High 5 Superman Video games – Stone Age Countdown

James Gunn’s Superman will launch, or has launched by the point you learn this, on July eleventh 2025 and marks the solo return of the massive blue boy scout to the silver display screen after a twelve 12 months hiatus. (2013’s Man of Metal) The trailers have all been extremely promising. James Gunn seems to get “it” with Kal-El, the issues that make him iconic. It’s been a very long time coming actually. Whereas Marvel has churned out a veritable onslaught of high quality movies DC has… not. (to place it properly) The truth is, Marvel appears to have DC’s quantity in nearly each division presently with hit films, television reveals, toys, and video video games. Certain, the Arkham video games had been nice however the final correct entry, Arkham Knight, got here out in 2015 and, because the title implies, stars Batman and his rogues gallery not Superman. Superman has been woefully ignored within the videogame house with fourteen solo titles since 1979’s debut for the Atari 2600, most of them painfully, horribly, wretchedly dangerous. Evaluate that to thirty six video games for Batman and twenty six video games for Spiderman (give or take a couple of relying on the checklist you utilize), and we will clearly see that Supes has not gotten the love he deserves. And whereas there isn’t any tie-in sport for this specific movie, there are a couple of diamonds within the tough that, when you’re an uber excited fanboy like me, are value a playthrough. Submitted in your approval these are the highest 5 Superman video games.

(fast notice: this checklist is not going to consider multi-hero titles, app or PC based mostly video games, or combating video games)

5. Superman – Sega Genesis 1992

Full disclosure, this isn’t an excellent sport by any stretch. Developed and printed by Sunsoft, they of the excellent Batman NES sport, there’s a specific amount of Genesis Jank ™, which if you understand you understand, solely 5 ranges starring some lower than heavy hitters as bosses, Prankster? I imply…, and it’s onerous. Actually, actually onerous. All that stated, I nonetheless discover a respectable quantity of enjoyment right here. The Superman sprite appears to be like nice and animates nicely. There’s a good use of a few of his powers and the flying components, whereas few, really feel actually good. The music is sweet if not excellent and the general gameplay is stable. What actually put this on the map for me was that it was the primary console launch that felt like Huge Blue. The 2600 sport is nicely, it exists. The NES sport is legendarily terrible. (sure it’s worse than the 64game, no I gained’t hear arguments in opposition to that time) This one although confirmed that there was a path to one thing higher. The sport lacks replayability however is value taking part in by way of even with cheats, that you’ll positively want.

 4. Superman: Returns – PS2, Xbox, 360 2006

For a lot of, not me clearly, that is the Superman sport. Developed by EA Tiburon and printed to tie into the then present movie, Returns is the sport that will get the closest to what a Superman sport ought to be. On this sport The Man of Metal is mainly invincible. It doesn’t matter what occurs, save for a couple of encounters, he can’t be damage or killed. As a substitute he has a stamina meter which will be replenished by flying into the environment and recharging from the solar, a pleasant nod to the comics, whereas town of Metropolis has a injury meter. An excessive amount of injury, both from enemies or Superman himself, and it’s sport over. Which is actually fairly intelligent. It forces gamers to be not solely inventive in how they clear up the varied obstacles in Superman’s path, like burning buildings or imperiled residents, however to additionally grasp Superman’s powers in order to not unintentionally Warmth Imaginative and prescient one thing or somebody to bejeezus and again. Why then is that this sport not larger on my checklist? As a result of it isn’t that a lot enjoyable to play previous the preliminary take a look at what I can do part. Now don’t get me fallacious, that formulation labored for Spiderman 2 whereby swinging across the metropolis and rescuing escaped balloons was an absolute blast for manner longer than it ought to have been. Right here too flying round and being Superman is de facto enjoyable. The controls permit gamers to be the character in a manner the restricted configurations of the previous by no means actually may. However, as soon as that wears off the remainder of the sport is ok. All advised when you’ve by no means performed by way of this you positively ought to, on the 360 ideally. 

