Batman Returns for Christmas

Originally released in 1993 on a variety of gaming systems, Batman Returns follows the same story as the film it’s based on, but adds a significant amount of comic-book flair. There are several unique versions of the game, including experiences on the Sega Genesis, NES, MS-DOS, and more. While those games are respectable in their own right, the Super Nintendo version rises above the rest, providing players with an epic beat ’em up adventure that rivals the best in the genre.

Set across seven stages, Batman Returns sees out heroic caped crusader hunting down the villainous Penguin, battling the anti-hero Catwoman, and fighting his way through hordes of criminal goons. Every stage is based on a specific scene in the film, guiding players through an action-packed journey that stays true to the source material. Just like in the movie, Batman must fight his way through the Penguin’s army of thugs and thwart his sinister plot for Gotham City. You’ll brawl in the snowy streets and businesses of Gotham, drive the Batmobile around a bit, and even delve into the Penguin’s Lair for a final showdown.

All of that is fine and expected, but what sets Batman Returns on the SNES apart from other beat ’em up games is its Christmas setting, which adds a flourish of color and nostalgia. Much like the original 1992 film, Batman Returns is firmly set during the Christmas season, offering seasonal snow-filled levels with festive decorations. Trees decorated with colorful lights and ornaments dot the scenery, Gotham’s citizens are busy with holiday shopping, and the Penguin’s clown-goons bust out of Christmas presents with enthusiasm. The stark winter environments help the rest of the color palette pop, resulting in a vivid, action-packed experience.

Batman’s Christmas Beatdown

The Super Nintendo version of Batman Returns was developed by Konami, who are no strangers to the beat ’em up genre. Well known for their work on other action classics like TMNT IV: Turtles in Time, X-Men, and The Simpsons Arcade Game, Konami has a track record of quality. That quality is reflected in Batman Returns, which feels great to play and is full of fun and exciting mechanics. In addition to punching and grappling enemies with brutal efficiency, Batman has a handful of items at his disposal.

If any enemies are giving you a hard time (like the motorcycle-riding clown bikers), you can chuck a Batarang at their head to disrupt their attacks. Batman can also utilize his trusty grappling hook to navigate dangerous ledges, as well as swoop across the stage and kick enemies with force. When things get particularly overwhelming, you can even toss a dangerous test tube of explosive material to clear the screen of all baddies. Each stage also ends with a tough boss encounter, so it’s a good thing Batman can block, attack in mid-air, and even pull off a special attack for extra damage.

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Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a wonderfully macabre and exhilarating adventure game developed by Konami and originally released in 1997 on the PlayStation. Considered by many to be one of the best games ever made, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night took the existing Castlevania franchise and propelled into higher popularity than ever before. Playing as the suave and mysterious protagonist Alucard, you’ll explore the many rooms and areas of Dracula’s castle, aiming to destroy the unholy dwelling once and for all. In almost every way, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night takes the popular and enjoyable elements from past Castlevania titles and refines them to near-perfection, offering exciting combat, satisfying exploration, and an intriguing atmosphere. Once you take your first steps into Dracula’s castle and start defeating enemies, there’s no question as to why this is considered one of the best 2D action games of all time.

The Lore of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Symphony of the Night’s story takes place four years after the events of the previous game, Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. At the start of Symphony of the Night, players get to experience the ending sequence from Rondo of Blood, with the vampire-hunter Richter Belmont facing down Dracula in an intense duel to the death. Jumping forward four years, Richter has disappeared and Dracula’s castle has returned, looming in the sky as a beacon of evil. With no member of the Belmont clan left to investigate, Dracula’s half-vampire, half-human son Alucard sets out to settle the score.

Although Alucard made a brief appearance in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Symphony of the Night gives players their first deep dive into the tormented mind of the half-vampire. Despite his familial connections to the infinitely evil Dracula, Alucard’s human side gives him a slightly more diplomatic approach to the plight of humanity. Urged on by the dying wish of his mother, Lisa, Alucard’s ultimate goal is to defeat Dracula and end his reign of terror on the living. In order to protect humanity, Alucard must delve deep into the dangerous depths of Dracula’s castle and solve the mystery behind Richter’s disappearance. Along the way, he’ll have to contend with monstrous creatures, intimidating bosses, and his own lineage.

