Metropolis

While the Nintendo 64 version would eventually become one of the most infamous games of the generation, the project began with ambitions far greater than its reputation might suggest.

According to Tidus co-founder Eric Kan, the original vision was an expansive open-world adventure set across Metropolis.

Players would freely fly throughout the city, rescue civilians, battle iconic villains, and make full use of Superman's vast range of powers years before open-world superhero games became common.

However, shortly after development began, changes within Warner Bros. licensing department reportedly led to increasingly strict approval requirements.

Cannes later estimated that less than 10% of the original design ultimately survived into the finished product.

Those restrictions also helped shape one of Superman's most recognizable features.

Rather than allowing players to freely explore Metropolis, the story was rewritten so that Lex Luthor and Brainiac trapped Superman inside of a virtual simulation.

This provided an in-universe explanation for the game's abstract environments, floating structures, and heavy green fog, while also helping disguise the Nintendo 64's technical limitations.

When they point out he can't hurt Superman, the man vows to strike at Superman through them.

He explains the mask is made of lead, it's locked, and 10 other men dressed exactly the same are out on the streets of Metropolis.

That's why, once again, like if it had been a video or a television message that they were watching and it's like, you're not even going to know which one is me because there are 10 of us out or something like that.

But it's like,

I thought it was a bird the first time myself." Now, that does make sense and work, you know, for the first few months that, you know, Superman is active.

However, you know, over time, uh, uh, where Superman actually becomes a famous part of life in Metropolis, if you see a blue streak in the sky and go, "It's a bird," somebody's gonna look at you and say, "What- what's wrong with you?" Or just assume that you are the biggest greenhorn around.

So it makes a whole lot less sense as an opening going forward, but it's just so iconic that it really doesn't matter if it makes sense.

And of course, you know, we can be deconstructionist about the whole thing, but the fact is that, uh, nearly any writer would give anything to write something, uh, and to create something that is iconic and memorable in pop culture 80 years after they did it.

So th- this was definitely, uh, a bit different, uh, for the time.

It's also really specific about [laughs] Superman coming down in Indiana, you know, which is kind of amusing since so much of the series, they are totally nonspecific, uh, you know, when Superman's traveling within the United States as to where actually he is.

You know, travels to another state, you know, and of course, Metropolis is not named as being in a particular state.

Another big difference, uh, this one with the broadcast version is in the broadcast version, the boy actually suggests, uh, Superman's, uh, name for his, uh, secret identity, Clark Kent.

One thing that I did want to talk about a little bit with Mencken and his relationship with the Manhunters, because the actor who portrays Mencken, he describes him as a zealot, right? Like someone that's like borderline religious fanatic.

I found that kind of interesting with how Lanterns is sort of exploring a little bit more in detail with how humans would react to beings that are otherworldly, right? Because I think that there is something like very pure and important about what Superman represents, right? But for the most part, what he does is comes in to sort of solve like immediate problems that are coming in, right? A monster hits Metropolis, Superman comes in to sort of save the day, right? And that is a very needed and necessary and very inspiring thing, right? Very similar to Spider-Man.

I think that's part of why these two are like, ranked like two of the top three superheroes because they feel the most approachable to like the everyday person.

I think there is also something sort of ominous about how people in this town are reacting to like whatever these Manhunters are providing, because this is more like a structural and sustainable change to their livelihood, right? He talks about their crops being good, their water is cleaner, the hospitals are empty.

...

I guess in terms of, of some positives and then also some critiques as well, as far as positives go, uh, one of the things that I've always appreciated about Superman: The Animated Series is how they built out the world of Metropolis-

Yeah

... a- and beyond.

Often he doesn't have a lot to do, but he's there, and so I really appreciated the attempt-

Yeah

... to really kind of fill out this, this world of Metropolis and not have it feel so, so insular.

Well, and what I love about this show and Batman is, like the guest stars, like the...