ a b "News Bits". GamePro. No. 106. IDG. July 1997. p. 21.
- ^ "To Hell and Back with Acclaim". Next Generation. No. 40. Imagine Media. April 1998. p. 14.
- ^ a b "Batman & Robin for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Batman & Robin - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Pacchiano, Ronald V. (18 September 1998). "Batman and Robin [sic]". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Niiico; Spy (September 1998). "Batman & Robin". Consoles + (in French). No. 80. pp. 116–17.
- ^ Smith, Shawn; Boyer, Crispin; Davison, John; Williams, Ken "Sushi-X" (October 1998). "Batman & Robin". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 111. Ziff Davis. p. 259. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Batman & Robin". Game Informer. No. 62. FuncoLand. June 1998. Archived from the original on 30 September 1999. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Fielder, Joe (6 August 1998). "Batman & Robin Review [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ a b Perry, Douglass C. (11 August 1998). "Batman & Robin". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Batman and Robin [sic]". Next Generation. No. 47. Imagine Media. November 1998. p. 154. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ Merrett, Steve (August 1998). "Batman & Robin". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 35. Future Publishing. pp. 108–09. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Batman & Robin". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 1. Ziff Davis. October 1998.
- ^ Boba Fatt (October 1998). "Batman & Robin". GamePro. No. 121. IDG. p. 172. Archived from the original on 16 January 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "1998 OPM Editors' Awards (Most Faithful Use of a Movie License)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 5. Ziff Davis. February 1999. p. 96. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
