Sunman is a Sunsoft video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was originally meant to be released in 1992, but this never came to be; the only playable version is a prototype ROM originally brought to the internet by a site called The Lost Levels. (Although the download link at the bottom is broken, it is available elsewhere, and you can read what the site has to say about the game here
.)
The game was originally meant to star Superman, but due to Sunsoft's licensing rights to the franchise expiring, they decided to retool the game with their own original IP; in the finished game, you instead take control of Sunman as he tries to defeat Spectre. (There is also an early prototype of the game that uses Superman's appearance and the theme tune from the movie, available online, but large parts of it are unfinished.)
GRATE! TROPES!
- Big Bad: Spectre.
- Eye Beams: Only used in one level.
- Flight: Sunman can do this.
- Generic Doomsday Villain: Spectre has no real motive and just seems to be destroying the city for fun.
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Nintendo Hard: This is possibly one of Sunsoft's hardest games, and that's saying something; weak and close-ranged attack, low health (and no way to replenish it), big hitbox, damaging enemies and the like make it unlikely you'll reach stage 4. It is unknown whether this difficulty was intended, or due to the version available still being a prototype. - Non-Indicative Name: Sunman doesn't have heat powers. Unless you count the Eye Beams he uses in one level as "heat vision".
- Red Is Heroic: Sunman's suit is completely red.
- Rouge Angles of Satin: Great is misspelled as " Grate".
- Superman Substitute: Sunman is this of Superman. Justified, as this was originally a Superman licensed game.
- A Winner Is You: Downplayed. After beating the final boss, all you get is a quick shot of Sunman flying past the Statue of Liberty and three lines of text about how the Earth is at peace now, followed by the credits and a cryptic message to stay tuned for Sunsoft's next game.
