Games That Weren't^®

Been a while since we last did an unused materials/prototype post. This time we have a very quick one thanks to Ross Sillifant.

In the advert for Batman Returns on the Lynx, you’ll notice that there are a number of promised features which didn’t seem to make the final game (please correct us if we’re wrong!):

• Bat-rope / grapping rope to access inaccessible areas
• Gas Grenades (replaced by Acid Vials?)
• No body shields for protection or making you more athletic.

It seems perhaps the advert was based from the initial design document for the game, and these features were cut?

Graphic designer Robb Mariani reveals:

“I was the lone Atari/ Chicago artist chosen to go out to Sunnyvale for “more horsepower” on the Batman Returns project. I was out there for around a month, if I recall. It actually was a nightmare!

Adding more graphic/ sprite animations (elaborate) – those cumulatively added up. Since we had maxed-out the background artwork, we were limited on overall memory. Hence some promised power-ups were eliminated.

As an artist, we wanted the game to look great. Programming was out of our control. Playability was another subject. Don’t shoot the artists – we rocked out!”

Gallery