Bionic Commando Rearmed Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 13 August, 2008

A bit of a stretch...

Version tested: Xbox 360

Capcom has been riding the download train pretty hard this past month or so, offering up rejigged remake-sequels to both 1942 and Commando. This latest jaunt to Do-Over City is perhaps its most faithful yet - while also deviating most from the source material.

In both gameplay and structure, Rearmed is a spruced up remake of the NES version of Bionic Commando, almost down to the last detail. Click those blue words and you'll see what I mean. You play, somewhat predictably given the title, as a soldier equipped with a mechanical arm. This can be used to swing across gaps, pull yourself up to higher platforms and to grab distant objects. You can also use it to clobber enemies, although your arsenal of weaponry is considerably better suited to this task.

Levels are selected by guiding a helicopter over a map, with the option to touch down in enemy territory to start the action, or at a friendly base to restock and learn new actions. In every case you make your way up and across the level using your arm. Doorways in enemy levels lead you to communications rooms where you can opt to hack into their system, via a new and rather fun maze-style mini-game, or report back to base, essentially acting as a checkpoint. These communication scenes are utterly faithful to the 1988 original, although the cheesy dialogue is now deliberately tongue-in-cheek, and boasts at least one cheeky dig at Metal Gear's lengthy codec scenes. Indeed, the whole tone of the game is slyly humorous, playing up to the bombast of gaming history without ever feeling disrespectful. "Isn't this silly?" the game seems to ask, "But also awesome fun?"

'Bionic Commando Rearmed' Screenshot 1

As with the NES version, if your helicopter runs into enemy trucks, you're dropped into a top-down shooting section not unlike Commando.

However, this fealty to the source also means that the gameplay may feel clunky to anyone not versed in the previous games. There's still no jump button, for instance. Upward movement is by the arm only, and this can be stymied by inconsiderate stacks of barrels or crates on the platforms above. Progress therefore becomes a question of working out your vertical route, rather than simply running and gunning. This is fair enough, but it's still rather jarring to have a 2008 action hero incapable of getting past waist-high obstacles without something above him to swing from. He's also incapable of dropping down to platforms below, leading to situations where you're blocked by simple scenery, and have to walk off the edge of a platform and make your way back up again. Forcing the player to rely on the arm at all times shows off the game's unique selling point, but there are times when it's clearly unnecessary and more than a little frustrating.

The same is true of shooting, with your field of attack reduced to simple horizontal left or right streams of bullets. The swinging mechanic also remains unchanged. The bionic arm can only be shot out in increments of 45 degrees. Left, right, straight up and diagonally at fixed angles. Much like the lack of jump, it's utterly faithful to the original but the sort of thing you'd hope would be improved for modern gamers. The right stick isn't particularly busy, so it would have been nice to assign arm-aiming to that. Instead you find yourself doing the old pixel-shuffle backwards and forwards to get in position to hit an anchor point in just the right spot. It's certainly not enough to spoil the fun, but for all but the most dedicated franchise fan, it's bound to cause some annoyance.

So while Rearmed does a fine job of honouring its past - and poking a little fun at itself along the way - it's a shame that some of the core mechanics haven't been overhauled to really make the most of their new technological home. Other traditional elements have been changed to cater for modern expectations - you now have a health bar, rather than the one-hit-kills of old - but perhaps they just don't want to overshadow the full 3D remake currently in development. Whatever the reason, I feel sure that a few more concessions to today's more flexible control options would have made this a more successful update without betraying the core concept.

However, there are new elements to Bionic Commando Rearmed, and these more than smooth over the rough edges left by doggedly following a slightly creaky twenty-year-old gameplay design. Multiplayer is the most immediately obvious addition, with co-operative play as well as deathmatch arenas where you and three friends can swing around like gun-toting chimps and try to do each other in. The bad news: it's all offline only, apparently because it was added late in development. A reasonable excuse, but it doesn't really compensate for the fact that this would be enormous fun online.

'Bionic Commando Rearmed' Screenshot 2

Boss fights require shooting and dodging skills, but also shrewd arm use to hit otherwise unreachable weak points.

Look closer though and you'll see that there's another game mode on the menu. It's the Challenge Rooms, unlocked during the single player game, and they're pretty much a whole extra game, for free. Looking not unlike Metal Gear's VR training missions, they take the form of timed obstacle courses. Grapple and swing your way to the exit within the (extremely tight) time limit and claim the top spot on the leaderboards. It's simple and horribly addictive. Here the lack of jumping makes more sense - this is as much a super-fast puzzle game as a platformer, and the urge to shave a few microseconds of each run is extremely compelling. It's no trifling extra either - there are fifty-six Challenge Rooms to unlock, the later of which will test even the best hand-eye coordinators.