Alucard’s Adventure

While the core gameplay in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is similar to other classic Castlevania games, there’s a lot about this entry in the series that makes it stand out from the rest. In classic Castlevania fashion, you must progress through the perilous halls of Dracula’s castle, defeating enemies and avoiding obstacles along the way. However, instead of the iconic whip weapon that most Castlevania protagonists wield, Alucard is able to fight with a wide variety of weapons, including daggers, swords, spears, and more. You can also find handy sub-weapons that help you take down the opposition, or utilize one of the eight mystical spells that Alucard can learn and cast. For the most part, Symphony of the Night offers classic sidescrolling gameplay and combat, but it makes some big changes in terms of progression and exploration.

The most notable elements of Symphony of the Night are the infusion of role-playing mechanics into combat, as well as the non-linear progression design of the castle itself. When it comes to combat, players can earn experience points by defeating enemies, raising Alcuard’s power level along with their health and magic meters. Alucard also possesses four stats, including strength, defense, intelligence, and luck. Increasing these stats is key to surviving, as the enemies within Dracula’s castle can be exceptionally challenging. 

Unlike other 8-bit Castlevania games, Symphony of the Night plays out in a non-linear fashion, encouraging players to explore every inch of the castle. As you explore, paths will often be inaccessible or blocked, requiring you to find a new power-up or ability in order to progress. For example, Alucard possesses a shape-shifting ability that allows him to change into new forms, helping him to reach high ledges or other distant platforms. This results in a gameplay loop that involves searching the castle and locating new items, allowing for further exploration and better gear. This style of gameplay progression was so influential that, in combination with the classic Nintendo franchise Metroid, inspired an entirely new sub-genre of game known as the “Metroidvania”.

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PRESENTATION

You play as Spot, a sunglasses-wearing mascot on a mission to rescue his captured friends from cages scattered across each level. It’s a simple premise, but the way the game builds around it gives it far more personality than you’d expect. Each stage requires you to collect a certain number of “cool points” before you can free your buddy and move on, which adds a bit of exploration to the usual run-and-jump formula.

What really makes Cool Spot stand out, though, is its presentation. For an 8-bit system, this game looks fantastic. The animation is incredibly smooth, with Spot himself full of little details—he struts with attitude, plays with a yo-yo when idle, and reacts to jumps in fun ways. At the time, critics even pointed out that the animation and sprite work felt closer to a 16-bit game than a typical Master System title. 

Level design is another highlight. You’ll bounce through beaches, toy rooms, piers, and more, each filled with quirky enemies like crabs, birds, and bizarre cartoonish hazards. The goal isn’t just to reach the end—there’s always an incentive to explore, collect extra items, and even unlock bonus stages if you gather enough points. That extra layer stops it from feeling like a straight-line platformer and keeps things interesting throughout. 

Controls are tight and responsive, which is crucial for a game like this. Spot can jump, climb, and fire soda bubbles in multiple directions, giving you a bit more flexibility than some other platformers of the time. It’s not overly complex, but it feels good in your hands, and that goes a long way.

The music is upbeat and catchy, fitting the game’s playful tone nicely, even if it doesn’t quite reach the same level as the visuals. It does the job, and you’ll likely find a few tunes sticking in your head after a session. 

GAMEPLAY

That said, Cool Spot isn’t flawless. The game can be surprisingly challenging, especially in later levels where hazards stack up and precision becomes more important. You can’t just rush through—it demands careful movement and awareness, which might catch some players off guard. 

There’s also a bit of repetition in the core gameplay loop. While the levels are varied visually, you’re still essentially collecting items and freeing friends each time. It’s fun, but it doesn’t evolve dramatically as you progress. And compared to its Mega Drive/Genesis counterpart, the Master System version is slightly less colourful and a bit slower overall. 

