Play Death And Return Of Superman, The Online

I remember picking up The Death and Return of Superman for the Sega Genesis back in 1994. It was published by Sunsoft, a company that put out a number of comic book games during that era. On a system filled with side-scrolling brawlers, this one immediately stood out because it was about Superman, but not the one you were used to.

You control Superman, and later several replacement heroes, through a linear series of city streets and alien landscapes. The main objective is to punch your way through waves of Intergang thugs and the monstrous Doomsday, moving screen by screen. Signature mechanics include a screen-clearing super attack that builds up as you take damage, and the ability to fly freely within the level boundaries, which adds a vertical element to the combat. The pacing is relentless, and the difficulty is notoriously high, demanding precise timing to block and counter enemy attacks. It feels like a desperate, bruising fight where even the Man of Steel can be worn down.