Between the multiplayer modes and the Challenge Rooms, there's more than enough innovation to make up for the minor irritations of the retro controls. Far from perfect, Bionic Commando Rearmed is still a much more complete and robust package than either 1942 Joint Strike or Commando 3 and another impressive addition to Capcom's download library.

8 / 10

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Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (86) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Benno #1 4 years ago

    As good as MGS4 then? Might have to give it a try.

  • El_MUERkO #2 4 years ago

    bit late for a review :)

  • UncleLou #3 4 years ago

    I see EG is still intentionally concealing that there's also a PC version. THE BIAS! :)

  • asphaltcowboy #4 4 years ago

    SWEET! Downloading first thing tomorrow! EDIT: Now I've read the review, I only have one thing to add... SWEET!
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/08 @ 01:04

  • a.limey #5 4 years ago

    i guess pc owners will have to wait for the consoles versions to be released to find out if we can buy it from a shop and if there will be a d/load version direct from Capcom.

  • David_Snakes #6 4 years ago

    *enters bomb shelter*

  • barnard666 #7 4 years ago

    this will be around just in time for me when I get home from work in 3 hours, see there is a benefit to living in the far east. Looks great - but I still haven't finished 1942. and next weeks galaga is sure to make a purchase, and two weeks ago's geometry wars - ohhhh the pain - too many great games.

  • Prodigy_BE #8 4 years ago

    Also out on PC, so pirate away my PC brethren!

    (I'll hold out for the PSN version, but hurry the F up already)

  • bad09 #9 4 years ago

    Never played the NES version this is based on so I might bite.

  • Darren #10 4 years ago

    I'll try the Xbox 360 version but I'll hold out buying the game until the PS3 version arrives. Why? Well for no other reason than it makes a change to buy a game for the PS3 instead of the 360.

  • peteb #11 4 years ago

    @Darren

    LOL

  • Darren #12 4 years ago

    Read on the forum that the PS3 version is up on the Japanese PS Store now (demo and full game) and is 374 MB in size! Surely the 360 version isn't that big? If it isn't then does it mean the PS3 version has higher quality assets (textures and audio)?

  • Beano #13 4 years ago

    I'm getting the PS3 version also. As this is a 2D platform/shooter which use the d-pad insensively, I prefer the PS3 controller for this type of game.

  • Beano #14 4 years ago

    @Darren: I belive MS allowed Capcom to break the 150MB barrier for this game.

  • Darren #15 4 years ago

    Downloading the Japanese PS3 demo now... :)

    ... nearly done...

  • Yaster #16 4 years ago

    I might get the 360 version, just to make a change from getting all my games on PS3


    Nah, US version of BC here I come :p

  • muscleblade #17 4 years ago

    I knew i would be buying this 6 months ago. And no i dont bother with the trials. I never do.

  • Darren #18 4 years ago

    Briefly tried the demo and I like it... well it grabbed me (no pun intended) straight away unliked last week's Braid and it's slickly presented with English menus and text (except for the manual which is in Japanese). The demo has one level from the game, an excellent "virtual" tutorial and a couple of Challenge rooms. A definite buy for me I think. PS3 version seems to be a bit jaggy looking in places (no AA?) so I'll definitely have to try the 360 version before I decide which version to buy. Oddly I ended up playing it with the D-pad as it's easier to hit the diagonals for the bionic arm... the only thing is the 360's D-pad is hideous (to put it mildly) so I'll have to take that into consideration when deciding which version to buy.

  • Prodigy_BE #19 4 years ago

    @ Beano

    Good news for all them 360 Arcade version owners then?

  • windowlicker #20 4 years ago

    Shame that it is not coming to EU PSN til much later, 1942 still has not landed on it.

  • asphaltcowboy #21 4 years ago

    It's up on Marketplace!

    Oh, and I hope it's not as difficult as the NES original! I tried playing it and can't get passed the first screen!

