Bionic Commando

Government operative Nathan ‘Rad’ Spencer is back in Capcom’s official sequel to the 1988 NES platform classic of the same name, Bionic Commando. The original game was a notoriously difficult side scrolling platformer, the main shtick being that Spencer couldn’t jump, but instead relied on a grappling gun adhered to his arm for propulsion. In the upcoming sequel little Spencer has gone through some major changes and he’s now a jumpin’, fully fleshed dreadlocked bad boy who spends his time swinging around a futuristic 3D environment. Plus he’s voiced by former Faith No More front man Mike Patton. Naturally.

By no means a complete departure from the original, the new Commando continues the narrative 10 years later. Spencer has been betrayed by his commander, Super Joe, and is rotting in a jail cell when a terrorist weapon turns Ascension City into a nuclear wasteland. Super Joe must reluctantly release Spencer from his shackles in order to save the day, which is where the game begins. Bionic arm firmly attached, Spencer swings, climbs and flings himself through the futuristic metropolis in a one man war against the terrorist threat.

Comparisons to the Spider Man games are inevitable, however early hands-on previews report a steeper learning curve in Bionic Commando. The third-person swinging mechanics are based on real physics, so a lot of the big leaps rely on a perfectly timed execution. Grasping realistic mechanics may be tricky; but you also have the opportunity to learn subtle nuances of movement. For example, Spencer can leap off a building and perform a roll in midair before grabbing an outcropping. Not every surface can be grabbed onto though, so an onscreen reticule changes colour accordingly. The bionic arm also works as a weapon allowing you to pull enemies towards you to execute a close encounter kill, or drag a heavy object from a distance for some brutal squashing action.

It’s important to remember that a bionic arm isn’t the only way to kill a bad guy too. The game is littered with weapons Spencer can use which gives way to a plethora of options during a terrorist showdown. Spencer isn’t just limited to an urban jungle either – screenshots have shown him swinging through vines in an actual jungle environment, lushly detailed in primary colours. At times he must manipulate his environment with his arm in order to progress through an area, so expect puzzle aspects combined with tricky trial and error gameplay.

Capcom have also revealed a multiplayer mode, set prior to the single player storyline. Players will act as test subjects to trial the revolutionary new grappling weapon in various arenas. Expect the standard multiplayer modes with a twist, because this time you’ll be capturing the flag while swinging in mid-air. The variety of unique moves the physics engine allows will make for some interesting online deathmatches.

Bionic Commando is shaping up to be an exciting, yet highly ambitious title. If Capcom can pull off the (admittedly challenging) looking swinging mechanism, the game should come together as a grand, adrenaline fuelled beast. Keep it locked in to NZGamer for a full verdict in the future.