Even so, it’s hard not to admire how much personality the game squeezes out of the hardware. What could have been a forgettable licensed tie-in instead becomes a genuinely polished, creative platformer that still holds up surprisingly well.

In the end, Cool Spot feels like one of those hidden gems that quietly proves how capable the Master System really was. It’s stylish, challenging, and just a bit different from the usual mascot platformers of the era.

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What immediately helps the game feel different is its setting. Rather than leaning on the familiar castles, knights, and dragons used by so many RPGs of the era, Defenders of Oasis draws inspiration from Arabian folklore and the world of One Thousand and One Nights. You play as a young prince whose kingdom is thrown into danger by the dark power of Ahriman. From there, the story becomes a globe-spanning quest filled with magic rings, betrayal, hidden ruins, dangerous empires, and strange allies. It is not the most complex narrative ever written. However, it has plenty of personality and feels refreshingly different from many of its contemporaries.

PRESENTATION

Graphically, the game is one of the Game Gear’s stronger showings. Character sprites are colourful and detailed, towns have their own identity, and enemy designs are memorable throughout. There is a real effort to create atmosphere despite the limitations of the handheld screen. While it obviously cannot compete with home console RPGs of the time. Defenders of Oasis compares very favourably with other portable titles from the early 1990s.

The soundtrack also deserves praise. The music carries a distinctive adventurous tone. With its energetic battle themes and melodies that suit desert towns and mysterious ruins well. Like many handheld games of the era, tracks do repeat often. Thankfully they are catchy enough that this rarely becomes a serious problem though.

GAMEPLAY

In terms of gameplay, Defenders of Oasis sticks closely to classic RPG traditions. You explore towns, speak to characters, buy equipment, delve into dungeons, and fight random turn-based battles while levelling up your party. There are no revolutionary mechanics here, but the fundamentals are solid. Combat is straightforward and easy to grasp, which actually works in the game’s favour on a portable system. It is the kind of RPG you can enjoy in short sessions without forgetting layers of complicated systems when you return.

One of the game’s greatest strengths is pacing. Many older RPGs can feel bloated or slow, but Defenders of Oasis moves briskly. New locations arrive regularly, the plot keeps advancing, and the adventure rarely feels stuck in one place for too long. It is also shorter than many console RPGs from the same era, which makes it more approachable for modern players who may not want to invest dozens of hours.

That said, the game certainly shows its age in places. Random encounters can become frustrating, especially when exploring dungeons or backtracking through earlier areas. Battles themselves are functional rather than exciting, with limited animation and fairly static presentation. There are also occasional moments where a bit of grinding helps smooth over difficulty spikes. Menus and inventory management are simple, but unmistakably old-school.

Even with those flaws, the game remains easy to appreciate because of how much ambition it packed into a handheld cartridge. It offered Game Gear owners a real sense of adventure at a time when portable RPG options were limited. More importantly, it still holds up better than many forgotten games from the same period because it knows exactly what it wants to be: a compact, enjoyable quest with strong atmosphere and steady momentum.

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The Differences Between Pokemon Diamond and Pearl

Despite being the fourth major series in the overall Pokemon franchise, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl are still incredibly welcoming to new players, making them great games for newcomers to the RPG genre. Both games are incredibly similar, with only a few major differences to speak of. The most notable differences are the included Pokemon you can catch, with both games containing a few exclusive Pokemon. 

For example, if you want to catch the stylish bladed bug Scyther or the smelly but effective Stunky, you’ll have to play Pokemon Diamond. Conversely, classic Pokemon like Slowpoke and the cute but fierce Houndour can only be captured in Pokemon Pearl. As always, both games have an exclusive “legendary” Pokemon to discover, which can only be caught with patience and practice. In Pokemon Diamond, you’re able to catch the Steel Dragon Dialga. Pokemon Pearl players can try their hand at catching the Water Dragon Palkia. Both Pokemon are super powerful and well worth the effort.

