Bionic Commando is the seventh generation console installment in Capcom‘s adventure-platformer series, and the sixth game overall (following the original arcade, NES, and Game Boy versions, Elite Forces, and Rearmed). The game was developed and published by Capcom in collaboration with Swedish developer GRIN (best known for Ballistics and the Microsoft Windows version of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter series) and being Produced by Ben Judd. The game is a direct sequel to the second game and its remake Bionic Commando Rearmed, released in 1988 for the NES and in 2008 as a download for current gen systems. The development team has gone on record saying they have looked through all the old games including Mercs for connections. The game is run on the homebrewed Grin “Diesel” Engine.

According to a Capcom spokesperson a Wii version is also a possibility if the fans want it. The game was released in North America on May 19 and was released in all PAL territories on May 22, 2009, and the PC release shortly thereafter. A multiplayer demo has been released on the Xbox 360.

Gameplay

Initial speculation pegged the game as a sandbox third person action game, similar to games such as Spider-Man 2 or The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. However, although some levels feel open and exploratory in nature, the game uses several mechanics (primarily radiation) which act as barriers. These barriers are used to prevent players from straying too far away from objectives giving levels a linear feel. Nathan Spencer is able to target enemies while hanging, climbing a building or even in mid-swing, while using an implement called the Bionic Arm which can also be used to attack enemies at close range. The Bionic Arm can be used to grab and launch objects such as boulders and cars at enemies. In addition, he is equipped with boots that enable him to kick said objects at enemies, as well as throw them. These boots are also the reason Spencer does not take damage from extremely long falls.

Multi-player

Online multi-player matches support up to 10 players featuring classic multi-player staples such as deathmatch and capture the flag . Although some abilities available in the single-player campaign are disabled in multi-player, the bionic arm is still usable online as a grapple hook. It can be used to swing and zip line, even into enemies. Several weapons can be used in the game, including a handgun as default weapon, a shotgun, a sniper rifle, a heavy machine gun and a grenade launcher.

Plot

The main character of the game, Nathan Spencer

The events of the game take place ten years after the NES installment. According to Capcom’s press release, this iteration follows Nathan “RAD” Spencer (voiced by Mike Patton, Faith No More lead singer),, and a government operative working in the fictional Ascension City and an Operative for the Tactical Arms and Security Committee (or T.A.S.C) which specializes in training bionic commandos like Spencer. After he is betrayed by his own government and falsely imprisoned, the Great Bionic Purge begins. Before his execution, an experimental weapon detonates in Ascension City, unleashing an earthquake along with a radioactive shock wave that leaves the city destroyed and wiping out its populace, with the threat of an invasion from a terrorist force known as the “BioReign”. Spencer is now freed to redeem his name along with the T.A.S.C’s and is reunited with the bionic arm of which he was stripped.

Super Joe, the protagonist from the Commando series, and a supporting character from the original NES version, will also appear in the sequel. He will be voiced by Steven Blum. The character is now identified as Superintendent Joseph Gibson, the Player 1 character from the arcade game Mercs. In the new Bionic Commando, Gibson is the former lead director of the T.A.S.C, who assists Spencer to clear his name and in turn help bionics become legal again.

The story begins with Spencer being released from prison only on the condition that he assists FSA against the threat to Ascension City. The city has been bombed by a Pro-Bionics terrorist group known as “Bio-Reign”. After Spencer failed to eliminate two of his targets, the two rogue bionics had murdered a handful of people which caused a public outcry for the banning of bionics. Spencer was sentenced to prison and death, while all Bionics were forced to surrender their bionic parts.

When given this ultimatum in exchange for his freedom, Spencer initially turns it down, but Super Joe tells him he has knowledge of Spencer’s missing wife. As Spencer progresses through Ascension City, he finds that there is yet another mass weapon that is being sought after by the terrorists. Spencer is ordered to retrieve the item before the Bio-Reign terrorists can. After finally gaining access to the item, he is betrayed by Joe who reveals himself as the leader of Bio-Reign. Joe has also enlisted the help of Gottfried Groeder, an enemy that Spencer fought nearly ten years earlier.

Joe then reveals that Spencer’s wife never left, but is actually part of his bionic arm. In order for bionics to work, they need to be able to sync with their host. In this case, his wife would be the perfect candidate. After this revelation, Spencer heads after Joe who has activated Project Vulture. A fellow Bionic tries to stall Joe, now in a Bio-Mech suit, but is killed while Spencer is forced to watch. Spencer finally breaks free, and heads after Joe. In a fierce mid-air battle, Spencer kills Joe and ultimately stops Project Vulture. Spencer falls back to the ground, remembering his wife. A postscript scene following the credits displayed a brief conversation in Morse code between the sniper who’d been following Spencer and an unknown party. The first, which was decrypted, reported the Vault had been occupied and the Vulture Sentry System had been destroyed before requesting further instructions. While the reply was not transcribed from Morse code, the decrypted message was in German reporting “Execution of Phase Two Prepared. Activate Project Albatross.” hinting at a possible sequel.

