Cornshaq plays Batman - Part 1 of 3

Here it is: the NES Batman game based on the 1989 movie and the one that many have a love-hate relationship with.

This game is pretty short but pretty hard. Like in the movie, you have to stop The Joker from terrorizing Gotham City. However, the game takes liberties with the story of the movie, and as a result, you meet enemies - and bosses - who are not in the movie.

Left and Right allow you to move, Down lets you crouch, A lets you jump, B lets you attack/shoot, Select lets you pause the game, and Start lets you switch between your fists, the Batarangs, and a gun. If you hold A while jumping, you'll be able to glide. If you press A while jumping towards a wall, you'll be able to perform a wall jump.

The game begins with Batman coming out of the Batmobile. He then drops down when you reach the gameplay screen (Why? I dunno.), and then you'll have control of Batman.

Stage 1

When you beat up enemies, you may get little blue squares. The B squares are bonus points, the missile squares give you ammunition for your weapons, and the heart will restore one unit of health. Your health is on the upper-left corner of the screen.

The guys running at you can easily be punched. The blue, spike tank-like enemies can be easily jumped over, but if you're on their level, they get faster, like that one enemy in the Mega Man series.

Wait for the flamethrower guys to stop shooting fire before walking up to them and hitting them.

Wait for the orange guys who stand still and fire to shoot their bullets, then jump over their bullets and hit them.

The blue mines will move towards you when you get close enough, then explode. Be ready to jump over them once you get next to them 

The jetpack enemies can be taken out with one or two Batarangs, but you can easily hit them with punches if they stop in front of you.

The ninja who leans on the background wall can easily be punched to death as long as you don't walk past him and don't keep him on-screen for too long. Otherwise, he attacks.

The boss here is Flame Moth. Equip the Batarang, then stay on the left or right side of the screen to avoid his dive and spread shot attacks. When he gets close, hit him.

Stage 2

The stage starts with the Batmobile shooting a hole into a metal door to allow the Batmobile in. Once Batman is inside, it's time to get into the Axis Chemical Factory.

The green guys with the claws will stop to slash at you if you're close enough. Be ready to punch them multiple times so they don't do that. 

Your jumping skills will soon be put to the test. Watch out for the acid droplets that drop from the ceilings and the underside of some platforms; they will hurt you.

The wires with the electricity coursing through them will zap you if you touch them.

The machines with the tridents on them will extend their tridents out a little bit if you get close enough. Prepare to learn how to wall jump...and fast.

The conveyor belts will move Batman around, and the circular saw blades on the walls, floors and ceilings will hurt you if you touch them.

The second boss is the Machine Intelligence System of the Axis Chemical Factory. Switch to the gun and shoot at the twin turret directly across from where Batman starts. Duck every time you shoot. The upper turret fires twice, followed by the lower turret always firing twice before the pattern repeats. From there, move to the upper conveyor belt and shoot at the blue light on the left wall with Batarangs. When you destroy that, the electric barrier near the last part will go down. Avoid the last part's three way shot and attack the blue light when it opens up. To do that, you'll have to get close - but not too close - and punch the blue light. Duck to avoid the three-way shot. If you don't take any damage, you're in the right position. This one's over.

You'll then see a cutscene with The Joker, then you'll be in the sewers.

Stage 3

The big jumping guy can be easily passed by, but in case you can't get him out of your hair, be ready to throw Batarangs at him. If you pay attention, you can tell where he's going to land when he jumps. You may have to fight these guys, so be ready.

The rotating blades on some walls and ceilings will hurt you if you run into them.

The tanks in the third section will shoot fireballs downwards. Shoot at them with the gun.