Your Life as a Pokemon Trainer

As is customary in Pokemon games, you’ll start your adventure as a bold and brave youngster living in a quaint hometown. Located in the Sinnoh region, everyone is obsessed with capturing and training Pokemon, wild and often cute creatures that roam the island. With your best pal Barry at your side, you head to a nearby lake to investigate rumors of a mysterious Pokemon. Although you are unsuccessful at locating the mythological Pokemon, things quickly become hectic when a wild Pokemon starts to attack your party. Using a nearby briefcase dropped by the Pokemon-studying Professor Rowan, you’ll have the option of choosing one out of three starter Pokemon to begin your adventure.

As always, Pokemon are categorized by their elemental type, offering different approaches for the battles to come. Fans of nature and grass can pick the adorable Turtwig, while those who prefer a hotter strategy can choose the blazing Chimchar. My personal preference (and always a safe bet) is the absolutely adorable yet convincingly destructive Piplup, a penguin with water-type powers. Regardless of your decision, this marks the start of your Pokemon adventure, sending you across Sinnoh to fight in fierce Pokemon battles against anyone who crosses your path. As you battle, you’ll be able to recruit new Pokemon to your team while strengthening your existing party. Every Pokemon has a unique set of moves along with its inherent elemental strengths and weaknesses, so it’s a good idea to experiment with your team. With over 150 unique Pokemon to discover and catch, there are tons of different strategies to utilize.

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Even today, Sonic Adventure remains one of the most fascinating and memorable entries in the series. It’s messy in places, undeniably dated in others, but there’s still a huge amount of charm underneath the rough edges.

Fast, Ambitious and Unforgettable

The core of Sonic Adventure is still incredibly fun. Sonic’s stages focus on speed and momentum, encouraging players to blast through loops, bounce across springs, and race through sprawling environments at breakneck pace. Stages like Emerald Coast, Speed Highway and Windy Valley perfectly capture the thrill of what a 3D Sonic game should feel like. When everything clicks together, Sonic Adventure delivers a sense of speed that very few platformers of the time could match.

The game also deserves credit for its sheer ambition. Rather than simply offering one campaign, Sonic Adventure tells its story through the perspectives of six playable characters. Some campaigns are stronger than others, but the variety helped the game feel massive back in the Dreamcast era. There was always something new to unlock, explore or discover.

Visually, Sonic Adventure was stunning for 1998. The lighting, water effects and large open hubs pushed the Dreamcast hardware hard, and while modern players may notice the ageing character models and occasional texture pop-in, there’s still a colourful and vibrant style that gives the game personality.

The soundtrack is another major highlight. From upbeat rock tracks to atmospheric level themes, the music remains one of the strongest soundtracks in Sonic history. “Open Your Heart” during the final battle is still legendary among fans.

Rough Edges That Are Hard to Ignore

As beloved as Sonic Adventure is, it definitely shows its age. The camera can be frustrating, especially during tighter platforming sections, and collision detection occasionally causes cheap mistakes. Some of the alternate gameplay styles also feel far weaker than Sonic’s core stages.

Big the Cat’s fishing missions are infamous for slowing the pace to a crawl, while Knuckles’ treasure hunting and Amy’s slower stealth-focused gameplay can feel repetitive compared to Sonic’s adrenaline-fuelled levels. The voice acting, while charming in a nostalgic way, is also wildly inconsistent and often unintentionally funny.

The story itself leans heavily into late-90s anime-inspired melodrama. Some players will love that earnest, over-the-top tone, while others may find it difficult to take seriously today.

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With the recent release of Sonic Mania, I decided to pull out my Sega Mega Drive and take on the blue hedgehog’s first adventure.

Now to be clear, this is not something new for me. Multiple times per year I play through Sonic the Hedgehog in its entirety for one reason or another. However, with the excellent Sonic Mania having only just been released, it put a lot of aspects of the classic into perspective.

Will this 26-year-old title stand the test of time and be just as playable as the day it came out? Or will two and a half decades worth of improvements render this title obsolete? Let us find out.

From the moment you pop that cartridge into your Mega Drive (or Genesis for those in North America) you’ll instantly be greeted with the icon ‘SEGA’ chorus This is then quickly followed by an impressively colourful title screen. It was clear that Sega wanted to make a statement from the get-go with Sonic the Hedgehog.

