Superman's cape is animated in the Atari game. I like that. I like a lot of things about this game.
I finally beat Superman for Atari! You can, too. You just have to put up with the nonsensical map that only an alien with x-ray vision can understand.
Rather than a comprehensible grid, the city blocks are divided by color, indicated in the sky (I think). Use the subway to get to other color city blocks (I think). Or, if you're me, just fly west until you eventually find the screen you need.
Other than the map system, Superman is a well-programmed adventure game from the earlier years of Atari 2600. This game is so blocky that when the manual refers to city blocks, it's literal. The game is also abstract, at times; the subway is not a train but a walking path of colored rooms. And I find all of this charming.
Superman starts with a cutscene! As mild-mannered Clark Kent, you watch the bridge explode. Then Lex Luthor escapes on his flying pixel machine, followed by many flickering henchmen. Rush back to the phone booth and emerge as the Man of Steel!
Your goal is to catch all the bad guys and carry them to the prison. Sparkling kryptonite "satellites," sometimes delivered by an obnoxious helicopter, drain your ability to fly or carry. But a mere touch from Lois Lane, who is also sometimes delivered by the obnoxious helicopter, will heal you. Truly, touch heals illness; Lois's previous gig was a massage therapist.
Some of these henchmen can be tricky to find, especially if you're me and you fly aimlessly around the confusing city. You can use x-ray vision to check the surrounding screens, which is helpful. Also, it seems some henchmen like to hide in the subway.
Got the baddies in the jail? Good! Did you rebuild the bridge? Damn. Superman has to work hard. Collect the three bridge pieces and somehow find your way back.
The bridge is rebuilt and the bad guys are locked up! Now we win, right? Nope, Superman. Now you've got to head back to the phone booth and stumble your way to the Daily Planet as weak-ass Clark. Because you have another job as a reporter. Tough times.
Don't get lost on your way to the human job! Just walk into the subway and immediately walk back out. There it is, the Daily Planet! These human directions can be hard to understand. Thanks for playing!
Overall, I recommend Superman to the Atari curious, nerds, and collectors. If you can figure out a way to navigate the city, this is a charming and well-produced adventure game that's fun to play. That can't be said of other licensed adventure games on Atari.
Game of life . . .
I'm so sad and scared so much of the time. I've been on and off so many pills. I try to let go of my attachments. I exercise and eat vegan food. I absorb nature, I meditate, I practice mindfulness and gratitude. Hell, I even pray to a higher power! I never would have believed that. I listen to Ted Talks and read self-growth books. I get plenty of sleep. I do all the things I'm supposed to do to make myself feel better. Except . . .
I think I need to be more social. But people are scary.
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