Superman: The Man of Steel

n/a

Mega Drive
Master System
Game Gear

Superman: The Man of Steel

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear

Publisher: Virgin Games

Sunsoft (US)

Developer:

Thinking Rabbit^[1]

Graftgold Creative Software

Licensor: DC Comics

Sound driver:

Sunsoft sound driver

Genre: Action^[2], Arcade^[3]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1992-12^[4]	$54.9954.99^[5]	T-15036
EU	1992-12^[6]		T-70126-50
PT	199x		MD70126
UK	1993-06^[7]	£39.9939.99^[8]^[9]	T-70126-50
SE (Rental)	199x
AU	199x
EU	1993-08^[10]		MK-27050-50
PT	1993		MS27050
UK	1993-08^[10]		MK-27050-50
AU	199x
BR	1993		027190
EU	1993-05-26^[11]		T-70068-50
EU (Classic)	199x		70068-00
PT	1993		GG70068
UK	1993-08^[12]	£27.9927.99^[13]	T-70068-50
GR	199x

Superman: The Man of Steel, known simply as Superman in North America, is an action game for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, and Sega Game Gear.

Story

Superman is the Man of Steel, a superhero who lives in the fictional American city of Metropolis. He was born on the fictional planet Krypton and named Kal-El, but his parents sent him to Earth in a small spaceship moments before Krypton was destroyed in a natural cataclysm. His ship landed in the American countryside, where he was found and adopted by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, who named him Clark Kent. Clark developed various superhuman abilities, such as incredible strength and impervious skin. His adoptive parents advised him to use his abilities for the benefit of humanity, and he decided to fight crime. As Clark Kent, he works as a journalist for the Daily Planet, but he changes into a colorful costume and uses the alias "Superman" when fighting crime.

Archvillain Brainiac has captured fellow journalist and love interest Lois Lane, and Superman must rescue her.

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

Brainiac

The game is a side-scrolling action game where the player controls Superman through unconnected episodes as he rescues innocents and foils the plans of various supervillains. Each round of the game begins with a front page of the Daily Planet announcing that some supervillain is wreaking havoc on the city, and with Clark Kent changing into his Superman costume in order to start the round. Gameplay is divided between ground levels, where Superman walks, and flying levels, which are autoscrolling like a shoot-'em-up.

In ground levels, Superman moves with and and runs with and . The crouches with and jumps with . He jumps higher with + (which can also be done during running jumps). He punches with , which can be used to hurt enemies or punch through some barriers. He can punch while standing, crouching, or jumping. Superman can also use a super power with . His super power is initially the Sonic Punch, but it can be changed to the Hyper Spin by finding an item. Using an ability drains Superman's super power gauge. A super power can only be used when the gauge is full, but the gauge slowly replenishes over time.

In flying levels, Superman moves in any direction using the D-Pad. He punches enemies with . He can punch when he is flying in an upright position but not when he is flying in a prone position. He can use his Heat Vision superpower with or to shoot red beams from his eyes. Using Heat Vision drains the super power gauge, but Heat Vision can be used even when the gauge is empty. However, the ability fires a larger, more powerful beam when the gauge is not full.

Superman has a health gauge that empties as he takes damage from foes. The game ends if he loses all of his health, but it can be continued two times. The player earns extra continues at 40,000, 80,000, 160,000, 240,000 and 320,000 points.

Super powers

	Sonic Punch
	Superman hits enemies with a deadly supersonic punch. Some barriers can only be destroyed by the Sonic Punch. Superman only Sonic Punch while standing. This ability is used in the ground levels and can only be used when the super power gauge is full.
	Hyper Spin
	Superman spins in place with his arms stretched out, which can be used to destroy enemies that come near or bust through floors. This ability is used in the ground levels and can only be used when the super power gauge is full.
	Heat Vision
	Superman fires red heat beams from his eyes. This ability is used in the flying levels and does more damage when the super power gauge is full.

Items

	Black & White
	Awards 3,000 points.
	Yellow & Red
	Restores Superman's health gauge.
	Blue
	Replaces Superman's super power with the Hyper Spin ability and fills the super power gauge.
	Red
	Replaces Superman's super power with the Sonic Punch ability and fills the super power gauge.

Rounds

	Children Are Being Kidnapped!
	Boss: The Prankster

	Bodies Found in Train Station
	Boss: Metallo

	Lois Lane Kidnapped

	Superman in Space

	Final Round
	Boss: Brainiac

Master System and Game Gear versions

The game is a side-scrolling action platformer played as the superhero Superman. Superman moves with and and ducks with . He jumps with . He attacks by punching enemies with . He can punch while standing or crouching but not while jumping or flying.

Superman starts flying by holding , and then the player can move him in any direction using the D-Pad. Some levels are autoscrolling levels where Superman is permanently flying. In these levels, Superman can fly faster by holding in a direction.

