Genesis

The Death and Return of Superman

The sound effects are a bit scratchy, but they do deliver a nice, meaty sound when Supes punches and kicks the game's various mutant baddies. Shifting to the Genesis' more limited color pallette actually seems to have brightened up the backgrounds a bit, though this just highlights the simplicity of the earlier stages.

Although there are plenty of methods of attack in this game (heat vision, bombs, energy blasts, etc.), your primary method of attack, running around and punching with your fists, can get a little old after a while. Even so, this is one of the better superhero games for the Sega Genesis, and you'll have a good time playing it.

The now-classic adventure of Superman's demise is colorful and bright, but the gameplay's far too repetitive to hold your interest to the end.

Basically a side-scrolling punch-up, except you control a superhero. This would be pretty standard stuff, but the very cheap hits and control that aren't always so great hamper the effect.

Maybe diehard fans of the DC Comics powerhouse will find The Death and Return of Superman a fair example of license goodness, even if it cannibalizes the license in the worst way possible. Maybe the more forgiving among us will cite technological limitations as an excuse for the slapdash presentation and clumsy gameplay. But those who are uncolored by the tint of nostalgia will definitely find there's more to chew on in the Streets of Rage series, the short but sweet Hyperstone Heist or the superlative Comix Zone. Otherwise just stay away from this piece of gaming Kryptonite.