GAME CLEAR No. 198 -- Bat Boy

Bat Boy (2023, Multiplatform)

Developer: X PLUS Co., Ltd., Sonzai Games
Publisher: X PLUS Co., Ltd., DANGEN Entertainment, Limited Run Games
Clear Version: PS5
Clear Platform: PS5
Clear Date: 11/16/24

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Why should I care?
Despite its retro-stylings and obvious inspirations, Bat Boy succeeds in carving out its own identity as a clever and worthy action platformer.

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In play, run(s)

Time for another quick GAME CLEAR here. Bat Boy is not a difficult game to describe. It’s a retro-styled platformer whose characters and plot are inspired by superhero team anime. It follows the eponymous baseballer Ryosuke and his group of high school buddies, all of whom excel at different sports. Using the athletic abilities they’ve developed in playing those sports, they fight bad guys. When the evil Lord Vicious invades Ryosuke’s hometown, magically brainwashes all his friends into joining his cause, and transports them all into his world, the brave Bat Boy must leap into action to save the day.

It’s the perfect setup for the Mega Man-like gameplay loop Bat Boy uses. Ryosuke starts with a very limited set of moves. He can run and jump and hit enemies (and their projectiles) with his bat. If he does this in the air, he’ll bounce off them. Simple stuff, but wouldn’t more moves be fun? If you answered “yes,” read on.

After dealing with the treacherous platforming and Lord Vicious’s Pigzie minions in each stage, Bat Boy must face off against one of his friends. Each of these boss fights is tough but rewarding — literally. After getting knocked back to their senses, Ryosuke’s buds will teach him their signature sporting moves. Some of these moves help with platforming, others help with battle. All have some use or another. Classic beat-the-guy-and-take-his-power stuff.

The good news is that this isn’t some Mighty No. 9 situation. Despite the obvious parallels, Bat Boy is clearly not trying to be Mega Man. For one thing, the Boy attacks with a Bat, which is very much not a gun. This changes the way you must approach each enemy and boss encounter completely compared to the Blue Bomber’s outings. This difference is also true of fellow throwback platformer Shovel Knight, but Bat Boy isn’t that either. Shovel Knight’s design relies on mastery of its title character’s simple movement kit, while Bat Boy demands that you work with its protagonist’s expanding array of movement and attack options. Both are interesting and noble approaches, but they lead to different experiences.

Thus, Bat Boy, while obviously heavily inspired by what came before it, nevertheless maintains a singular identity. For that reason, I love that it exists. While I would simply love to play a new numbered entry in the Mega Man series every year until I die, I do not need anyone but Capcom to assume the responsibility of making that happen — even as the reality is that they aren’t and won’t. If you’re going to make a game, it may as well be your own, and Sonzai Games seems to understand that.

So here I am, glad to know that there’s another platforming hero for me to care about. I love the sports theming of Bat Boy and that its protagonist plays the most virtuous game of them all. I love that he fights for his friends and tries his best. He’s a good boy.

And for the purpose of a blog like this, I think that’s all I need to say. If challenging 2D action platformers are comfort food for you like they are for me, I hope you’ll give this one a shot. It’s not quite essential, but it’s cute and fun and shows there are still new things to be found in this space even after all these decades. Welcome to the club, Bat Boy. I hope you’ll get another chance at the plate one of these days.