Batman: Return of the Joker

Batman: Return of the Joker is a standalone sequel to the successful licensed platformer for the Game Boy, once again pitting Batman against his eternal rival, the Joker, who this time plans to seize control of Gotham City using an army of his own creations. The game expands on the previous concept with more refined level design, new enemy types, and a wider variety of weapons that the player gradually unlocks while making their way through levels full of platforming puzzles and close- and long-range action encounters. The settings change vividly from factories to an amusement park to the Joker's own lair, so the game never feels monotonous.

The game's pace is faster and more demanding than in the first installment, with an emphasis on precise jumping, timely recognition of enemy movement patterns, and careful use of a limited supply of special weapons. Individual levels are longer and contain more branching passages, so the player must weigh which path to take and how much risk they're willing to accept for faster progress. Visually, the game benefits from finely drawn environments and striking character silhouettes that communicate on-screen action clearly even on a monochrome display, including during its more hectic passages. The music continues the predecessor's dark, tense atmosphere and ranks among the standout aspects of the whole experience, as do the carefully animated movements of the main character during jumps and attacks.

Contemporary reviews ranked the game among the better licensed titles on the Game Boy, though it was somewhat more demanding and less accessible to newcomers than the first installment. From a genre-development perspective, it confirms that a licensed platformer could maintain quality in a sequel without losing the source material's identity or simply repeating the same formula. Today the game is valued mainly by Batman fans and collectors of classic Game Boy platformers as proof that Sunsoft could handle the license well time and again, with a genuine feel for atmosphere.

Why play it: For Batman fans and collectors of classic Game Boy platformers alike, it's proof that Sunsoft could handle the license well time and again, even though it's more demanding and less accessible than the first installment.