Superman

Download Superman and embrace your inner superhero in this thrilling action-adventure game! Save Metropolis from nefarious villains, use your extraordinary powers, and become the symbol of hope. It's time to fly high and play now!
a game by Sunsoft, Seika, Titus, Sega, and Graftgold
Genres: Action, Platformer
Platforms: Sega GenesisGenesis, Nintendo 64Nintendo 64, Sega Master SystemSega Master System, NESNES, GameGear, GameBoy
Editor Rating: 7.4/10, based on 8 reviews, 9 reviews are shown
User Rating: 6.8/10 - 19 votes
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See also: Comics Games, Marvel Games, Superman Games Download

Look! It's a bird! It's a plane! No... it's Superman zooming his way to the Genesis! The granddaddy of all superheroes will make his 16-bit appearance in a great-looking, challenging adventure worthy of supergamers of all ages. The fate of Metropolis and all its citizens is in your control pad. There's no time to lose...up, up, and away!

Super Situation

Metropolis has been plagued by a rash of kidnappings, subway hijackings, and superhero girlfriend abductions. Only Superman can rescue the 'nabbed kids from the Prankster, return the stolen subway from Metallo, and save his love interest, Lois Lane, from the clutches of his archenemy, Brainiac. Five extensive, super challenging, side-scrolling levels await our Kryptonian hero in this exciting one-player game.

Superpowers

Superman is a very challenging game that befits the world's greatest superhero. In addition to his flying, leaping, running, and punching abilities, Superman can develop Superpowers, such as searing Heat Vision, powerful Sonic Punches, and Hyper Spins that are capable of drilling to other levels beneath the ground. These Superpowers are essential, because you only have one life and the length of playing time is dictated by how long you maintain your life bar. Scores of enemies, such as gun-toting goons, killer drones, Kryptonite-shooting snipers that fly, giant spaceships, and Kryptonite-spouting roadblocks, zap away at your life units. Fortunately, icons granting additional life units and Superpowers appear throughout each level.

Super Graphics

Longtime Superman fans will be happy to know that the programmers have been extremely faithful to their comic book source material. Superman looks and moves identically to his four-color, newsstand adventures. All characters and backgrounds are rendered in bright, primary colors, which are effective in creating the impression of a comic book come to life. Superman also is a highly- detailed, large sprite. Attention to the small details, such as his billowing cape, help to give the game extra visual punch.

Super Game Play

Proving that superheroin' ain't easy, Superman is an extremely challenging game. Split-second timing and quick reflexes are essential for success. There are no passwords, and you only get two continues. To make things even tougher, only super-high scoring can merit an extra continue. One plus, though, is that most enemies move in preset patterns, so it's often easier to avoid conflict than risk life units in combat. You'll find yourself trying harder and harder to avoid having to start all over -- a true sign of a good adventure game.

ProTips:

  • To take out spaceships, jump up into them or down onto them. One well- placed Sonic Punch also does the trick.
  • Store up energy for extra powerful Heat Vision blasts.
  • One Sonic Punch takes out Kryptonite stations.

Meet Me in Metropolis

Superman, the game, lives up to Superman, the legend. Sharp graphics and a solid challenge make this a worthy game for all Genesis players. Take Superman for a spin, before it's old news. Now, if we could only find Clark Kent to cover this story!

While you fly, it's best to stay along the left edge of the screen. It's easier to dodge oncoming enemies from there.

Download Superman

Genesis

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • Game modes: Single game mode

Player controls:

  • Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
  • Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
  • "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
  • "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
  • "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)

Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.

Nintendo 64

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Sega Master System

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
NES

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • P-200, 32 MB RAM
GameGear

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Gameboy

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

The fact that Superman for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis was brought to us by Sunsoft is a good thing. Afterall, Sunsoft did treat Superman’s buddy The Dark Knight fairly well. This game though, well let’s just say they must not have had the NES Batman dream team working on this as it does have a few issues that make you feel like the cartridge has Kryptonite in it!

