The Return of Bionic Commando

The Capcom game, originally released for GameBoy Color, comes to PlayStation3, Xbox 360, and PC with anti-terrorist action

by Robert Workman

Bionic Commando, a franchise that hasn't seen the light of day since its release on the Game Boy Color, makes a major return, this time as an all-new game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The trailer making the rounds on the Internet is all too brief, but it gives a peek at what could very well be one of 2008's biggest crowd-pleasers.

This game's events take place several years after the events that unfolded in the original NES adventure. Nathan Spencer, a super-soldier with a bionic arm, goes to war against a terrorist force called the Imperials. However, he's set up for a crime he didn't commit by his own commander, a mysterious figure known only as Super Joe. He's on the verge of being executed when a terrorist attack rocks Ascension City. Finding himself up against a wall, Joe turns to Nathan, who reluctantly accepts a deal to save the city—and his own skin.

Nathan starts out by taking a free-fall dive from a damaged building, only to avoid splattering himself on the ground by extending his bionic arm and swinging out of danger. The swing mechanics look similar to that of Activision's Spider-Man games, but pack much more depth. For instance, Nathan carefully maintains his speed and agility so that he can cram into the smallest of crevices without worrying about taking damage. Although Capcom hasn't gone into detail how the controls work, it's sure to be a sweet control system.

Surprisingly, the bionic arm has more use this time around. Nathan is able to grab objects with the arm, be it a soldier or cars and boulders to throw at said soldier. For example, you can pull down large objects on awaiting squads if you don't feel like dealing with pesky groups of enemies and want to preserve your health. The arm works quickly and effectively, able to "zip-line" Nathan from point to point if he needs to get somewhere in a hurry. With that being said, those of you who prefer the good ol' fashioned method of shooting everyone can do so thanks to a cavalcade of advanced weaponry, which Capcom should reveal in the weeks ahead on the Bionic Commando podcasts.

Bionic Commando's story looks intriguing. Nathan keeps contact with a holographic agent throughout the adventure, all while trying to figure out why Super Joe would frame him. This kind of interesting story arc should keep the flow going as you swing through the city and shoot down all varieties of soldiers. Capcom hasn't quite let the cat out of the bag as far as enemies go, but we expect the red-wearing Imperials to make a return.

During the trailer, we couldn't help but notice the fine detail Capcom put into the game's visuals. The whole city appears as if it may fall apart at any second; its rocky debris, dimming sunlight and buildings with walls ripped clean away. This opens the door for the game's branching, as you'll be able to follow various paths to get to certain points on the level. If you don't feel like swinging through a dangerous, soldier-filled part of the stage, you can take a more careful approach and try sneaking through another way. Also, another part of the presentation worth mentioning is the sound.

This leaves two questions regarding the game's development. First, what should we expect with multiplayer? Will two or more players be able to hunt each other down with firepower and bionic arms? Let's hope so. Secondly, will the original Bionic Commando make some kind of return as a hidden item? It doesn't matter if it's the NES or the arcade version; we just want to savor the flavor of some classic Commando goodness.

No matter what Capcom decides to include, expect another instant classic when Bionic Commando swings onto store shelves sometime next year. GameDaily will return with further coverage in the months ahead, including more detail on the gameplay and a hands-on report, leading up to the review. Welcome back, Super Joe. Despite your treacherous ways, it's good to see you again.

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