3. Superman: The Arcade Recreation – ARC 1989

I waffled onerous on the place to position this sport. I wish to put it at two but when I’m being sincere, I can’t. I do genuinely love this sport although, possibly (most likely) greater than most. Developed and printed by Taito Superman is a mix beat ‘em up/shoot ‘em up designed to mercilessly suck the entire quarters out of your pockets. As with different video games within the style it’s brutally onerous to the purpose of being unfair/low-cost and has an ending display screen that nearly by no means performed in precise arcades. However due to the ability of know-how, these empty pockets issues are a factor of the previous. The sport itself appears to be like nice with good, large sprites that animate very well. Kal-El particularly appears to be like improbable with nice animation on his cape. The enemies, whereas generic, are new creations for the sport as is the ultimate boss, the evil Emperor Zaas. The gameplay splits itself between “Go Proper” beat ‘em up phases the place you may punch, kick, and fly all you need with scrolling shooter sections that provide the skill to make use of your Warmth Imaginative and prescient in addition to punch. The music encompasses a great arcadey model of John William’s traditional theme in addition to Can You Learn My Thoughts. Whereas this sport definitely downplays Huge Blue’s moveset you actually do really feel just like the titular hero. It’s an absolute blast to play 2-player, even with the bizarre crimson/grey costume coloring on the second Superman. In the event you by no means have, you’ll want to give this one a shot.

2. Superman: The Demise and Return of Superman – SNES 1994, GEN 1995

It is onerous to overstate simply how large the Demise of Superman storyline was. This occasion was in every single place. The native nightly information coated the folks ready in traces exterior comedian retailers to get their palms on the tremendous particular black bagged problem containing the ultimate struggle. Tales had been written in newspapers nationwide concerning the historical past and cultural impression the Final Son of Krypton had on the world. Buyers speculated onerous on the guide inflicting it to be massively overprinted and located in virtually each .25 cent bin across the nation. Youngsters like me talked about it continuous throughout recess and lunch at college. And whereas I definitely have my points with the story general, Doomsday being undeserving of the distinction principally, the occasion did plenty of good for comics basically and Kal-El particularly. A type of issues was this excellent sport. Constructing on the beat ‘em up/shoot ‘em up formulation of the arcade sport, Sunsoft delivered a sport that advised the story of the comics faithfully, for higher or worse. Right here you not solely play because the Huge Blue Boyscout but in addition because the alternative Supermen, Superboy/Metal/Eradicator/Cyborg Superman. And whereas the sport provides nothing new to the beat ‘em up formulation, it does the style justice. The controls are precisely what they must be with a number of assaults and the power to fly at any time by urgent leap twice. The graphics are beautiful with detailed sprites that depict the completely different supermen precisely as they seem on the comedian web page. Even with out 2-player, a cardinal sin in most beat ‘em ups, this sport is a blast. It’s onerous, certain however so rattling enjoyable. I’d love a remaster of this sport in the future. Till then, I’ll persist with my common playthroughs, on the SNES, of this gem.

1. Superman: Shadow of Apokolips – PS2 2002, GC 2003

To the shock of nobody, who has performed any of the Man of Tomorrow’s video games, Shadow of Apokolips takes the primary spot. Based mostly on the sensible animated sequence, SOA sees Supes saving town, taking up a number of A-list villains, and making his solution to a ultimate showdown with Darksied. Alongside the way in which gamers can use all of Superman’s talents in a comparatively intuitive management scheme that takes a little bit little bit of getting used to however works very well. The sport appears to be like just like the cartoon, an excellent factor for my part and reveals why builders had been all about cel-shaded graphics within the early aughts. The music and sound is ok however what actually stands out is the voice performing. All the main gamers from the present reprise their roles right here giving this sport a efficiency higher than some other on this checklist. Like Returns that is very near being the proper Superman sport. It does get needlessly obtuse at instances and the management will be irritating. However, when you get into the sport, it simply feels proper. There’s a weightiness to being Supes right here that different video games are lacking. It is a rattling good time and tons of enjoyable to return to, even when simply to fly round. Whenever you do, be sure you go together with the GameCube model as there have been a number of enhancements remodeled the PS2 title.  

So there it’s, my checklist of the highest 5 Superman video games. I hope we see some innovation sooner or later and a sport that stands as much as Rocksteady’s Arkham sequence or Insomniac’s Spiderman video games. However for now, we play what now we have and what now we have is a wide range of stable ass video games. However I wish to know what you assume. Be part of the Stone Age Gamer discord, or you will discover me on Bluesky to let me know your ideas. See you in two weeks.