Up, Up And Away

The story of the game is that Metropolis is in danger from the evil villain Brainiac and some of Superman’s other foes and only the Man of Steel can stop them. You get these cool comic book style intro screens at the start of each level, but that is about as much story as you are getting. To be fair, Superman for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis was released in 1992 so gamers were not expecting a lot of story in their game.

Use Your Super Vision

The visuals are pretty damn solid. I have always felt that no matter the quality of the gameplay, Sunsoft always made good looking games and this one is no different. I already spoke about the comic book style intro screen, but the whole game has that comic book feel which I like. I also like that this made it out before the long-haired Superman that was all the rage in the 90s!

The soundtrack is not bad, it is not Batman NES level of awesomeness, but it more than gets the job done. So do the sound effects which can get repetitive, but they are not that bad.

Superman, Super Problems

A huge problem in bringing Superman to the world of video games is his powers. Superman is one of the most overpowered superheroes of all time and making a game with a character who is that powerful is a challenging experience. Sunsoft decided that the way to deal with his superpowers was to limit their use. Certain sections of a level will require you to use one of his powers, but to do so you need to find an icon before you can do it.

I do wish I had the full arsenal of Superman’s powers at my disposal at all times! The game plays like a beat-em-up, but a rather uninspired one. It is not bad and there are no major problems with the gameplay, it is just not a very exciting game if I am being honest. You have a few different levels to play through and each one has a classic Superman villain as a boss at the end.

Many people will say that Superman for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis is hot garbage, but I think that is rather unfair. Is this an amazing game? I would have to say no, but it is a solid effort from the folks at Sunsoft and I would say it is the kind of game you will probably have some fun with if 90s scrolling beat-em-ups are your thing. For me personally, The Death and Return of Superman is a better game than this.

6

Final Score

Pros:

  • I like how large the characters are
  • The soundtrack is very fitting for a Superman game
  • They tried to make him not “too powerful”
  • You get to fight some classic villains
  • I liked the comic book style they went for

Cons:

  • The game is not all that exciting to play
  • It can be annoying how limited his abilities are

It seems only natural that Superman would come out for the N64. After all, he is the most recognized comic character in the world. Titus holds the esteemed license and plans to release their "man of steel" to the legions of Superman fans quite soon.

The story goes like this: Lex Luther and fellow villains--Brainiac, Parasite and Metallo--plot to control Metropolis by enveloping the city in a Kryptonite fog. Superman must put an end to the scheme, as well as rescue Lois Lane, who has been kidnapped by Luther earlier in the scenario.

To aid in his missions of good, Superman has the ability to fly, walk and run really fast. He also packs some mean attacks including: Heat vision, Super Breath (yow) and a wicked right hook. In addition, Superman's super strength comes in real handy. Many everyday objects such as cars, trains, street lamps, etc. become weapons via the over-the-head toss--a classic Superman maneuver.

Sixteen mission-based levels must be cleared of villains before the next level can be entered. Clearing a level involves a lot of searching and plain ol' fighting. Superman's X-ray vision is most useful in this portion of the game. Looking through walls to locate enemies is a nice option. If only every game offered this handy feature.

Having played an early version of the game, it looks like Superman could be an interesting play. There are some issues with control but we're confident the developers can iron it all out in time for the game's release. Here's to the man of steel making his debut on the N64--cheers.

  • MANUFACTURER - Titus
  • THEME - ACTION
  • NUMBER OF PLAYERS - 1
  • Sunsoft / Genesis

The man of steel is back with a vengeance! This time he has a whole variety of missions to accomplish. Not only must Superman wipe out the crime bosses attempting to control Metropolis, but he must also save children from a kidnapper and stop a mad bomber from leveling Metropolis! Superman has some superb animation to compliment the graphics!