  • Dizzy #22 4 years ago

    Hmmmm... not gonna get this unless I really dig the demo. Far too many great games on XBLA this month... I am keeping my money for Castle Crashers (after Braid and GW2). Not a good month to launch this, Capcom ;)
    Edited by 2 at 13/08/08 @ 09:15

  • captainrentboy #23 4 years ago

    Surely the ones that go for the Arcade package are the ones that couldn't give a flying eff about the 360's Marketplace and all its delightful contents in the first place :/
    I'll probably get this later today, but then again GW2 is still eating up all my time, nothing irks me more than knocking it on and seeing that my work mates have somehow beaten all my bloody scores.

  • Dezm0nd #24 4 years ago

    No online co-op? Ram it!

  • Beano #25 4 years ago

    "Shame that it is not coming to EU PSN til much later, 1942 still has not landed on it. "

    True, but I'm buying it from the US Store... no biggie when considering the alternatives ;)
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/08 @ 09:17

  • Beano #26 4 years ago

    @disc & darren: Does the XBLA version have AA then?

  • Goodfella #27 4 years ago

    It's up on Marketplace!

    Where?
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/08 @ 09:25

  • Darren #28 4 years ago

    @Beano - Dunno, didn't get the chance to try it before I left for work but I'd imagine it will as 2X AA is very easy to do on the Xbox 360 (well except for Bungie who apparently don't even know what AA is!!!). The PS3 seems to have trouble doing proper AA in the majority of its game in my experience and has to resort to some kind of "temporal" (fake) AA instead in some but not all of its games. That's why many multiformat PS3 games tend to look inferior IMO, i.e. lower image quality. The PS3 demo of BC Rearmed doesn't look hideously jaggy or anything like that, just rougher than I expected it to.

  • Kazzahdrane #29 4 years ago

    It's a massive disappointment that there's no online co-op, they confirmed co-op for the game months ago (that was really the first I'd heard of it), and a mate and I assumed it would be online. Might well buy it anyway given the good review, but will be trying the trial first.

  • Beano #30 4 years ago

    @Darren: True, but other Capcom PSN/XBLA titles like Commando 3 and 1942 looks a but cleaner on PSN than XBLA.. no much but noticable on my TV. Both my PS3 and Xbox 360 are connected thru HDMI and set to 1080p :)

    Does BCR output as 720p on PS3?... maybe the TV's 720p->1080p scaling is causing the issue (if any) ?

    Commando 3 and 1942 outputs as 1080p on PS3 but scaled from 720p.
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/08 @ 09:33

  • Darren #31 4 years ago

    Hmmm, XBLA version is 213 MB and the PS3 Jap demo is 374 MB, that's a 76% difference in file sizes. Either the PS3 version is unoptimised, Japanese text takes up a hell of a lot of space and/or the Xbox 360 has some seriously impressive compression going on (which tends to degrade the quality of the textures and sound anyway). :?

  • Darren #32 4 years ago

    @Beano - Yeah, BC Rearmed outputs as 720p even though I have my XMB set to 1080p.

  • Beano #33 4 years ago

    Ok, that could explain the "roughness". Will compare the two versione later myself to see how bad it is on my TV ;)

  • Goodfella #34 4 years ago

    Just tried both 360 and PS3 demos and can't see any difference with AA.

  • asphaltcowboy #35 4 years ago

    Bought after 10 minutes! It's great! It's not quite as hard as the NES version, but it'll take some getting used to!

  • IronCladChicken #36 4 years ago

    Any chance they'll release the NES version on the Virtual Console (or is it already out(?))

  • asphaltcowboy #37 4 years ago

    @IronCladChicken: Apparently not. Supposedly they tried, but it would seem something stopped them (sounds like it was blocked by Nintendo) - LINK

  • captainrentboy #38 4 years ago

    Fight, Fight, Fiiiiiight!!!

  • Xerx3s #39 4 years ago

    Jesus, this game is buggy. Tutorial level won't let me continue. Pressing exit in the menu does nothing, etc.

  • Dizzy #40 4 years ago

    "Seriously, fuck off and get a life, I don't want to be faced with a wall of comments from you in every topic. "

    Ignore button?

    He is on my list apparently since I don't see any Darrens ;)

  • mingster #41 4 years ago

    umm nick just use the ignore button its what its there for.

  • jonsaan #42 4 years ago

    it looks like Bionic Commando Reamed.
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/08 @ 10:20

  • Beano #43 4 years ago

    "Just tried both 360 and PS3 demos and can't see any difference with AA. "

    I also tried the two version and no (or VERY close to none) difference ... both versions are a tad jaggy. No problem but could be smoother. A shame they didn't go for 1080p.

