Play Death and Return of Superman, The Online

Summary

The Death and Return of Superman lands on the SNES as a classic side‑scrolling beat ’em up that lets you step into the boots of five different Supermen. Each hero shares a core move set—punches, grabs, throws, a projectile and a screen‑clearing special—while subtle variations in range give them a distinct feel. Flying isn’t just a cosmetic trick; it’s required to bypass obstacles, dodge airborne foes, and even to finish certain stages. The game forces you to stick with the character assigned to each level, so you’ll swing from Superman’s raw power to Steel’s more mechanical style without swapping mid‑run.

Levels split into two flavors. Standard melee stages pit you against waves of gun‑wielding thugs, robots and eventually a boss, while dedicated flying stages turn the screen into a free‑move arena where only projectile attacks matter. Oddly, Superman never gets a flying‑only stage, whereas Steel’s unique aerial level still relies on melee attacks and even includes its own boss. Some elevated platforms temporarily strip the flight ability, forcing you back onto the ground.

The SNES and Genesis versions look almost identical, but their soundtracks diverge dramatically, giving each console its own musical personality. Critics were mixed: GameRankings gave the SNES a 59 % average, while AllGame’s Brett Weiss awarded it 3.5 / 5 stars, praising the colorful graphics and solid sound. IGN later honored the title with the 81st spot on its Top 100 SNES Games list, and Complex placed it at 100th in its best‑of‑SNES roundup. Despite the lukewarm scores, the game still delivers a nostalgic punch for anyone who grew up with the comic’s epic showdown.

Storyline

The Death and Return of Superman on the SNES opens with Clawster and his army of Underworlders cutting the power in Metropolis. Superman intervenes, defeats the horde and restores the grid. A news bulletin then warns that Doomsday, a monster of unknown origin, is heading for the city. The titanic clash ends with both Superman and Doomsday delivering killing blows to each other, leaving Superman dead.

Three months later four Supermen appear, each claiming to be the true hero. The story shifts to Cyborg Superman, who assaults a Project Cadmus base to locate a comatose Doomsday and then exiles the creature into deep space. Control then passes to the Eradicator, the “Last Son of Krypton,” patrolling Metropolis until he meets Steel, the armored Superman, and the two battle over the Eradicator’s ruthless methods. Steel convinces the Eradicator that humanity and compassion are essential to being a Superman. The Eradicator begins to reconsider his approach.

A mysterious spacecraft then obliterates Coast City, prompting the Eradicator to investigate and encounter Cyborg Superman, who critically injures him. The focus moves to Superboy, the “Metropolis Kid,” who thwarts the crisis in Metropolis and flies to Coast City to confront Cyborg Superman. Captured and imprisoned aboard the alien ship, Superboy learns Cyborg’s plan to destroy the world and rebuild it in his image. He escapes, returns to Metropolis, and joins Steel and the real Superman to stop the rogue. Together they head for Engine City.

In Engine City Cyborg Superman launches a missile aimed at Metropolis; Superboy intercepts and destroys it. Steel then enters the Engine’s core to shut it down while a regenerated Eradicator arrives to shield a weakened Superman from kryptonite fire. The shield neutralizes the kryptonite’s effect, restoring Superman’s strength as the Eradicator perishes. Controlling Superman, the player defeats Cyborg Superman, and the game ends with Steel and Superboy congratulating the true Superman.