Hitting Start will take you to the first stage, Green Hill Zone.

Now say what you will, Green Hill has certainly been overused recently. However, back in 1991 the checkerboard soil and lake that stretches far into the background were extremely impressive. Even now, 26 years later these elements work together to make a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing game.

It’s not Green Hill’s striking visual design that makes it iconic. The zone shows Sonic at his best, with slopes, loops and ramps to launch Sonic at ever-increasing speeds. For those who take the time to learn the stage, you’ll quickly find yourself launching Sonic from a ramp, ricocheting from enemy to enemy before smashing the blue hedgehog through a weakened wall to find a hidden route.

It’s in moments like this when you are using Sonic’s momentum that Sonic the Hedgehog is at his best. It’s this momentum-based gameplay that sets Sonic apart from other “fast” characters. Sonic isn’t inherently fast, but the way you can build up and maintain speed is what makes him feel fast.

Once you reach the third act of Green Hill Zone you face off against Dr. Robotnik, the game’s antagonist. Upon defeating Dr. Robotnik and freeing the helpless creatures he had captured, you head on to the next stage – Marble Zone.

Unfortunately, Sonic the Hedgehog really has put it’s best foot forward. After learning the ropes in Green Hill, you’ll be itching to let loose with Sonic’s speed. However, Marble Zone has other ideas.

This zone slows Sonic right down, forcing him to wait to avoid traps, wait for passageways to open, wait for blocks to float over the scorching lava… Let’s just say this zone has a lot of waiting around. While the zone isn’t inherently bad, you’ve only just started playing Sonic the Hedgehog and already you know that this isn’t what you want from a Sonic game.

The remaining four zones, plus final boss, are a bit of a mixed bunch. On one hand you have stages like Spring Yard Zone that sees Sonic bouncing around like a pinball, and then you have Labyrinth Zone.

Labyrinth Zone is infamous in it’s stage design. Not only does the stage slow Sonic down by introducing platforming sections not unlike those in Marble Zone. It also does so while having Sonic trapped underwater for much of the stage.

Being underwater has two issues for Sonic. Firstly it robs him of all of his speed and makes his jumps feel floaty. This makes it difficult to avoid traps and judge platforming sections. Secondly it also introduces players to the fact that Sonic can drown.

This forces you to seek out pockets of air, or large air bubbles, to stave off the dreaded 5 second countdown. This often means players will walk from one air bubble to the next, waiting at each and in turn making the entire Labyrinth Zone an exercise in tedium.

Ultimately we will make our way to the final zone, which fittingly is called… Final Zone.

This short stage is comprised entirely of a single boss fight against your nemesis. Unfortunately, this boss is about as anti-climactic as a boss battle comes. You’ll find yourself spending much of the fight in the corner, waiting for a chance to strike.

Once the final boss falls, you have completed the game. In all you can comfortable complete Sonic the Hedgehog in around 30 minutes, including collecting the six hidden emeralds.

When compared to the titles that came afterwards, Sonic the Hedgehog doesn’t offer anything unique beyond nostalgia. It is a flawed title that is rough around the edges, and hadn’t quite found it’s feet.

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A Test of Patience and Resolve

If you’re looking for a game that will test your patience, reflexes, and puzzle-solving skills, look no further than The Immortal for the Nintendo Entertainment System! This game is a wacky and challenging adventure that will have you scratching your head one minute and laughing out loud the next.

First things first, let’s talk about the graphics. The Immortal has some pretty impressive visuals for an NES game. With detailed character sprites and dark, atmospheric backgrounds that create an eerie and immersive atmosphere. The music and sound effects are also top-notch, with haunting melodies and satisfying noises that complement the gameplay perfectly.

How Does it Play?

Speaking of gameplay, The Immortal is a game that doesn’t pull any punches. From the very beginning, you’ll be thrust into a world of deadly traps, cunning enemies, and mind-bending puzzles. All of which will keep you on your toes for hours on end. You’ll need to use your wits and your sword to survive, as well as magic spells that can help you overcome even the toughest challenges.

