Batman & Robin (video game)

The game uses elements of a sandbox style game, such as real-time events, traffic simulation, and civilian population. The player can choose one of the film's three heroes, Batman, Robin or Batgirl.[3] Each character uses a unique vehicle. Batman drives the Batmobile, Robin the Redbird motorcycle and Batgirl uses the Batblade. In the game, the player travels around Gotham City and completes various individual missions, such as preventing Mr. Freeze from robbing a bank. Most of the events are not triggered; instead, each event occurs at a certain time. For example, Mr. Freeze's bank robbery occurs at 7 p.m. The player must find clues and discover the plot with the help of the Batcomputer. If the player cannot find enough clues, the event occurs, failing the mission. Some situations are derived directly from the plot of the film, while others were conceived for the game.

Acclaim originally scheduled Batman & Robin for release in the third quarter of 1997, in order to coincide with the film's theatrical release.[3]

Like the film, the PlayStation game was critically and commercially unsuccessful, as it received generally unfavourable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] Game Informer gave it a mixed review, over two months before it was released Stateside.[9] IGN gave a mixed review; they praised the graphics, music and a selection of characters to play, but were critical to the controls.[11] Next Generation was more critical to the game, criticizing the graphics, level design, gameplay and controls.[12] GamePro gave a positive review in terms of graphics, sound, and gameplay, but was critical to the controls.[15][lower-alpha 2] There was also a version for the Game.com handheld which got worse ratings than the PlayStation version.

The game won the award for "Most Faithful Use of a Movie License" at the 1998 OPM Editors' Awards.[16]

• Batman & Robin at MobyGames