    The two versions even have a few framedrops at the exact same place in the start of the first level ;)

    Playing with the 360 analog stick also works fine, so the soddy 360 D-pad is not really a problem but the PS3 D-pad feels more precise to me :)

  • krokomkiller #44 4 years ago

    "Jesus, this game is buggy. Tutorial level won't let me continue. Pressing exit in the menu does nothing, etc."

    Took me a little while to figure out how to enter doors but I suppose thats not what you mean?


  • Beano #45 4 years ago

    "Seriously, fuck off and get a life, I don't want to be faced with a wall of comments from you in every topic. "

    Seriously?

  • DjFlex52 #46 4 years ago

    They should just rename Eurogamer to Darrengamer, the guy is in every comments section , such a nerd and really sucks all the fun out of the site. Go do somemthing else for a while Darren, you are on Eurogamer about 23 hours of every day.

    Seriously, fuck off and get a life, I don't want to be faced with a wall of comments from you in every topic.

    @Nick_JC1

    I hope you're joking....otherwise you're a rude jerk!

  • johnnybrn #47 4 years ago

    Nick_JC1,

    Hey go easy on Darren, he's a cool guy. No need for language like that.

  • muscleblade #48 4 years ago

    @Nick_JC1

    If your tired of Darren you should go to something else for awhile. I find hes comments more informative than most other comments on here. I do disagree with him on some issues though but dicussing the articles and reviews is part of being on the forums.

  • Rush2112 #49 4 years ago

    Downloading it from the Japanese PSN store. Cost 1200 yen and it looks to be completely in English. Nice.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #50 4 years ago

    Speaking about the price - I suppose it's 800 points? I may have missed that in the review. I hope it's not 1200 like Braid (definetly worth that price of course) just because of the file size.

  • asphaltcowboy #51 4 years ago

    It's 800 (thankfully!)

  • Ignatius_Cheese #52 4 years ago

    Erm, why have they changed the picture on the front page to a guy clearly being sucked off...? o_O

  • Gearskin #53 4 years ago

    Been looking forward to this for six months. Can't wait to go home and download it. Bought the soundtrack off Itunes. The musical update is so sweet.

  • muscleblade #54 4 years ago

    @Ignatius_Cheese

    Think they did it to make the picture fit with the headline.

  • Xerx3s #55 4 years ago

    "Took me a little while to figure out how to enter doors but I suppose thats not what you mean? "

    No.

  • asphaltcowboy #56 4 years ago

    @Gearskin: Ah-ha! The soundtrack - been meaning to find someone with that - does it come with the original theme remixed (The one from this trailer)?

  • Lexx87 #57 4 years ago

    Nick_JC1, you see the difference between you and Darren is that while Darren is a nice guy who we like over here...you my friend are a total and utter cunt. A waste of life, a slimey horrible arrogant lump of vagina bile and on behalf of everyone on Eurogamer, please fuck off and don't come back.

  • Yeevle #58 4 years ago

    OK, so I haven't had any coffee yet, where the hell do you get the PC version? I'm stupid.

    Oh nevermind, I see it is on Direct 2 Drive (pre-order), I'll wait for it on Steam I think.
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/08 @ 11:28

  • Lexx87 #59 4 years ago

    Steam mebbe?

  • Der_tolle_Emil #60 4 years ago

    I thought the PC version is going to be released after XBLA/PSN?

  • skillian #61 4 years ago

    PC version is out on Steam tomorrow I think. Typical of EG to not even mention its existence in the article.

  • Retroid #62 4 years ago

    @windowlicker: Shame that it is not coming to EU PSN til much later, 1942 still has not landed on it.

    Not much a loss considering how painfully average 1942:JS is :/

  • Darren #63 4 years ago

    @Nick_JC1 - Erm, aren't you the person who last week claimed to have added me to their Ignore list because I said I didn't like Braid enough to buy it? If so then how come you're reading my comments now? :p

    As for posting comments... why can't I? I'm as entitled to post comments as much as anyone else for games that interest me. I made a few brief observations about the visuals based on a quick play of the game so I can't exactly go into depth over the gameplay as I haven't had the chance to play it much. I really don't see what the problem is. If you don't like me or find me boring, well just use the Ignore button like you do... apparently every article! ;) LOL

    Whatever, people like you make forums and such like an unpleasant experience... there's really no need for your kind of attitude at all!

  • asphaltcowboy #64 4 years ago

    Can we get back to talking about the game please?

