Bionic Commando Review

Acquired taste. The dictionary definition is "an appreciation that is unlikely to be enjoyed by a person who has not had a substantial exposure to it." That term describes the new Bionic Commando game for the Xbox 360 (also available for the PlayStation 3 and Windows PC) pretty well too.

Capcom's Bionic Commando series has always had a reputation for challenging gameplay. So it's no surprise that the new game has a steep learning curve in the beginning. This might turn off lots of gamers who try it out. You'll get frustrated. You'll think it isn't fun. Then after you've been playing for a while something happens. The controls that you had to think about become second nature and you find your groove. Next thing you know, you're looking down a battlefield crawling with BioReign terrorists and feeling bad for their next of kin.



The first striking thing about Bionic Commando is that the graphics are gorgeous. They are a really good example of what current systems can pull off. In fact, the cut scenes look like they're done in real-time using the in-game engine. They're that good. The clean, bright style of the original game, Bionic Commando for the Nintendo Entertainment System (or Bionic Commando Rearmed for current systems), has been reimagined as tough and gritty. This new look fits the story well since things haven't gone well for Nathan "Rad" Spencer since we last saw him. After disobeying orders on a covert mission, he was separated from his prosthetic left arm and put in a military prison for 10 years. (The full back story is available in comic form on the official website.) Spencer – now with badass dreadlocks – looks and moves like an action movie star. His animations when leaping from building to building really convey a daredevil desperation. When moving, the environments take on a slight blur that snaps into focus when you stop; this effect really gives a sense of speed while swinging.

Speaking of swinging, that's the heart of the gameplay and also its biggest challenge.  The designers wisely chose to start the campaign without Spencer's arm in order to give gamers a chance to become familiar with weapon combat and movement. Spencer can now jump! That might be heresy for longtime Bionic Commando fans but no worries. After he regains his bionic grappling arm, it's still the primary means of getting around the huge levels.



The BioReign terrorists have nuked Ascension City. Players must cross the wreckage of shattered buildings and highways to reach their objectives. Unlike Activision's Spider-Man series of games, where Spidey's webs always seem to attach somewhere off screen, in Bionic Commando, you have to specifically target something for your arm to grab. It's more realistic, more challenging, and ultimately more satisfying, but it makes getting a good stretch of speed tough. That's the point. Instead of getting from point A to point B quickly, the bulk of the game is like a puzzle, figuring out how to get to checkpoints safely.

Like Spider-Man for the original PlayStation, there are certain sections of the city that are out of bounds because of a hazy mist. Bionic Commando's excuse is radiation. It's an odd design choice. The apocalyptic city is breathtaking but if the engine was incapable of levels that are so large, then why not make the setting base interiors or underground tunnels? In fact, those do appear later. And without the radiation, the enclosed rooms ironically feel freer.



The enemies are surprisingly good. Grunts protect relay terminals that players have to hack, snipers wait for you to slow down, and mech suits offer a challenge with their bigger firepower. Luckily your arm can be used for combat too. You'll discover ways of taking them down using hardly any ammo. The boss battles are a highpoint of the game. They're usually really big and lots of fun in a classic-gaming way.  Nothing beats the triumph of beating bosses like a giant burrowing mechanical worm that tosses cars aside like tissue paper.

Spencer's lines are provided by Faith No More front man Mike Patton. The pissed-off attitude he brought to Spencer isn't always appropriate (Why be angry at your commanding officer, Super Joe, for dropping you weapons caches?), but overall, the voice acting is very good and engages you in the story. The game was made by Swedish developer GRIN, but the plot shows its Japanese publisher's roots. No spoilers, but the resolution to a sub-plot about Spencer's missing wife will leave players asking, "Wait. What? Huh?" in the tradition of crazy anime stories.



Does Bionic Commando offer much replay value? Yes and no. There are the standard multiplayer modes: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag. When Capcom released the Bionic Commando multiplayer beta earlier this year, the reaction from the gaming community was not enthusiastic. This was probably because there were too many things to get a handle on all at once – and that still can seem true. However, after you've played through the single-player mission, multiplayer will make a lot more sense. Play the single-player mode before even thinking of going online. The game also encourages exploration by hiding collectibles in the levels, but the developer made a mistake. Players can revisit levels, but it turns off the collectibles and the achievements. So basically, either find all the collectibles the first time you play a level or start a whole new game to find them later. Bzzzt! Fail!

Players who bought the Bionic Commando Rearmed downloadable game can enter a code to unlock Spencer's original look with red hair and bright colors. Bonus points to the creators for keeping continuity in the cut scenes if you chose the alternate costume. There's also an exclusive level for hardcore gamers who beat the Purple Matrix challenge in Rearmed.



Is Bionic Commando a must buy? Not for the average person. But if you're a hardcore gamer, who enjoys tough games like, well, earlier Bionic Commando games, then you'll appreciate the challenge. Hey, not every soldier can be commando.


Fun factor: It rewards the time you put into it. At the end you feel like you really mastered something instead of just mashing buttons.

Game Length: About 20 hours of gameplay, more or less. Depends on how quickly you master the mechanics.

Difficulty: A steep learning curve in the beginning. Expect to die. A lot.

On the negative side: Dying because you swung through a radiation cloud. Because of your heavy arm, you'll drown in six feet of water.

Bang for your buck: Expert gamers will get their money's worth. At full price, it's a bit of a risk for the average gamer.