- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: GRIN
- Also On: PS3
- ESRB Rating: “M” for Mature
- Genre: Action
- Pros: Nice graphics; the bionic arm is cool
- Cons: So-so shooting; indoor areas; load times
The new Bionic Commando’s story takes place 10 years after the original game. Bionics, once the wave of the future and embraced by the public, are now feared and outlawed. Not everyone feels this way, however, and a pro-bionics terrorist group detonates a weapon of mass destruction in Ascension City. The only man with the skills and the tools to get in and find out just what exactly is going on is Nathan “Rad” Spencer, the hero of the original Bionic Commando game.
The single-player campaign takes about 6-8 hours to play through. There are hidden collectibles in all of the levels to find as well as a continuously updated list of challenges for you to complete that unlock upgrades in-game as well as achievements. The challenges are things like killing a certain number of enemies, putting a series of arm swings together, and things of that nature. They act as added motivation to keep you plugging along even if the main game is dragging a bit, which is nice.
There is also multiplayer available for 8 players on Xbox Live with standard modes like capture the flag and deathmatch. The bionic arm swinging and all of that good stuff is available in MP, which really makes it stand out among the sea of shooters. The key to getting the most out of MP is to not play it like a normal shooter. Use your bionic arm first and the guns second, and you’ll have a heck of a lot more fun.
Gameplay
The other main aspect of the gameplay is shooting, and it isn’t so good. It is generic third-person-shooting at its most generic. The guns aren’t fun to use. The aiming kind of sucks, even in the zoomed in mode. And the enemies are all amazingly accurate shots that gun you down (Rad is surprisingly wimpy and dies a lot …) if you aren’t quick on the draw. The shooting in BC just isn’t fun at all compared to all of the nifty stuff your bionic arm can do.
Another slight gameplay complaint is that the game is broken up into sections, and when you go from one section to the next you can’t go back. This means if you missed a collectible, you’re screwed and will have to play through the game again. Another issue is that the game has to load each new section and the load times, especially since you see them every couple of minutes, are a bit on the long side.
Graphics
One area where Bionic Commando really excels is in the visuals. Everything is surprisingly sharp and crisp and the lighting special effects just look really good. The game also maintains a steady framerate throughout, which is important when you’re trying to time a long string of swings.
The sound is also fairly decent. The soundtrack is appropriately “action-y” and fits the game well. We don’t love the sound effects, however, as the guns sound weak and seriously lack impact.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, Bionic Commando feels like a lost opportunity. Swinging around and using the bionic arm can be a heck of a lot of fun when you are free to explore or have to really put the arm to the test to solve a puzzle, but these moments don’t come nearly often enough. The mediocre shooting and linear paths through most levels will frustrate you because you know there is a better game underneath it all that, for whatever reason, you’re only allowed brief glimpses of. Don’t get us wrong, there are fun moments and Bionic Commando certainly isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. Give it a rental.