He can find power-ups that give him the Heat Vision or Super Punch abilities. Heat Vision fires red heat beams from Superman's eyes with when he is jumping or flying. Super Punch gives him a more powerful punch that he can use by holding when on the ground. These abilities last for a limited number of uses.

Superman has a health gauge, and the game ends if he loses all of his health. The player starts the game with one continue but earns another every 100,000 points. Superman automatically starts flying if he falls into a bottomless pit, with no harm incurred. There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, and Hard).

Items

Items are sometimes found in levels or released by fly out from enemies when they are defeated.

	Blue
	Gives Superman the Heat Vision or Super Punch super ability, which last for a limited number of uses. A yellow icon appears to the left of the health gauge when Superman has the Super Punch ability and to the right of the health gauge when Superman has the Heat Vision ability.
	Red
	Restores Superman's health gauge.

Rounds

	Metropolis Attacked
	Boss: The Prankster

	Children Kidnapped
	Boss: Metallo

	Subway Hijack
	Boss: Metallo

	Lois Lane Hostage

	Lois Held in Space
	Boss: Brainiac

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Superman: The Man of Steel	Superman: The Man of Steel
English (US)	Superman	Superman

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Programmer: Sakura Hasegawa, Ann Bob Winza
Design Concept by: Mike Mendheim
CG Designers: Minori Okamoto, Naomi Sanada, Takakiyo Masaki, Hiroyuki Karashima, Toyozumi Sakai, Dai Ozawa, Yukio Obayashi
Sound Creator: Kenji Yamasaki, Junichi Ueda, Hiroshi Tsukamoto
Director: Masahiro Kataoka, A.T
Special Thanks to: Masato Kawai, Masaru Aoyanagi, Mikio Iwata, Joe Robbins, Rita Zimmerer, David Siller, Steve Gehrke, Al Artus, Karen Shadley, Kazuko Harman
Very Special Thanks to: Luana Chambers, Marilyn Drucker, Barbara Farina
Producer: Kiharu Yoshida

Source:

In-game credits^[14]

Master System and Game Gear versions

Programming: Rod Mack, Steve Turner © 1992 Graftgold Ltd
Graphics: John Lilley
Music: Jason Page
Additional Design: Steve Turner, Rod Mack
Produced by: Ian Mathias
Quality Assurance: Darren Lloyd, Ken Jordan, Terry Spoon
Manual Origination: Gary Penn
Marketing: Andrew Wright, Matt Walker
Logistics Manager: Catherine Spratt
Storyboard Design: Michael Mendheim
Sound Originator: Kenji Yamasaki, Junichi Ueda, Jason Page
Game Design: © 1992 Sunsoft

Source:

In-game credits^[15]

Magazine articles

Main article: Superman: The Man of Steel/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

FR print advert

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #11: "February/March 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #44: "March 1993" (1993-xx-xx)^[16]

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #140: "July 1993" (1993-06-15)

Print advert in Todo Sega (ES) #2: "Mayo 1993" (1993-04-15)

Print advert in Todo Sega (ES) #5: "Agosto 1993" (1993-0x-xx)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[17]

Cool Gamer (RU)

30

^[18]

Digitiser (UK)

PAL

40

^[19]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

52

^[20]

Game Power (IT)

79

^[21]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

83

^[5]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

79

^[22]

Joypad (FR)

83

^[23]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

72

^[24]

Mega (UK)

PAL

39

^[8]

Mega Action (UK)

PAL

40

^[25]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

50

^[9]

Player One (FR)

61

^[26]

Play Time (DE)

46

^[27]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

30

^[28]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-U'"`UNIQ--ref-0000001A-QINU`"'

62

^[29]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

80

^[30]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

68

^[31]

Sega Opisaniy i sekretov (RU)

73

^[32]

Supergame (BR)

NTSC-U

87

^[33]

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)

NTSC-U

90

^[34]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

25

^[35]

	59
Based on 22 reviews

Superman: The Man of Steel

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, AU

Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Digitiser (UK)

PAL

44

^[36]

Mega Force (FR)

61

^[37]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

PAL

55

^[38]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

75

^[39]

Player One (FR)

70

^[40]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

52

^[41]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

78

^[42]

Sega Force (SE)

85

^[43]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

66

^[44]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

11

^[45]

	60
Based on 10 reviews

Superman: The Man of Steel

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, PT

Master System, PT (Super Preço)
Cover

Master System, AU

Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Joypad (FR)

41

^[46]

Mega Force (FR)

41

^[47]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

59

^[38]

Player One (FR)

35

^[48]

Power Unlimited (NL)

70

^[49]

Score (CZ)

71

^[50]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

52

^[41]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

77

^[51]

Sega Force (SE)

63

^[52]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

64

^[53]

Todo Sega (ES)

65

^[54]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

8

^[55]

	54
Based on 12 reviews

Superman: The Man of Steel

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU (Classic Game Gear)
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, PT
Cover

Game Gear, GR
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Superman: The Man of Steel/Technical information.

