The Return of Superman

The Man of Steel made his triumphant return to the big screen last summer, and this winter he makes his next-gen debut in SUPERMAN RETURNS™: THE VIDEOGAME on Xbox 360™. The game—based in part on the blockbuster film—utilizes not only the film's top-tier talent, but also the critically-acclaimed power of Electronic Arts Tiburon, makers of the Madden franchise, in their first non-sports endeavor.

Surveying his charges.

Inspiration
While the game ties into the movie, it doesn't limit the story to just the film's tale. Rather, it uses the plot of the movie as a jumping-off spot for the narrative. This allows Tiburon's vision of Metropolis room to breathe, letting you battle with countless classic Superman foes and navigating the vast city at supersonic speeds at your leisure, all while still spoiling Lex Luthor's nefarious plans for world domination.

SUPERMAN RETURNS also has the luxury of the movie's primary assets: The actors and their likenesses. Kevin Spacey's unnervingly comic Lex Luthor, Brandon Routh's mighty Supes and bumbling Clark Kent, and Kate Bosworth's lovely Lois Lane are perfectly translated in-game.

Superheroics
When your source material involves a nearly invulnerable hero boasting unlimited strength, one would expect his battles not be mundane. Here, Tiburon proves they truly understand Superman and his danger-filled world. Your first mission in SUPERMAN RETURNS is to intercept and destroy deadly meteorites that are hurtling towards your city. Using Superman's supersonic flight, as well as his freezing breath and heat vision, you can break up the meteors in time to prevent them from hitting Metropolis.

There is much to defend in the industrial sector.

Though there's nothing wrong with chasing down the occasional purse snatcher or bank robber, Superman's role is larger than that. He is Metropolis', and in fact, the world's savior, and that is something the folks at Tiburon completely understand.

Mechanics
A difficulty facing many game developers in the past was how to measure Superman's success and failure when kryptonite wasn't involved. How can Superman be defeated? Developers in the past have resorted to a less-than-authentic health bar, giving the Man of Steel a fatal breaking point, which was all to easy to reach.

EA Tiburon, however, has found a more unique and satisfying answer to this problem: Instead of watching Superman's life deplete in battle, as the city comes under attack, you'll see it's life drain away. As Superman's adopted city falls, so does our hero. If the city takes too much damage, Superman fails, and you fail along with him.

Not your average foe.

Of course, you'll also have access to all of Superman's classic powers. Whether you're melting Metallo's minions with your heat vision, racing the mischievous Mr. Mxyzptlk at super speed, freezing enemies in place with a blast of cold air, or blowing out a fire with your super breath, all of Superman's amazing powers are yours to wield for truth, justice, and the American way.

Superpowers
With Superman being absent for several years, he's not quite up to full speed upon his return. Because of this, your powers will increase in effectiveness the more you use them. Not only does this make sense within the frame of the game, but it adds a layer of strategic depth as well.

Metropolis
EA Tiburon has hand-crafted the first truly epic and interactive version of Metropolis, and it spans over 80 square miles of in-game space. At just a glance, it's an impressive sight, but when you realize you can travel the length of the city at supersonic speed without any load time, you begin to understand Tiburon's accomplishment and the technological might of Xbox 360.

SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME combines the power of the movie's story with the depth and interaction one would expect from EA's most famed development studio. The Man of Steel has finally been done right, and we'll leave it at that.

Article by Ryan Treit