Who is the real Superman? This exciting new 16-Meg game for the Super NES follows the story as told through the DC comic books. As events unfold, players assume the roles of Superboy, The Eradicator, The Man of Steel, The Cyborg, and finally the real Superman! Each character is equipped with unique powers and challenging attacks for comic book action.

It's a bird (...it looks more like a pigeon), it's a plane (...but it lost an engine), oh no, it's Superman! Beware, fellow gamers, this caped crusader won't save you from a plethora of mediocre games in the arcades, but rather make them look good by comparison. Taito has obviously underestimated today's arcade audience in banking on the comic book license and sacrificing game play in this Double Dragon look-alike (as if we need another one).

The object of the game is to defeat an onslaught of enemy characters that approach Superman. The caped crusader may punch or kick the enemy. By holding the punch button down, Superman can increase strength and then release a powerful Blast Punch to knock out several enemies in one blow. Superman can also pick up garbage crates, and cars and lift them overhead to throw at an enemy. Power-up items can also be collected and include an item to destroy all enemies on the screen, additional energy, and a Super Blast Punch. Unfortunately, the enemy's actions are simple and predictable. Even the Boss enemies at the end of the round are not all that intriguing. A two-player cooperative option is also included (ala Double Dragon) for team play (an odd looking red Superman joins the action).

To its credit, the graphics are above average. Superman and the enemies are large, well designed, muscular characters that look like they popped right out of a comic book. Unfortunately, the animation is so simplistic that the characters just don't come to life like they should. Furthermore, and this is the most detracting feature of the game, the character graphics are obviously overlayed on top of the background graphics. The background images serve only as wallpaper; there is no collision detection with the buildings and other background objects.

To be honest (sorry Clark), not even cryptonite can save this game. Superman is a conservative effort that lacks game play depth or originality. The game may perhaps serve as a training ground for younger gamers, but for you veterans, your heroic efforts are better spent somewhere else.

From the asphalt jungle of the underworld to the far reaches of outer space, the Man of Steel's arch-enemies have conspired to enslave the world and destroy Superman in the process. Only you can stop them. Find them with your X-Ray Vision. Freeze them with your Super Breath. Fry them with your Heat Vision. Flash through the air at the speed of light, or gather your strength for the Super Spin, to bore through the center of the Earth. But watch out! If their Kryptonite gets to you before you get to your enemies, it's the end of Truth, Justice, and the American Way!

You know that it is usually not good news when a game gets delayed for nearly a year. The cause of delays in games is usually due to the fact that the game is just not coming together as expected. Sure, there are occasions where a delay happens to add a little extra glitz, but for the most part if a game is heavily delayed it is not a good sign. Take Superman, for example. It was scheduled for release almost a year ago. I am going to let you in on a little secret. Some people may not want to hear this secret, so if you get sick to your stomach easily, I suggest you skip the rest of this paragraph. Okay, so you are still here? Now the person that told me this little secret will remain forever anonymous, but let me just say that said person has been in the video game industry for a long, long time. We were talking and this person told me that there comes a point in some games' development cycles where the team gets together and basically says that the game is crap and everyone acknowledges that it is crap. Here comes the kicker—the company basically makes one of three choices: scrap the game entirely and move on with life, start the entire development process over from the beginning, or just release the game that everyone knows is crap and just hope to recover development costs up to that point. So if you have ever played a crappy game and asked the question, "Didn't they know this game sucked before releasing it?"-the answer is yes, they were quite aware that the game was crap but they still let it go out the door. Superman is a textbook case of this.

I will do my best to give you an idea of what you are up against in this game, but I will be quite honest—I played this game enough to get a good idea of how it plays and to give it a fair shake, but not one second longer. I have better things to do with my time. Okay, so you strap on your cape and pull up your red boots and get to live the life of Superman. There are 14 levels to try to make your way through, using a combination of fighting, flying and superpowers. Sound cool? Well it isn't, so don't get any funny ideas about spending money on this game.

