Summary
Despite being the grandfather of the modern superhero,Supermanhas not had the same kind of luck in video game form as characters like Batman or Spider-Man. Most games starring the Man of Steel have been disappointments, with the prime example being the infamousSupermangame for the Nintendo 64, due to its broken controls, glitches, and unfinished state.
However, there is the occasional DC game featuring Superman that surprises gamers. Even if they aren’t flawless or happen to feature other DC characters, they are still worth checking out if someone is a fan of Superman. They span across numerous genres, from open-world adventures to tournament fighter games, allowing developers to adapt the powers of the mighty Kryptonian in creative ways.
Based on the 2006 live-action movie,Superman Returnsfeatures a collection of strong ideas that would make for a greatSupermantitle, such as the city’s health being how Superman wins or loses. Itfeatures an open-world Metropolisfor players to fly at surprisingly accurate speeds, which was ahead of its time in 2006, and it has far more action than the movie it’s based on.
Unfortunately,Superman Returnsis bogged down by its monotonous gameplay, which mainly involves thwarting crimes repeatedly to keep the city’s health up. There is fun to be had, especially with villains like Bizarro, Mongul, Metallo, and Riot, to make the game feel like it takes place in a fully-fledged Superman mythos.
In the same vein asFinal FightorSpider-Man: Maximum Carnage, players control characters in linear levels, defeating enemieswith classic beat-‘em-up controls. The twist is thatThe Death and Return of Supermanfeatures Steel, Superboy, The Eradicator, Cyborg Superman, and Superman himself, all playable at some point throughout the journey.
Despite the simplicity of the arcade-style gameplay, each of the Supermen has unique moves and abilities. The developers at Sunsoft showed as much care for the source material as they did forBatman, so there is a nice mix of familiar elements and enough expanded material to fit the concept into an action-packed campaign.
As it was a pseudo-sequel toSuperman 64, most people were quick to ignoreSuperman: Shadow of Apokolipswhen it first released, since it was also based onSuperman: The Animated Series. However, it is leagues ahead of its predecessor in almost every way, from the art direction to the gameplay to even the story.
This is arguably the first time a game made the player truly feel like Superman, thanks to improved controls and open-ended levels that utilize the hero’s speed and strength effectively. While it’s not perfect,Superman: Shadow of Apokolipsdelivers on being an interactive episodeof the DC animated series, with plenty of villains to fight and one of the better stories for aSupermantitle.
Taito is known for creating many iconic arcade classics, includingSpace InvadersandArkanoid. In 1988, they released a beat-‘em-up titledSuperman, which shares similarities withThe Death and Return ofSuperman. In this version, players control a classic representation of Superman as he defends Earth from the invading forces of Emperor Zaas.
Boasting well-animated spritesand the iconic John Williams’ score,Supermanlooks and sounds like a proper game for the character, but thankfully, the gameplay also backs it up. Rather than just walking, players can also fly to fight aerial enemies or dodge attacks from grounded enemies. It’s as simple as a beat-‘em-up can get, but it’s still fun to play, especially with a friend who can control the red version of Superman.
Justice League Heroesfeatures the classic team of heroes going up against Brainiac, Gorilla Grodd, Darkseid, and many others in a simple but fun DC adventurestraight out of a comic book. It features seven base characters, including Superman, as one of the first. Other characters can be unlocked for use, such as Supergirl, Green Arrow, Aquaman, and Hawkgirl.
Co-op gameplay is often regarded as the best way to experience the game, but even when playing solo,Justice League Heroesis still considered a strong dungeon-crawling RPG. Each character possesses unique abilities that can be leveled up, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. Additionally, there are various costumes to unlock for each character. Superman, for instance, embodies the classic superhero with powers such as heat vision, super-breath, flight, and a focus on super-strength.
Before it became a trend,Injustice: Gods Among Uswas the game that brought attention to an evil version of Superman. It depicts an alternate reality where the Joker kills Lois Lane and destroys Metropolis, transforming Superman into a ruthless tyrant who treats Earth as his personal playground.
From a gameplay perspective, the game was developed by NetherRealm, the studio knownfor theMortal Kombatseries, so it follows a similar format but includes unique features that make it stand out. In the realm of superhero fighting games,Injustice: Gods Among Usbecame a definitive title for the DC fandom, allowing iconic characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to take center stage.
Going off the title, it’s easy to see that Batman is the star of the game, but Superman is pivotal to the story ofLEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroesas Batman’s friend and partner. With Lex Luthor and Joker both causing chaos in Gotham City, Superman teams up with Batman to fight the villains in a family-friendly adventure.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroessuccessfully introduced the first true open-worldSupermangame.Gotham City is fully explorablein LEGO form, and Superman has all of his signature powers. With excellent flight controls and the iconic John Williams theme, the game highlights the potential for a standalone Superman experience.
NetherRealm Studios took what they did with the firstInjusticeand amplified it with greater visuals, polished combat, and an even more epic storyline revolving around Superman and Brainiac. The roster inInjustice 2is even bigger, thanks to the three game’s different factions, showcasing what the alternate universe looks like after the fall of Superman’s regime.
Superman and the rest of the returning DC characters play even better than before alongside the new characters, but the true highlight of the game is how these characters look.With the deep customization system, grinding through matches as any character unlocks gear to decorate a character from head to toe, allowing someone to create the Superman or Supergirl of their dreams.