But don’t worry, The Immortal isn’t all doom and gloom. There are plenty of light-hearted moments and humorous touches that keep the game from taking itself too seriously. For instance, you might find yourself battling a giant rat one minute, only to be greeted by a friendly goblin the next. And let’s not forget about the hilarious death animations, which show your character getting squished, dismembered, and otherwise brutally dispatched in a variety of comical ways.

All in all, The Immortal is a game that will test your skills, your reflexes, and your sense of humour. It’s a classic NES game that has stood the test of time, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of challenging and entertaining games. Just be prepared to die. A lot.

This review is by our resident M3G4 B0T – An artificial intelligence powered reviewer. Please be aware that it’s views and opinions are not those of any particular reviewer or contributor. It is entirely for entertainment purposes.

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The Immortal, the Marmite of fantasy video games

The Immortal seems to be quite a decisive game. With it’s steep learning curve, unforgiving gameplay and impressively animated death scenes, gamers will either love it or hate it. However, like most sane and rational gamers I can’t stand the Immortal (or Marmite for that matter).

The Immortal takes little time in setting the tone for your entire adventure. You take control of an un-named wizard, seeking out his kid-napped mentor. Taking control of your daring hero you will like head straight for the door in a small room you find yourself in. This is a mistake.

A warning will appear, suggesting that you do not stand in the middle of the room for too long. Failing to heed these words will cause a giant worm to erupt from the ground, dragging your player to a swift death. This is only a taste of what the game has in-store for players as they traverse the deadly labyrinth.

While brutally difficult games still persist to this day, just take a look at titles like Dark Souls and Super Meat Boy, the Immortal never really feels like you ever had a fair chance when playing. Deaths will come out of nowhere, usually with no chance to avoid them short of precognition or memorisation of the game.

This is where titles like the aforementioned Dark Souls differ. While in that title death is common, but also avoidable. You will have likely died due to a mistake that you have made. Deaths in the Immortal usually feel arbitrary, and often as if the game is simply trolling you.

A Trial in Tedium

It’s this inherent unfairness that saps the game of any fun. To get through a stage typically requires multiple game overs as you use trial and error to feel your way through the stage. Eventually players will reach the end of a stage – providing they have the patience to see it through. There is no reward using your skill or creativity to solve problems presented to you.

The Immortal is an extremely linear experience, with very little chance for exploration beyond what the game wants you to do. This turns the game into a memorisation game, with each play through playing out in same way.

Combined with sluggish control these aspects once again add up to a whole that is somehow worse than the sum of its parts.

A Pretty Face But Nothing More

One positive I have to say about the Immortal is that it’s not the worst looking title I’ve seen. For a relatively early Mega Drive/Genesis title, the claustrophobic labyrinth manages to look detailed and convey a sense of hopelessness. From the crumbling floor to the blood stained walls, a lot of effort has gone into imbuing the environments with their own history.

It’s not only the labyrinth that looks impressive. Firstly there’s the animation of your nameless wizard. For a game that will be killing you repeatedly, it thankfully has a variety of well animated deaths. From seeing the wizard eaten, impaled, engulfed in flames, drowned and even his head exploded. Each detailed in all their gory glory.

Secondly there is also the detailed battle scenes. When the player encounters an enemy the game shifts to an over-the-shoulder perspective. In these battles you duck and weave out of the way of your enemy’s attacks, slowly tiring them out. Once they’re sufficiently fatigued you can slice and stab at your enemy, pausing only to dodge their own attacks. Ultimately the enemy will fall to their wounds, at which point the wizard will use one of a number of well animated and gruesome fatalities to finish off their foe.

Unfortunately, the same praise for the graphics can not be said for the music and sound effects. It is worth mentioning that the Mega Drive version of The Immortal is considered to be the best sounding.

Throughout your adventure you’ll be hearing the same grunts and garbled sound effects on repeat. The less said about the music the better. Although if I did have to describe it, I would say a piano falling down a deep pit accompanied by some poorly tuned wind instruments would be a perfectly accurate description.

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