Sunman [Prototype] (NES) Playthrough
4Playthrough of Sunman, Sunsoft's unreleased 1992 action game for the NES.
Sunman is a side-scrolling action game developed by EIM and intended for release on the Nintendo Entertainment System by Sunsoft in the early 1990s. The game was never commercially published, but prototype versions have surfaced and can be played in their entirety. It is widely believed that the game originally began development as a licensed Superman title, but licensing issues resulted in the creation of a new hero, Sunman, while much of the design remained intact.
Gameplay follows a structure familiar to action-platformers of the time, with running, jumping, and punching as the main mechanics. The unique feature is Sunmanโs ability to fly, activated by pressing upward. This allows the player to hover and soar through levels, giving the game a dual nature that combines traditional ground-based action with aerial navigation. Certain stages shift entirely into flying sequences, where Sunman can unleash ranged attacks against swarms of enemies.
The game is notable for lacking in-level power-ups or health items. Health is only replenished after boss encounters, which adds difficulty and forces careful play. Combat is straightforward, but the close-range melee system can feel restrictive, especially during flying segments where hit detection is inconsistent. Some stages funnel the player with invisible ceilings, limiting the sense of freedom that flying might otherwise provide.
Visually, Sunman shows an impressive level of polish for a prototype. Sprites are large and detailed, backgrounds vary across stages, and the presentation reflects the style seen in Sunsoftโs other late-generation NES games. Early prototype versions even included the Superman theme music, though this was removed in later builds. The final audio design is serviceable, if not remarkable, and fits the action-driven pacing of the game.
As a nearly completed prototype, Sunman demonstrates both promise and limitations. The flying mechanic sets it apart from many NES contemporaries, and the presentation is strong enough that it could have been competitive in the early 1990s market. At the same time, the lack of combat depth, occasional design restrictions, and absence of power-ups leave it feeling somewhat unrefined compared to other polished releases of the era.
Overall, Sunman stands as an intriguing piece of NES history. It highlights the ambitions of developers experimenting with superhero gameplay on limited hardware and offers a glimpse of what might have been if licensing issues had not forced its cancellation. For retro gaming enthusiasts and those interested in unreleased projects, it remains a valuable example of a nearly finished but never officially launched title.