Batman Returns Overview
Batman Returns is a side scrolling beat 'em up based on the film, featuring Batman against the Penguin and Catwoman. The primary adversaries are members of the Red Triangle Circus Gang, who appear as various types of armed and unarmed clowns.
Gameplay alternates between two main styles of combat stages. One allows free movement to punch, kick, and use combos against enemies, similar to titles like Final Fight. The other restricts movement to a single horizontal plane, where the Batarang is the standard weapon and fists are reserved for close encounters. In these stages, a grappling hook can be used to navigate hazards.
Across both level types, Batman has access to gadgets like the Batarang for ranged attacks and explosive Test Tubes that affect all on screen enemies. The progression is structured, with a boss confrontation concluding each stage, often against Catwoman or the Penguin. One segment shifts perspective to a behind the car view for a Batmobile sequence where clowns on bikes must be evaded and shot, culminating in another boss fight. Scenes from the movie are used to advance the narrative between levels.
