[4] It is a traditional single-player side-scrolling arcade game where the player controls Superman through various levels in an effort to defeat the evil supervillain named Brainiac.

This game was planned to be released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, but was cancelled before it was completed.

Versions of the game for the Master System and Game Gear were developed by Graftgold and published by Virgin Interactive in Europe as Superman: The Man of Steel, which was also the title received by the European Mega Drive version published by Virgin.

Each level of the game begins with a front page of the Daily Planet announcing that some supervillain is wreaking havoc on the city, and with Clark Kent changing into his Superman costume in order to start the level.

The game limits the powers of Superman to jumping, punching and kicking (he cannot fly except in cutscenes).