Batman: Return of the Joker

Batman: Return of the Joker is a sequel developed by SunSoft, distinct for not deriving its story from a film or television adaptation. The premise involves the Joker's escape from Arkham Asylum, prompting Batman to pursue him through seven distinct stages to secure Gotham City.

Gameplay is structured around side-scrolling action. The environments Batman traverses are varied, including a military installation, sewer systems, and a snowy area. Two stages feature a unique dynamic where the player must avoid explosions while vehicles move in the background, and others briefly shift perspective to a jetpack-powered shooter sequence.

Combat relies on a projectile-firing gauntlet, which can be enhanced by collecting power-ups. These upgrades provide access to different weapon types, including homing and energy-based arms. Each of these specialized weapons possesses a unique secondary function that is activated by charging the shot. For close-quarters evasion, Batman can utilize a sliding maneuver effective against standard enemies and certain bosses.

Confrontations with major adversaries employ a separate health system. During these boss fights, Batman's resilience is represented by a points-based life total, allowing him to sustain significantly more damage than during standard platforming sections, making these encounters fair in their pacing.