  • Darren #65 4 years ago

    Go ahead, no-one was stopping you... ;)

  • Gearskin #66 4 years ago

    @asphaltcowboy

    Ya! It has that track. It's so badass. I'm using it as a ringtone right now :D

  • muscleblade #67 4 years ago

    "PC version is out on Steam tomorrow I think. Typical of EG to not even mention its existence in the article"

    Havent you heard. PC gaming is dead.

  • Gearskin #68 4 years ago

    @lavalant

    BADASS!

  • Beano #69 4 years ago

    "When's Eurogamer doing a preview on TNA IMPACT! I hear it's like the old N64 wrestling games(which are better than VF4 and soul calibur) "

    Please stop drinking and posting at the same time ;)

  • Gearskin #70 4 years ago

    Those old N64 wrestling games were BADASS. Especially No Mercy.

  • asphaltcowboy #71 4 years ago

    Cheers Gearskin, might go grab that this afternoon so work will almost seem like I'm experiencing the game ;)

    Had a quick go at lunch - did the basic and advanced tutorial - the practice rooms require some co-ordination - when you get the added pressure of enemies it all gets too much!

    EDIT: Spelling!
    Edited by 1 at 13/08/08 @ 13:27

  • Gearskin #72 4 years ago

    I saw some gameplay footage of the full 3d sequel the other day. They had the same theme in that game too, but being played with EPIC instruments rather than electronic beeboopzzz. I love how cohesive all this Bionic stuff is.

    GRIN have a lot of love for the Radd.

  • Dizzy #73 4 years ago

    "Shame that it is not coming to EU PSN til much later, 1942 still has not landed on it. "

    Whaaaaaaaaat? That is 66 years delay???

    /gets coat

  • tinners #74 4 years ago

    Braids music is amazing as is the game, as for BC:R

    5.1 this mother up!!! phat bass love the music and the challenges are proper old skool skill based gaming. No online co=op tho is v upsetting and was a big selling point for me.

    back to braid while i ponder over spending my beer money.

  • Gearskin #75 4 years ago

    I love Braid. I do. I love it. But this is Bionic Commando... no... NO! MORE than that. It's Bionic FREAKIN' COMMANDO!!!

    This is... as of right now... the best thing ever made.

  • Dr_Wadd #76 4 years ago

    Every time I've tried this it has crashed as I`m parachuting in to the first level. Worse still, after that I couldn`t get any other games to play for more than a minute or so until I had cleared my cache. I really want to give this game a shot but right now it looks like more trouble than it is worth.

  • deepmenace #77 4 years ago

    anyone else think that this should have used the right analog stick to dictate where the arm went went?

    i know that would make it less of a remake and more of a new game but it would have felt smoother than the quite disjointed experience on offer here.

  • Sandhurst #78 4 years ago

    really loving this at the moment. The music, the unforgiving gameplay.This is how a game should be remade.



  • Gearskin #79 4 years ago

    IT ROCKS MY COCK OFF!

  • Nill #80 4 years ago

    No Steam version people.

    You can get it at Direct2Drive.com (I know everybody hates this site, probably with reason as well), Gamersgate.com and Capcom's own digital store shop.capcom.com.

    Post by Capcom's Christian Svensson on the subject here.

  • captain-future #81 4 years ago

    downloading the demo version from PSN right now.

  • Mashum #82 4 years ago

    I played the 360 and PSN demo versions side by side, the PS3 one is much sharper but it's colours are less vivid but that could be the difference between component and hdmi. Other than that there's no difference I could appreciate.

    Oh, the ps3 one isn't in 1080p - for some reason I thought it might be but it's in 720p same as the 360.

    Awesome game though, the music, presentation and gameplay are fucking ace as are the cheeky retro nudges and winks. Bought the PS3 one in the end.

  • el_pollo_diablo #83 4 years ago

    I'm enjoying this game far more than I thought I would.

    It's a lot of fun.

  • Djrds #84 4 years ago

    Really amazing this game.
    Bought it on XBLA and it's just pure fun.

  • saku_luk #85 4 years ago

    this game is pure win haha....good old times (=_=)

    Anyway I wanted PC version since i have x360 pad but its 15$ PC and 10$ PS3....its even cheaper at HK PSN so I got it from there :p

  • Apostle #86 3 years ago

    "They should just rename Eurogamer to Darrengamer, the guy is in every comments section , such a nerd and really sucks all the fun out of the site. Go do somemthing else for a while Darren, you are on Eurogamer about 23 hours of every day. "

    Hmm.