source: Wikipedia

System Requirements

In case you haven’t played Bionic Commando yet due to the lack of current gen hardware, the PC version is around the corner and here’s the hardware you’ll require to run this game:

Minimum

  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista (service pack is optional, the game can run with no SP)
  • Processor: Dual-core processor (Intel CoreTM2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD AthlonTM X2 5200+ 2.6 GHz)
  • Memory: 1.5 GB RAM
  • Video Card: DirectX9.0c/Shader3.0 compatible, VRAM 512 MB (NVIDIA GeForce 7800 series or ATI RadeonTM X1900)
  • Sound Card: DirectX9.0c compatible sound cards
  • Hard Disc Space: 8.0 GB free space
  • DVD Drive: DVD9 compatible drive (DVD DL)
  • Monitor: 800×600
  • Input Devices: Mouse & Keyboard required (Recommended: Xbox 360 Controller for Windows)
  • Multiplayer: Internet connection required for online play.

Recommended

  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista (service pack is optional, the game can run with no SP)
  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 Ghz or AMD Phenom 9500 Quad Core and higher
  • Memory: 2.0 GB RAM or more
  • Video Card: Video Card: DirectX10/Shader4.0 compatible, VRAM 512+ MB (NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+ series or ATI RadeonTM HD 3800 series or higher)
  • Sound Card: DirectX9.0c compatible sound cards
  • Hard Disc Space: 8.0 GB free space
  • DVD Drive: DVD9 compatible drive (DVD DL)
  • Monitor: 1280×700 or higher
  • Input Devices: Mouse & Keyboard required (Recommended: Xbox 360 Controller for Windows)
  • Multiplayer: Internet connection required for online play

Source: Tech2.in

My Review:

Well for one thing, since I’m not used to fast paced stuff anymore. I started almost wanting to hurl just after a few minutes of playing this game. Not like with Ghostbusters since it was pretty much locked to 30 fps. This game made me wanna puke, just because I’m not used to it. But that didn’t stop me from playing the game, not for all. I just have to get used to playing 3d stuff all over again. It still pretty much felt like a platformer, just in another viewing angle. Being used to jumping around like Super Mario, I still jumped around pretty often in the game. LOL.

Only gripe I have is the fact that the game wouldn’t play well with my Yahoo Messenger. It slows down after a minute of playing with Yahoo Messenger running in the background. I’m so used to having my YM on while playing other games and this game just won’t play nicely with my preferred IM service. Oh and the game was a little jittery, a lot of screen tearing, probably needing to turn on the v-sync which wasn’t part of the graphics options in the game. BTW, I used the latest Nvidia Drivers for the game, 190.x version. Other than that, yeah, it’s an 7 out of 10.

Review Highlights by other websites:

atomicgamer:

I’m a fan of both the NES original and last year’s remake, so my criticism may come off a bit harsher than actually intended, but this one is close to my gaming heart. The truth is, I had a great time with Bionic Commando, despite its flaws. And while the gameplay stumbles a bit in some areas, it’s also spot-on for much of the experience. The audio and visual presentation is also top notch; Ascension City is breathtaking to behold in all its ruined beauty, and the explosive effects and voice work will be music to your surround sound set-up. RAD’s return had a lot to live up to, and it mostly succeeds at rebooting a long-loved franchise, delivering a title fans of the original will appreciate, while introducing newcomers to an excellent action game that hopefully sees a sequel.

videogamer:

On top of the single-player campaign is online and system-link multiplayer for up to eight players. This works as you might expect, with the usual selection of game modes and plenty of mid-air combat, but it doesn’t (at least from what we’ve played) reach the combat heights of the single-player game. It’s also incredibly unforgiving when you’re new, so until you’re up to speed with the controls expect to finish last more often than not.

Bionic Commando will frustrate many gamers, but get past the initial swinging learning curve and you’ll find a highly entertaining action game that tries to do something a bit different. It’s not a must-own classic that Capcom has become renowned for making, but with smart presentation and some thrilling gameplay it still comes highly recommended.

gamecritics:

HIGH Mastering the arm and swinging effortlessly through levels.

LOW Some checkpoints are set too far apart.

WTF The elements of a great story are here, they’re just hardly used.

Although some reviewers may malign the title, when all was said and done, I’ve got nothing but praise for it. The attention and effort put into this game is evident in all respects, and the central concept introduced so many years ago still holds up to this day; in fact, I’d say GRIN’s work is superior to that which inspired it. Putting aside expectations of what some uninformed writers may think it should be, I was quite glad to take Bionic Commando for what it is—an absolutely faithful reimagining of an undisputed classic, smartly crafted and brought elegantly into the current generation. Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Be Sociable, Share!

No related posts.