Darkman (video game)

Darkman was developed by Ocean Software (Painting By Numbers on the NES version, Twilight on the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum versions) and published by Ocean Software in 1991. It was released for the Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and Atari ST. It also had two different games of the same name for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. The game's plot is loosely based on the film of the same name.

Darkman: The Video Game
Front box art (NES)
Developer(s)Ocean Software
Painting by Numbers (NES)
Publisher(s)Ocean Software, Hit Squad (Budget re-release)
SeriesDarkman
Platform(s)NES, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Game Boy, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST
Release
(Game Boy)
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

NES version

In this side-scrolling platformer, the player controls Darkman, a superhero who can jump, kick and punch, as well as swing from a rope during action sequences between levels. In most levels, Darkman disguises himself as the boss of the level, whom he must defeat before the time limit elapses. Tying into the plot of the film, Darkman wears masks of various gangsters who are responsible for his disfigurement, but his disguise dissolves after being exposed to sunlight for too long. The character changes into a different member of the evil gang in each level, taking on their attack moves as well as their face.

Between levels, Darkman must photograph his quarry before he can make a mask of them. These scenes involve moving the cursor to take a picture of the gangster. The better the photo accuracy, the more time Darkman is granted to complete the subsequent level. The final level is the similar to the film, and takes place on a skyscraper under construction.

Reception

The Spectrum version was well received critically, with Crash magazine awarding 82%,[3] and Sinclair User 78%.[4] In a 1991 review, Your Sinclair gave the Spectrum version 85%,[1] while a 1993 review by another Your Sinclair critic gave Darkman's budget re-release 22%.[2]

References
  1. Leach, James (October 1991). "Reviews: Darkman". Your Sinclair. No. 70. Future Publishing. pp. 10–11. ISSN 0269-6983.
  2. Nash, Jonathan (August 1993). "Reviews: Darkman". Your Sinclair. No. 92. Future Publishing. p. 8. ISSN 0269-6983.
  3. Evans, Will; Caswell, Mark (September 1991). "Review: Darkman". Crash. No. 92. Newsfield Publications. pp. 14–15.
  4. Keen, Steve; Sumpter, Garth (November 1991). "Review: Darkman". Sinclair User. No. 117. EMAP. pp. 26–27.


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