This SNES Game Delivered a Near-Perfect Ending Nobody Talks About

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The Super Nintendo is a truly beloved and classic video game console. It features incredibly influential games like Super Mario World and Chrono Trigger, but also boasts a huge library of lesser-known titles that are still worth discovering.

In the early days of the Super Nintendo, many games were based on popular movies and characters. Whenever a new Disney film came out, there was usually a corresponding action game, and superheroes like Superman also had their own adventures on the console. One often-overlooked game from 1994, The Death and Return of Superman, is a real standout with a surprisingly great ending that deserves more recognition.

The Death and Return of Superman “Kills Off” One of DC’s Most Powerful Heroes

The Death and Return of Superman is a beat ’em up video game for the Sega Genesis and SNES. It was originally released as part of a comic book promotion that lasted from December 1992 to October 1993.

The game is unique because it features multiple versions of Superman all existing within the same world. Players can experience the story as Superman, alongside other heroes like Superboy, Steel, Cyborg Superman, and the Eradicator – essentially, you can play as any of these ‘Supermen’.

Okay, so the game throws you right into this insane battle between Superman and Doomsday – this total monster who’s just hell-bent on wrecking Metropolis. It’s chaos! Everyone in the city is freaking out, and honestly, so am I playing! Then you start hearing reports from around the world, and everyone’s worried about what happens if Doomsday actually wins and destroys or takes over Metropolis. It’s a lot of pressure, let me tell you.

Of course, Superman intervenes, leading to a brutal fight with Doomsday. They are evenly matched, trading powerful blows until, ultimately, both deliver a fatal strike. While Doomsday is said to have died from Superman’s attack, Superman also perishes from his injuries after the battle ends.

Although Doomsday has been defeated and the world is safe, Superman is gone. In his absence, four heroes have risen to try and fill the void: Superboy, known as the “Metropolis Kid”; Steel, the “Man of Steel”; Cyborg Superman, the “Man of Tomorrow”; and the Eradicator, called the “Last Son of Krypton.”

Cyborg Superman discovers Doomsday didn’t die fighting Superman – he’s in a coma. Worried about the threat Doomsday still poses, Cyborg Superman chooses to send him far away, launching him into the depths of space to protect Earth.

The game then shifts to different sections, letting players control each of the main characters—the “Supermen”—at different times. These Supermen frequently clash, disagreeing on how to approach things and even competing to be seen as the real Superman.

Eradicator lived up to his name – he wasn’t hesitant to kill his opponents. While permanently eliminating threats seemed logical to him, Superman refuses to take lives. Ultimately, Steel intervenes to stop Eradicator from killing anyone.

This clash forces Eradicator to reconsider his violent approach. A key theme of the game is exploring the true nature of Superman – it’s not just about his powers, but also his kindness and empathy.

The True Villain of the Game Turns Out to Be Superman… Sort Of

Much of the story in The Death and Return of Superman builds up Doomsday as the main villain. After Cyborg Superman launches the seemingly defeated Doomsday into space, it feels inevitable that he’ll wake up and come back to Earth.

In a surprising turn of events, a UFO enters Earth’s atmosphere and devastates Coast City. The Eradicator soon discovers that Cyborg Superman is responsible. It’s revealed that he didn’t just destroy the city, but used its energy to rebuild himself, aiming for a more powerful and flawless form.

Superboy and Steel break free from Cyborg Superman and unexpectedly encounter the original Superman—the hero everyone believed died battling Doomsday. Though incredibly weakened from his previous fight, Superman still steps in to help defeat Cyborg Superman.

Superman teams up with Steel, Superboy, and the Eradicator to stop the Cyborg Superman’s dangerous scheme. The Eradicator makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Superman, allowing players to once again control the hero and finally defeat his robotic counterpart. Following the victory, Steel and Superboy acknowledge Superman as the one and only “true Superman.”

Ultimately, the game demonstrates that Superman couldn’t have succeeded on his own; he needed help from other versions of himself. Each Superman the player controls is vital to the narrative.

Superboy saves Metropolis by destroying an incoming missile. Steel emphasizes the importance of compassion and forgiveness for any hero, and successfully disables a key component of Cyborg Superman’s scheme in Engine City. Eradicator bravely defends Superman, ultimately sacrificing himself to ensure Superman’s survival and the restoration of his powers.

Even the villain, Cyborg Superman, is crucial to the story’s outcome. If he hadn’t existed, he might have won and destroyed the world. This highlights a strong theme: embracing all parts of yourself, because every aspect contributes to who you are as a complete person.

The game features multiple versions of Superman, each representing a different side of his personality. It also highlights important values like teamwork, trust, humility, and empathy, showing how these qualities are essential for both success and a meaningful life.

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2026-04-05 03:39