The Commodore 64 Batman home port of Batman the movie by Ocean Software is a game that I played back in the day and it’s still one of my favourite C64 games. Let’s take a nostalgic look back at Batman for the Commodore 64.
The Commodore 64 Batman home port is an action platform video game released by Ocean Software based on the 1989 Tim Burton movie. It was released in 1989 for the Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum and was a best seller throughout 1989 and 1990.
Batman the Movie
In 1989 when Tim Burton brought us Batman it was a massive event. The Batman movie coming was exciting. We were seeing a new Batman and the only one we’d ever seen on the TV before was the 1960’s TV series which was entertaining but it was not really what Batman was all about.
So, we were getting this great big blockbuster movie, so there had to be a computer game tie-in. Who else would deliver this game other than the masters of the big licensed computer games Ocean Software.
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The Commodore 64 Batman Game
I had the original big box release of Batman for the commodore 64. I’ve also got the Hit Squad budget release version of the game for the C64 too.
The game itself does follow closely the actual story line of the movie.
The team that brought the game to the Commodore 64 were:
- Coder: Zach Townsend
- Graphics: Andrew Sleigh
- Music: Matthew Cannon
Playing the Commodore 64 Batman Game
The game is made up of just five levels in total but the strong point really of the game is the variety of levels. The game does have last ability because it is quite difficult. It’s not an easy game to fight your way through, you do need to spend time mastering each level. The game can be unforgiving if you haven’t played it for some time. Back in the day the though this is where you got your value for money from the game.
level one
The first level is based around the Axis Chemicals scene in the movie. Playing as Batman you have to fight your way up and across platforms in the Axis Chemicals factory. You use your grappling hook to get up onto higher platforms and your batarang to take out enemies. You will come across policemen that you have to take out that are after you as well as Jack Napier’s thugs.
You have to be careful because you have to use your Batarang to swing across different sections. You can also drop down platforms but if you drop from too great a height you can injure yourself and lose energy. It can be quite a big level. If you can work your way across it and battle your way through the thugs and at least not getting hit by bullets you will eventually find your way to the end of the level. Where across from you on a platform will be Jack Napier himself. Once you take him out with the Batarang, he famously falls into the big vat of acid and then becoming the Joker as in the Movie.
Level 2
On the second level you’re in the Batmobile and trying to make your way to the Batcave. This is a side scrolling driving level. You have to dodge the traffic as you’re driving through Gotham City. You also have to use your Batmobile’s grappling hook as in the movie to grab street posts to make the tight turns to get to the next section of the level.
Level 3
Level three which again is completely different to the last. It’s a puzzle level where you have to find all the ingredients to the Joker’s deadly smilex product that is killing the citizens of Gotham. Once you have found the correct combination you can progress to the next level.
Level Four
You’re in for another treat because you’re now in the Batwing flying through Gotham. This level is a little bit similar to the second level with the Batmobile.
This time though you must fight your way through the Joker’s parade that’s held towards the end of the movie. You need to take out the Joker’s gas filled balloons that are part of the carnival parade using the Batwing. Once completed you head to the fifth and final level.
Level Five
The final level is similar to level one as again it is an action platform based level. As Batman you find yourself in the Gotham Cathedral and you’re having to battle your way up and across and up to the top of the Cathedral. This can be quite a difficult level as you’ve got quite a lot of ground to fight your way up.
When you eventually get to the end you will come across the Joker who is actually fairly easy to defeat to be perfectly honest.
You’ve then reached the end of Batman on the Commodore 64. Five levels don’t really sound like a lot but it is not an easy game to fight your way through as I said before. It is tough and it’s going to take you some time master the game.
Completing Batman on the Commodore 64
The advantage of modern technology and having a commodore 64 with an SD card reader is that you can play some of the hacked versions of Batman and you can play with infinite lives.
I have done this quite a few times just to play straight through the game with ease. When you do reach the end of the Commodore 64 game you don’t get a great deal at the end and just get a screen saying congratulations you reached the end of the game with a tiny little bat symbol at the bottom.
The Music of Batman on the Commodore 64
The music is a strong point of the title. You’ve got a great loading screen for Batman the movie which is really a fantastic looking loading screen. You get the ocean loader playing in the background while you’re waiting for the game to load and the tracks during the game itself are very good as well and very memorable. A great soundtrack as you would expect from a big Ocean Software license.
Reception
On release the game was well received and reviewed highly, in particularly by Zzap 64 magazine that gave it an overall rating of 96%. Having a look at the old scans from Zzap 64 magazine they gave it a 94% rating for presentation 94% for graphics, 92% the sound, 96% for hookability and 97% for last ability.
Zzapp 64: ‘the movie of the year gets the game it deserves’.
Batman Commodore Bundles
Commodore also reached an agreement with Ocean Software to release a Batman pack for both the Commodore 64 and the Amiga 500. These types of bundles packs proved popular for Commodore in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
My Thoughts on The Commodore 64 Batman Movie Tie In
Overall, I would say Batman for the Commodore 64 by Ocean Software is probably one of their best movie licenses up there with Platoon, Robocop and the Untouchables. For me it brings back memories of when Big Super Hero Blockbusters were rare events compared to today. In 1989 Batman was everywhere and for me it was on my Commodore 64.
More Retro Gaming Nostalgia
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article, if you have why not take a look at these:
Ghostbusters the Video Game by Activision
Star Wars the Arcade Game by Atari
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Keep it Retro.
Daz
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