Current version:Game Boy (GB)
Darkman

Darkman

Darkman is a Game Boy action game released in 1991 developed by Ocean Software. It centers on platform movement and landing judgment, movement and immediate actions, and enemy and hazard responses, with controls, information, and pacing arranged around a monochrome small screen, a directional pad, and two main action buttons.

AI score · out of 10
5.9 / 10
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About this game

Darkman is a Game Boy action release centered on platform movement and landing judgment, movement and immediate actions, and enemy and hazard responses. Stages build pressure through routes, enemy patterns, and changing objectives, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make its immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on campaign length or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Readable animation, hits, and hazards determine whether feedback remains dependable, while silhouettes, contrast, and audio cues need to remain clear on the monochrome display. The main genre-specific friction is that period-specific collision rules, limited guidance, and repeated ground after failure can raise the entry barrier. In addition, password or battery saves, link-cable requirements, display blur, manual dependence, and regional language can affect use of the original cartridge today. This description covers only this release and excludes emulator features, modern-port conveniences, and content from other platforms.

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Game Boy (GB)

AI review

AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:

5.9 / 10Game Boy (GB)

Throws and ledges add some tactics to an otherwise basic brawler.

The Game Boy Darkman is a distinct film adaptation, not a direct basis for judgments about the NES release. Its five stages move through streets, buildings and rooftops, mixing close-quarters fighting with traversal. Punches, kicks, picked-up weapons and throws allow limited use of height and enemy placement; a Game Boy player's retrospective also recognizes the film moments and Double Dragon-like structure. The route changes scenery, yet repeated groups of thugs account for much of the action, so variety is modest. More concretely, the GB walkthrough documents facing-dependent A/B attack functions and a simultaneous-button jump, while describing the fighting as primitive and sloppy. Those controls create friction when timing a kick near an edge. This is worthwhile mainly for film-license collectors or handheld brawler enthusiasts willing to learn an awkward input scheme.

Strengths

  • Recognizable film route with throws and weapons
  • Ledges add occasional positional tactics

Weaknesses

  • Dense fights offer limited mechanical variety
  • Facing-dependent attacks and two-button jump are awkward

Who it is for: Film-license collectors and handheld brawler fans willing to learn unusual controls.

Play notes: The distinct Game Boy release is judged from its own guide and recollection, not NES criticism.

View scoring basis
DimensionReview stateScoreWeight
Dimension

The five film-linked stages change setting, but dense fights repeat.

Reviewed5.7 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Throws and ledges add some tactics to an otherwise basic brawler.

Reviewed6.2 / 10Not provided
Dimension

The film adaptation reads clearly, within modest handheld presentation.

Reviewed6.0 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Facing-dependent attacks and a two-button jump make GB combat unintuitive.

Reviewed5.4 / 10Not provided

Review sources

Not provided

Core information

Release date
1991
Platforms
Game Boy (GB)
Content kind
Game
Release state
Released
Region
Worldwide
Official website
Not provided
Offline minimum players
Not provided
Offline maximum players
Not provided
Online minimum players
Not provided
Online maximum players
Not provided
Tags
Solo-friendlyReplayableDodgePlatformingLinear LevelsSide-scrollingFast-paced2D GraphicsMain Story Under 10 HoursReal-time Combat
Supported game languages
Not provided
Requires base game
Not provided
Standalone
Not provided
Age ratings
Not provided
Play modes
Single player
Perspectives
Not provided

Release editions

Sources

Not provided