Batman
is an anti-hero, in a way. If he wanted to be a "regular" do-gooder, he'd be a cop. But he chooses to take the law into his own hands, as a vigilante. He watched his parents die, and he swore never to let anyone die on his watch, especially if it's a child. I like that, a brooding guy who's tough, but secretly really nice, has morals. A little manliness can't hurt, either.
I'm old enough to remember
Gold/
Silver, but I never actually played anything between
Yellow/
Blue and
Pearl/
Platinum. I lost interest in the series, started playing other games.