Batman Returns

In this game, you'll find that your health - specifically how often you're hit and how many times you die - determine the ending. Taking hits adds 8 points to this counter, and dying adds 1,024 points to the counter (overwhelmingly the greater influence). When you finish the final stage, if you counter is within certain values, you will find different endings.

The estimates in regards to number of deaths are merely estimates, as taking 128 hits is still equivalent to a loss of life.

Between levels and during a cutscene, hold Start on Controller 1 and A+B on Controller 2 altogether and press Select on Controller 1. This will skip the cutscene or you can wait until the cutscene ends. If done right, you'll begin with 10 Batarangs on the next stage. This will not work for the scene prior to the first stage.

The passwords below will allow you to reach the named stage. All passwords will make you have the maximum number of health boxes and health, and all will give you the test tube item from partway through the game. Each password will also bring you within the conditions for a certain ending based on your hit/death count (see the "Unlockables" for more): your damage is minimized to keep it as easy as possible to obtain that ending. You will also be able to use a "Level Select" debug cheat: press Left or Right on Controller 2 to go up levels as high as 4-2.

Certain passwords - they are noted - will also enable invulnerability. Do not use those passwords if you intend to keep a semblance the challenge of the real game. This was also a debug-only function.