Bionic Commando has been a game waiting to be remade for the last 20 years
with it's debut on NES. Capcom made a good decision by placing it in the hands
of Swedish studio, Grin.
There is a great tutorial that will get you into the swing of things, excuse
the pun, but it really helps novice players understand the play style. This is
NOT Spiderman.
Swinging is fun and requires timing to get the most distance out of it. But
the arm does so much more. Kiting enemies and objects, zip line kicks and whip
spins (when you unlock Adrenaline).
The user interface is really well animated and helpful too. During load
screens you can press buttons on the controller and it will tell you what the
button does and tips for usage, in case you've forgotten since your
last play.
Graphically, it's of the high quality expected from Capcom licensed games.
You'll definitely appreciate the different locales you visit and get to swing
around.
The musical score is both nostalgic and uplifting. With different renditions
of the Bionic Commando score starting from the main menu and throughout certain
parts in the story. They help to both relax you in certain environments and push
the importance of your current mission at times. You definitely feel like a
Bionic Anti-Hero!
Gameplay is solid and unrelenting. By this, I mean, it's no cake-walk.
Sometimes you will die… a lot. This isn't always death from the challenging
enemies but also from making a risky swing manoeuvre here and there. But this is
why it's so challenging and rewarding. You're always constantly thinking of
different ways to tackle the environment, reach that collectible just out of
your reach or how you're going to take down your enemy (or enemies) in the most
efficient, effortless or flashy way.
Bionic Commando's difficulty reminds me of old-school games, which is a
good thing. It doesn't babysit you, it demands your respect, time and tenacity
to overcome your obstacles and ultimately triumph. Which is a satisfaction that
you'll remember once you've made it through.
Besides, drop a DFA (Death From Above) into a crowd of soldiers from the top
of a skyscraper and tell me you don't feel good about yourself!
There are multi-player modes with Capture the Flag being my favourite. As
swinging changes the dynamic and pace of the match. Well, worth a try.
Also, you can purchase Bionic Commando: Re-Armed on XBL Marketplace, which is
an HD remake of the original. Not only is it nostalgic, but if you unlock a
certain room and experimental weapon in the game, it will transfer over to
Bionic Commando for you to find and use in-game!
So, if you're a fan, old-school gamer or someone looking for a challenging
experience to test your mettle, then you owe yourself to give this one
a go!