The Game

A legend has returned...

Bruce Wayne, the multi-millionaire head of the Wayne Foundation is an unassuming, quiet type of guy. However, when night falls and evil stalks the streets, he sheds his daytime persona and becomes the masked vigilante of Gotham City - Batman.

Crusading against crime from the rooftops of the sickened city, his objective becomes the elimination of Gus Grissom's criminal empire; in particular, the conquest of Jack Napier, the psychotic second-in-command.

Napier was the most cunning and sadistic force in Gotham anyway, but when an accident befell him, twisting him both physically and mentally, he became the ultimate criminal - The Joker.

You control the Caped Crusader in five different scenarios as he is pitted against his malevolent nemesis in the life or death struggles that ensue.

Status And Scoring

The panel shows present score, lives, time and Batman's energy. Batman's face represents full energy. The Joker's face represents no energy. When The Joker's face is fully visible, then Batman will lose a life. If time runs out on any level, Batman will lose a life.

Gameplay

Section 1: Axis Chemical Plant

As Bruce Wayne, you overhear Commissioner Gordon telling the Mayor of an attack on the Axis Chemical Plant by Jack Napier and his henchmen. Acting swiftly, you don your black costume and make you way to the scene. Once inside the factory, you must move towards the exit (and Napier) on the fr right of the map. You will meet assorted criminals along the way. Avoid, also, leaking chemical droplets and gas bursts at various points on your route.

Use the Batarang to throw at your attackers, and your batrope to access levels above, by shooting a grapnel device from your belt and reeling yourself up.

Section 2: The Streets Of Gotham City

Having rescued Vicky Vale from the clutches of The Joker in the Flugelheim Museum, you must make good your escape in the Batmobile. Racing at high speeds through the streets of Gotham City, you must avoid both The Joker's vehicles and the police who have set up road blocks, as they are still unsure which side of the law you are on.

The Batmobile is also equipped with a rope and grapnel. If, whilst travelling at high speeds, you wish to make a fast turn, shoot the grapnel out at a lamppost on the street corner; if timed correctly, this will enable you to make the turn without speed loss.

Section 3: The Batcave

The Joker has invented a compound, "Smilex" which, on contact, will kill its victims, leaving a deathly rictus grin on their faces. The Joker has 'spiked' certain everyday consumables with elements from this compound which, when mixed together, form Smilex.

Using the powerful computer in your Batcave, you must, in the time given, ascertain which three objects contain those elements.

Section 4: The Streets Of Gotham City (2)

The Joker's deadliest scheme is now taking place at midnight on the streets of Gotham City. By promising massive handouts of money to the people of Gotham, the streets are packed with masses of unsuspecting citizens. Inside the dozens of bright balloons is enough Smilex gas to kill the entire population of Gotham City.

These balloons are about to be leaked... You are piloting the Batwing and must cut through the mooring ropes of the balloons with the wings of the flying craft. If you miss any of them, they will self-destruct, sending clouds of gas into the crowds; similarly if you miss the rope and hit the balloon itself, the same will occur. If however, you slice the rope, the balloon will float harmlessly away.

Section 5: The Cathedral

Pursuing The Joker to Gotham Cathedral, you must negogiate the crumbling floors and avoid the rabid rats in order to confront, finally, The Joker on the roof. As in the Chemical Factory, you must use your Batarang and 'Batrope' to achieve this aim.

Game Controls

Sections 1 & 5:

K - Left, L - Right, Q - Up, A - Down, SPACE - Fire/Throw Batarang

S - Pause

With SPACE pressed, you can throw the batarang left, up and right. You can also jump down to the next level with SPACE-Down.

Section 2 (The Streets Of Gotham City):

Keys/joystick move the Batmobile in corresponding directins. Fire will fire the 'batrope' up. If the Batmobile is going past a lamp-post then the rope will wrap around it and the Batmobile will swing round the corner.

Up and fire will swing around a corner without using the batrope, if the batmobile is near a corner.

Note: Using the batrope to turn a corner is the quickest. The Batmobile will only turn a corner if it is near one.

If the Batmobile goes past a corner, you may turn around by pressng Fire and moving left.

Section 3 (Batcave Chemical Analysis):

Move the joystick left or right to select a cosmetic and press fire to enter it into the combination.

Section 4 (Batwing):

K - Left, L - Right, Q - Up, A - Down

Loading

LOAD"" (ENTER)

If the computer is a Spectrum 128K, then follow the instructions on screen.

Note that on the 128K machines, the whole game loads in one go. On the 48K machines the game is in three parts; a subsequent part will load when one is completed. Stop the tape if need be.