Bionic Commando Rearmed - 8/10

While I never played the original, as a child, I was a big fan of side scrollers. But this isn't your ordinary side-scrolling sprite-fest. Sprites have been totally eliminated and replaced with basic, nice (but pleasing to the eye) 3D models (Think Yoshi story style).

The first thing you will notice about this game is that although your super powered warrior has enough strength to ensure his arm doesn't pop out of its socket when you are swinging, George of the Jungle style, using the infamous grapple hook, that he has ability through will or strength to perform basic jumps. Bewildered by the weird choice in gameplay I soon came to appreciate the puzzling swing mechanism and how well it had been incorporated into the game to provide an experience requiring me to often reload the level more then once to get the perfect timing and rhythm in my grappling to avoid death.

This game demands perfection. Old school gamers will understand this concept. There is no power up to aid your grappling and swinging action. It is precise and demands fast, precise and perfectly timed controls in order to overcome more of the puzzle aspect of this game.

And don't go in expecting contra... Because its not...

Unlike Contra, this game focuses less on plain shooting and more on the execution of your shooting and grappling combinations. Sure there are weapon power ups and new weapons to kill your enemies but you may have the best gun in the game but will still suffer an easy death due to you failing your grappling timing across a chasm.

Bosses are fun and are generally defeated by a pattern of actions (ahh yes the old days). The music is upbeat but generally ANNOYING. I'm not sure if the original game had music like this but the attempt to modernize possible 8 bit music with techno-crap is bloody awful and annoying.

What else is there to say? There are some pointless "enemy encounters" in which you have to run up to a vehicle and shoot it. There are various unlockable challenges. There is a multiplayer...(yes, its there... to look pretty... and not be fun to play). But the miscellaneous feature that blew me away was CO-OP!!! Yes, it is there. I finally have a reason to have REAL LIFE friends.

This game has to be commended because of its attempt to make players actually work hard to win. Then work harder to win the next level. Most modern games enjoy power ups, level ups, glitchy 3D roaming terrains, a constant supply of health packs, potions, body amours and even a emulated favor of the One himself to aid in your winning. Bionic commando brings you back to the basics, bringing the old 2d sprite based games into the new century with updated graphics while retaining the old school goodness.

Submitted by blu3man 17/08/2008 124 9

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More Info:

Bionic Commando Rearmed

Other Reviews:

• blu3man Review 8/10 by blu3man

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