1987 saw the Street Fighter arcade game released for the first time, as well as another Capcom project which would go on to be extremely successful, Mega Man. Namco also released Wonder Momo, their last 8-bit game, as the new 16-bit era beckoned. Amongst a year of many big gaming releases and announcements, a project known as Bionic Commando (Top Secret in Japan) was also put out by Capcom. Whilst the likes of Mega Man and Street Fighter would become instant classics, Bionic Commando also found a large following, with the innovative bionic arm and grappling gun combination and a notoriety for its lack of a ‘jump’ button.
In the arcade version of the game the protagonist was Super Joe, however he was only a supporting character in the NES release. Nathan “Rad” Spencer would take the reigns and become the lead character in the series from there on, with his physical appearance changing dramatically from game to game.
A Gameboy adaptation of the NES version was released in 1992, and a sequel to this followed on the Gameboy Colour several years after in 1999. For almost a decade, there were no new releases in the Bionic Commando franchise. That is until August 2008, when a game by Swedish video-game developers GRIN (published by Capcom) was released. It was called ‘Bionic Commando: Rearmed’, and was available as a download only title on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. The console versions of the game retailed at $9.99, whereas the PC version initially retailed at $15.
As you load up the game, you will be greeted with a cut-scene detailing some of the story elements. You will immediately take notice of the music in the background. Composed by Simon Viklund, it features remixes of the music found in the original NES version of the game. This has been a highly praised feature and has since been made available for download through services like iTunes. The main menu offers you a range of options, such as starting the main campaign, testing your skills in the challenge rooms, multiplayer (local only), and a scoreboard which allows you to compare times with friends and others worldwide.
He's Awesome!
The main campaign mode features text-based conversations with friends and foes, through which you discover what your objectives during the game are – to save Super Joe (the protagonist of the arcade game) and also to slow down the impending Imperial advances. You travel through the different areas in the game on an overhead map, where a pilot will take you from place to place. Spencer’s physical appearance is soon revealed, with short ginger hair and black sunglasses proving a stark contrast to the shaggy haired hero in the NES game.
Animations are remarkably fluid once you take control of Spencer for the first time, as enemies collapse over ledges once killed by your weapon. The vibrant visuals are also clear to see, as the sun beams down on each and every platform, and the dazzling blue sky provides a contrast to Spencer’s green getup…and ginger hair. The game isn’t afraid to go in the opposite direction, however, as dark green caves will be a place you visit regularly. As you approach a computer, you are given the option to ‘Hack enemy network’. Upon doing this, you are presented with a simple puzzle game. It felt somewhat out of place at the start, but it provides relief from the action-based gameplay that makes up the majority of the title. The swinging mechanic still feels satisfying, and the lack of a jump button (which sadly has turned some away from the game) provides you with yet another obstacle to overcome. Your bionic arm also allows you to pick up man-sized barrels to throw at man-sized err, men. Awesome.
As well as the music, there are other tip-offs to the previous games, as the icon displaying the number of lives remaining resembles an 8 bit version of Spencer. As the game goes on, you will meet a variety of different bosses in all shapes and sizes. The first is labeled by Spencer as a ‘little chatterbox’. There is a definite strategy to beating all of them, something that may put off certain people, but it goes without saying that the game was always going to be challenging, in similar fashion to the games in the series that preceded Rearmed. Dialogue is genuinely funny, with small references to mistakes within the NES version of the game that wouldn’t be understandable if you hadn’t played that version.
The first of many bosses you'll encounter.
Whilst in the overhead menu which allows you to travel to different areas, you will encounter purple trucks, and if you should collide with them they will trigger a very different style of gameplay. The game switches to an overhead view, as opposed to side on, and you fight forces on various terrain, such as snow. Also, the game has received trophy support on the Playstation 3 recently and supports Achievements on the Xbox 360.
Bionic Commando: Rearmed remains very faithful to earlier titles in the series, and has been critically acclaimed, currently rating between 85 to 87/100 on Metacritic. Many fans regard it as the best game in the series, and even as the best title available on the Playstation Network or the Xbox Live Marketplace. It has recently dropped to a ludicrous price of $5 on the PSN, and anyone who considers themselves a gamer would be mad to turn it down at that price. It has more content than many next-gen games that retail for $60, and is a recommended purchase for all who want a challenge, and a look (possibly a first) into a game series that has stayed close to the hearts of many since its initial release way-back-when.
By Patrick M (ZippyPatrick)
Is it a fiver on the UK PSN store?
I got it for less in a sale, but i think it’s that price normally.