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 large blue boy scout to the silver display after a twelve yr 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 truthfully. Whereas Marvel has churned out a veritable onslaught of high quality movies DC has… not. (to place it properly) In truth, Marvel appears to have DC’s quantity in nearly each division at the moment with hit motion pictures, 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 identify implies, stars Batman and his rogues gallery not Superman. Superman has been woefully ignored within the videogame area with fourteen solo titles since 1979’s debut for the Atari 2600, most of them painfully, horribly, wretchedly unhealthy. Examine that to thirty six video games for Batman and twenty six video games for Spiderman (give or take just a few relying on the checklist you employ), and we are able to clearly see that Supes has not gotten the love he deserves. And whereas there isn’t a tie-in recreation for this explicit movie, there are just a few diamonds within the tough that, should 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 primarily based video games, or preventing video games)

5. Superman – Sega Genesis 1992

Full disclosure, this isn’t an ideal recreation by any stretch. Developed and printed by Sunsoft, they of the excellent Batman NES recreation, there’s a certain quantity 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 arduous. Actually, actually arduous. All that mentioned, I nonetheless discover a respectable quantity of enjoyment right here. The Superman sprite appears 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 Massive Blue. The 2600 recreation is nicely, it exists. The NES recreation is legendarily terrible. (sure it’s worse than the 64game, no I received’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 means of even with cheats, that you’ll undoubtedly want.

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

For a lot of, not me clearly, that is the Superman recreation. 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 recreation needs to be. On this recreation The Man of Metal is principally invincible. It doesn’t matter what occurs, save for just a few encounters, he can’t be damage or killed. As an alternative he has a stamina meter which might be replenished by flying into the ambiance and recharging from the solar, a pleasant nod to the comics, whereas the town of Metropolis has a injury meter. An excessive amount of injury, both from enemies or Superman himself, and it’s recreation over. Which is truthfully fairly intelligent. It forces gamers to be not solely artistic in how they remedy 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 recreation not greater on my checklist? As a result of it isn’t that a lot enjoyable to play previous the preliminary have a look at what I can do part. Now don’t get me fallacious, that system 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 absolutely 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 should you’ve by no means performed by means of this you undoubtedly ought to, on the 360 ideally. 

3. Superman: The Arcade Sport – ARC 1989

I waffled arduous on the place to put this recreation. I wish to put it at two but when I’m being trustworthy, I can’t. I do genuinely love this recreation although, possibly (in all probability) 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 arduous to the purpose of being unfair/low cost and has an ending display that just about by no means performed in precise arcades. However due to the facility of expertise, these empty pockets considerations are a factor of the previous. The sport itself appears nice with good, large sprites that animate rather well. Kal-El specifically appears 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 possibly can 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 contains a fantastic arcadey model of John William’s traditional theme in addition to Can You Learn My Thoughts. Whereas this recreation definitely downplays Massive 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 pink/grey costume coloring on the second Superman. When you by no means have, you should give this one a shot.

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

It is arduous to overstate simply how huge the Loss of life of Superman storyline was. This occasion was in all places. The native nightly information lined the individuals ready in strains outdoors comedian outlets to get their fingers on the tremendous particular black bagged concern containing the ultimate struggle. Tales had been written in newspapers nationwide in regards to the historical past and cultural influence the Final Son of Krypton had on the world. Buyers speculated arduous on the e book inflicting it to be massively overprinted and located in nearly 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 consideration largely, the occasion did numerous good for comics generally and Kal-El specifically. A type of issues was this glorious recreation. Constructing on the beat ‘em up/shoot ‘em up system of the arcade recreation, Sunsoft delivered a recreation that advised the story of the comics faithfully, for higher or worse. Right here you not solely play because the Massive Blue Boyscout but additionally because the alternative Supermen, Superboy/Metal/Eradicator/Cyborg Superman. And whereas the sport provides nothing new to the beat ‘em up system, it does the style justice. The controls are precisely what they must be with a number of assaults and the flexibility to fly at any time by urgent leap twice. The graphics are attractive with detailed sprites that depict the totally 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 recreation is a blast. It’s arduous, certain however so rattling enjoyable. I might love a remaster of this recreation sooner or later. 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. Primarily based on the good animated collection, SOA sees Supes saving the town, taking up a bunch of A-list villains, and making his option to a remaining showdown with Darksied. Alongside the best way gamers can use all of Superman’s talents in a comparatively intuitive management scheme that takes slightly little bit of getting used to however works rather well. The sport appears just like the cartoon, an ideal factor in my view 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 appearing. The entire main gamers from the present reprise their roles right here giving this recreation a efficiency higher than some other on this checklist. Like Returns that is very near being the proper Superman recreation. It does get needlessly obtuse at instances and the management might 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 to go along with the GameCube model as there have been a number of enhancements revamped 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 recreation that stands as much as Rocksteady’s Arkham collection or Insomniac’s Spiderman video games. However for now, we play what we now have and what we now have is a wide range of stable ass video games. However I wish to know what you assume. Be a part of the Stone Age Gamer discord, or you’ll find me on Bluesky to let me know your ideas. See you in two weeks.