Gameplay

So what makes this game so bad, you ask? The number one thing is that it makes no sense at all. You will perform the most mundane and ridiculous tasks and the whole time you will be asking yourself why you are forced to do them. Since most people won't make it past the first level, let me describe it to you. It consists of flying Superman through a set of rings before the time runs out. If you manage to do this, you will have some absolutely stupid task that does not require flying. Once you complete this, you will fly through another "maze" of rings. Then another mundane task. Then more flying through rings. Then turning off your N64 because you just can't take it any longer.

While the gameplay is not at all exciting, at least the controls and collision detection suck too. First off, after you try to steer Superman through these rings, you will know what it would be like to be a drunk Superman. The controls respond slowly and the action on the screen is very jerky. Keeping a straight line is not too difficult, but once you need to move at all, you will find yourself all over the place. Then there is the collision detection. You can fly headlong into a wall and you will just stop and stand in mid-air. Huh? I don't care if you are the Man of Steel or not; you are going to bounce off the damn wall. And to make matters worse, if you brush against a wall, it is almost as if you stick to it. Then you have to try to take off again. This is just plain annoying.

Let me ask all the Superman buffs out there a question: Did Superman ever have to pick up a power-up to use his super powers? I remember watching the cartoon when I was a kid and I don't recall ever seeing him fly over a power-up before he could use his powers. Apparently I was wrong, because if you ever want to use any of his super powers in this game, you will need to find a power-up to activate the power. Look, I am not one of those people who really pay that much attention to trivial details on comic-based games, but even I think this is one of the lamest things I have seen. This is FRIGGIN' Superman! These powers are what make him Superman.

Earlier I mentioned that you fly through rings and do some mundane task. One of the things you will have to do is fight bad guys. This is done through hand-to-hand combat. Now they could have made this like Final Fight combat but no, they could not do it. It is the lamest thing I have ever seen. You basically hit something and it disappears. That is it. Gone. Poof. No more bad guy. The hand-to-hand combat in this game is so bad it is almost comical.

You know what? I have better things to do with my time than go into any more detail on this game. Let me sum up the gameplay. Fly through rings, hit a bad guy, fly through more rings, throw a car, fly through still more rings, pick up a car, fly through more rings, turn off your system, put this game back on your shelf, never to be touched again. That wraps up all the gameplay that 99% of the people will ever see.

Graphics

Umm, remember all that stuff I just said about the gameplay? Well, the graphics are a perfect fit for the gameplay. First, let's talk about fog. Everyone knows that fog is a problem on the N64. I have never seen a game with fog quite like this. There are times that you will literally not be able to see more that a foot in front of you. I almost think that if they tried to make fog in a game, they could not do it this well. Throw in stiff animations, silly-looking characters and no effects at all, and that sums it up.

Bottom Line

I will go on record right now as saying this is one of the worst, if not the worst, games I have ever played. It is definitely the worst N64 game, hands down. If you never listen to any of my other reviews and opinions, please listen to me on this one. This game is not fun and you will kick yourself for wasting the money. All I can say is that if you do not heed this warning and purchase the game, may God have mercy on your soul.

The Man of Steel is coming to the Nintendo 64, and he's ready for some serious superhero action. In this new game from Titus, Superman 64 will be an action adventure game with indoor (the Daily Planet and other locales) and outdoor (flying through Metropolis) venues, and a mission-based game where Superman will have to rescue citizens from the clutches of Lex Luthor and save Lois Lane. There'll also be a two-player fighting game, but the details on that were slim at press time. Will Metropolis be safe? There's a pretty good chance it will--now that Supe's back in town.

Snapshots and Media

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots

Nintendo 64/N64 Screenshots

NES/Famicom/Dendy Screenshots

Sega Master System Screenshots

GameGear Screenshots

GameBoy Screenshots

See Also

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