Superman 64
| Superman the video game | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Titus Software |
| Publisher(s) | Titus Software |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
| Release | May 31, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Superman 64 is a video game that was released by Titus Software on May 31, 1999 on the Nintendo 64. The game is based on Superman: The Animated Series. Much like Castlevania 64, the game is not actually titled "Superman 64" on its box, cartridge, or title screen.
The game is notorious for its atrocious bugs and gameplay issues, achieving almost legendary status among gamers because of it. It has been labeled by many as one of the worst video games ever.
Story
Lex Luthor has created a virtual version of Metropolis and has succeeded in trapping Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Professor Emil Hamilton within it. Superman must enter the virtual world to fly through countless hoops, save his friends, and stop Lex Luthor. Other villains Superman must contend with include Parasite and Brainiac.
Gameplay
In most levels, Superman is forced to fly through a series of rings within a time limit (unless the player plays easy mode; the rings disappear but the timer stays). The "virtual Metropolis" is filled with what the developers called "Kryptonite fog" (which was actually the draw distance), supposedly to slow him down. Superman has several other powers, but they are rarely used. Superman can get AIDS if he flys through to many rings.
Development
Superman 64 was originally unveiled at E3 1997.[1]
According to an early interview with Eric Caen, co-founder of Titus Software, the game was originally intended to have a multiplayer mode for up to four players.[2]
Reception and criticism
The game was perceived as terrible by gaming audiences and is considered by many to be one of the worst video games ever made. It was rated as the 7th worst game of all-time in a list created by Sean Reiley in Electronic Gaming Monthly.[3] It also ranked 2nd on G4's Filter in its top 10 worst games of the 90's. Nintendo Power magazine rated it as the worst game on a Nintendo system.[4] On MTV's Gamer's 2.0, it was rated the #1 worst game of 1999. The game also topped GameSpy's list of the ten worst comic book based video games, as compiled by journalist David Chapman.[5] On GameTrailers, it was ranked #1 as the worst game of all time, just ahead of ET for the Atari 2600.[6]
Game reviewers focused their complaints on unresponsive controls and monotonous gameplay. Critics found little redeeming value in the game.[7]
The UK gaming publication NGC Magazine, famous for its comical reviews of extremely bad games, used Superman 64 as the butt of numerous jokes over the years. It also had a running joke regarding the 'Solve my maze' segments of the game, which were not in fact mazes. A puzzle feature appearing in the magazine used Luthor's image and the title 'Solve my maze', followed by a variety of often unsolvable puzzles, none of which were actually mazes. The final time this feature was used it was labeled 'Solve my murder', and featured three diagrams of ways Luthor could have been killed.
IGN gave it a 3.4, and called it "a huge, whopping disappointment for me" and that "is so all-around poorly executed that it's downright offending to people like myself (the reviewer) who have enjoyed the comic books, movies, television shows and more based upon the American icon"[8]. Gamespot gave the game a score of 1.3,making it the second lowest rated game by Gamespot, declaring that "It serves no purpose other than to firmly establish the bottom of the barrel".[7] Currently, the game holds a 23% score average on Game Rankings[9].
References
- ^ "E3 Chronicles: The First 10 Years - 1997". ArmchairEmpire.com. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
- ^ IGN Staff (1998). "Eric Caen of Titus Software (interview)". IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
- ^ Riley, Sean. "Seanbaby's EGM's Crapstravaganza: The 20 Worst Video Games of All Time". Seanbaby.com. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
- ^ "Top 5 Worst Games Ever". NP 196. Nintendo Power. 2005.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Chapman, David (2004). "Comics to Consoles: Part II - When Good Comics Go Bad". GameSpy.com. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
- ^ GameTrailers staff (February 26, 2007). "GameTrailers.com". Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- ^ a b Fielder, Joe (1999). "Superman (review)". GameSpot.com. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
- ^ "IGN 64 Superman Review". IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
- ^ "Superman Reviews". Gamerankings.com. Retrieved 2008-04-01.