References

Superman: The Man of Steel
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs Prototypes: Prototype

Superman games for Sega systems
Superman: The Man of Steel (1992) \| The Death and Return of Superman (1995) \| Justice League Task Force (1995)

[https:.2F.2Farchive.is.2FwKeFY-1] @gdri on Twitter (archive.today)

[:File:Superman_GG_EU_cover.jpg_p-2] File:Superman GG EU cover.jpg

[:File:STMoS_SMS_EU_Box.jpg_p-3] File:STMoS SMS EU Box.jpg

[:File:GamePro_US_038.pdf_p28-4] GamePro, "September 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 28

[:File:GamePro_US_044.pdf_p46-5] 5.0 ^5.1 GamePro, "March 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 46

[:File:Mega_UK_01.pdf_p11-6] Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 11

[:File:SegaPro_UK_21.pdf_p18-7] Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 18

[:File:Mega_UK_11.pdf_p53-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 53

[:File:MegaTech_UK_20.pdf_p66-9] 9.0 ^9.1 MegaTech, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-20), page 66

[:File:SegaPro_UK_22.pdf_p30-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Sega Pro, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-08), page 30

[:File:GamesMaster_UK_006.pdf_p18-11] GamesMaster, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 18

[:File:SegaPro_UK_23.pdf_p28-12] Sega Pro, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-12), page 28

[:File:Go_UK_21.pdf_p28-13] Computer & Video Games, "July 1993 (Go! Issue 21)" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 28

[:File:Superman_MD_credits.pdf_p-14] File:Superman MD credits.pdf

[:File:Superman_SMS_credits.pdf_p-15] File:Superman SMS credits.pdf

[:File:EGM_US_044.pdf_p160-16] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 160

[17] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 298

[18] Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 212

[digitiser1993-04-08-19] Digitiser (UK) (1993-04-08)

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p101-20] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 101

[:File:GamePower_IT_10.pdf_p60-21] Game Power, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 60

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_023.pdf_p106-22] Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 106

[:File:Joypad_FR_018.pdf_p90-23] Joypad, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 90

[:File:Joypad_FR_023.pdf_p157-24] Joypad, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 157

[:File:MegaAction_UK_04.pdf_p14-25] Mega Action, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-12), page 14

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_034.pdf_p145-26] Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 145

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1993-05.pdf_p104-27] Play Time, "5/93" (DE; 1993-04-07), page 104

[:File:SegaPower_UK_46.pdf_p52-28] Sega Power, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-05), page 52

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p30-29] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 30

[:File:SegaPro_UK_21.pdf_p30-30] Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 30

[:File:SegaZone_UK_06.pdf_p26-31] Sega Zone, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 26

[:File:14000_opisaniy_i_sekretov_SEGA.pdf_p192-32] Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 192

[:File:Supergame_BR_17.pdf_p14-33] Supergame, "Dezembro 1992" (BR; 1992-12-xx), page 14

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_48.pdf_p58-34] VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 58

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-09.pdf_p106-35] Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 106

[digitiser1993-07-30-36] Digitiser (UK) (1993-07-30)

[:File:MegaForce_FR_18.pdf_p70-37] Mega Force, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 70

[:File:Micromania2_ES_063.pdf_p41-38] 38.0 ^38.1 Micromanía (segunda época), "Agosto 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 41

[:File:MeanMachinesSega09UK.pdf_p82-39] Mean Machines Sega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-25), page 82

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_034.pdf_p114-40] Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 114

[:File:SegaPower_UK_44.pdf_p30-41] 41.0 ^41.1 Sega Power, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-03), page 30

[:File:SegaPro_UK_21.pdf_p34-42] Sega Pro, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-10), page 34

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_04.pdf_p21-43] Sega Force, "4/93" (SE; 1993-07-08), page 21

[:File:SegaForce_UK_19.pdf_p36-44] Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-27), page 36

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-09.pdf_p107-45] Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 107

[:File:Joypad_FR_021.pdf_p158-46] Joypad, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 158

[:File:MegaForce_FR_18.pdf_p114-47] Mega Force, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 114

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_035.pdf_p152-48] Player One, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 152

[:File:PowerUnlimited_NL_007_199402.pdf_p43-49] Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 2, Februari 1994" (NL; 1994-01-26), page 43

[:File:Score_CZ_08.pdf_p60-50] Score, "Srpen 1994" (CZ; 1994-08-01), page 60

[:File:SegaPro_UK_22.pdf_p65-51] Sega Pro, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-08), page 65

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_05.pdf_p26-52] Sega Force, "5/93" (SE; 1993-08-26), page 26

[:File:SegaForce_UK_19.pdf_p43-53] Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-27), page 43

[:File:TodoSega_ES_04.pdf_p60-54] Todo Sega, "Julio 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 60

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-08.pdf_p121-55] Video Games, "8/93" (DE; 1993-07-28), page 121

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Superman: The Man of Steel

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

Super powers

Items

Rounds

Master System and Game Gear versions

Items

Rounds

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Master System and Game Gear versions

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Game Gear version

Technical information

References