Bionic Commando Rearmed again
In 1988, the home gaming world embraced Bionic Commando, an epic platformer from Capcom that was inspired by the coin operated arcades. It was ported to the GameBoy in 1992 for a little mobile fun. The NES title was praised for its music composition and game play. The current nostalgia factor also earns it an A+ for Ladd Spencer’s great bionic arm that no one will ever forget. The game is classic.
So, when GRIN jumped up in 2008 to create Bionic Commando: Rearmed, even the retro gamers stood up and took note. Sure enough, this version of the platformer for Windows, Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network was an enhanced remake of the original. It received excellent reviews, lauded for two major factors: its faithfulness to the original and its updated game play and graphics. It was the prelude to a 2009 version of Bionic Commando, also developed by GRIN, which is a direct sequel to the 1988 original release.
So what is left to remake and how can GRIN hope to top what it has already done? It won’t. PSN and XBLA won’t see GRINss name on the new releases of this franchise. GRIN bailed out of further projects, leaving the new sequel: Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2 in the hands of Fatshark. It was up to new developers to stay true to the old school gaming feel, featuring 2D gritty action, traditional boss battles, and of course the bionic arm.
The result was not an epic fail. The music is an instant hit and gives players an almost arcade feel. The levels are certainly challenging, but they are made more so by twitchy controls. The great ability to grapple and use the infamous arm is cumbersome and almost buggy. It makes the already grueling levels even more inhumane. The continue factor is a great way to stay true to the old school feel, but gamers can plan to watch them evaporate on levels that require extensive use of the grappling arm.
For the sequel of a game that was a remake of another game, Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2 is probably less confused by itself than we are. As a modern game, it is probably okay, but coming from the retro point of view, it might lack some of the appeal of the 1988 original or the first remake. Check out some trailers and read up on plenty of reviews so you know what you are getting before assuming that this version of Rearmed is going to be as classic as the first.
Tags: Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Entertainment System NES, Nintendo GameBoy
This entry was posted on Monday, February 28th, 2011 at 08:00 and is filed under Classic Game Sequels. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.