When Nathan Spencer swung across
screens 20 years ago, people went wild. Graphics and audio had only advanced
but so far at this point in gaming history, so good ol’
Nathan had to rely on just one thing: gameplay. Regardless of what might have
drawn us to games back then, we kept playing them for the same reason we keep
playing them now. Of course, as the technology advanced, the mechanics of
gameplay had greater potential for expansion. Not only do games look and sound
better than ever before, they also feature more buttons, special moves,
technical algorithms, and more mind-boggling programming code than you can
shake a photonic cutter at.
With all this advancement, we
sometimes forget to ask ourselves if games have actually gotten any better
over the years. Capcom’s Bionic Commando is
already a familiar title to the seasoned gamer, so after waiting so long for a
new game in the series, much is expected of this latest version. Sadly, this
resurrection is largely unimaginative and predictable. This was a good
opportunity to present new ideas, but no risks appear to have been taken. Not
surprisingly, swinging from building to building in a three-dimensional
cityscape feels awfully familiar these days. Generally speaking, Nathan can be
easily guided from one grapple point to the next without much precise planning
or careful camera course-correction. This works out nicely given the game’s
focus, but the thrill of action is immensely dulled by the ease of use.
Although you will fall to your death many times, this is not a common enough
occurrence for the danger to feel omnipresent. Some would argue that the game
is meant to be action oriented and not super-realistic, but this still feels
like a missed opportunity for depth and enjoyment.
Even when played at the standard
difficulty levels, Bionic Commando seems to be tricky to gauge in terms of
difficulty. While some players do prefer games that they feel like they can
dominate, the overall challenge throughout the adventure seems to fluctuate
wildly. One moment might be tedious, then suddenly
you’re sweating it out with some crazy boss battle. The shooting mechanics are
strangely cumbersome, with generic armaments and a clunky aiming system. This
might have been forgivable in other games, but Bionic Commando has been in
hibernation for the better part of two decades. This lack of polish is very
noticeable, and causes one to wonder how much the game may have benefited from
further time in development or play-testing.
Inventory is also unsaved in the
event that the player dies, so prepare to do a lot of backtracking in Bionic
Commando. The checkpoints are fairly spread out, so the game will certainly
try your patience rather than reward your efforts. Much of the experience
reminded me of Prototype, from flinging cars at enemies to leaping around
rooftops with corporate logos abound. Speaking of corporate logos, I must say
that Bionic Commando contains some of the worst in-game advertising I have
ever seen. Shamelessly showering the levels with Pepsi logos does not lend
greater credibility to the atmosphere, as it might in a sports game.
Nevertheless, much of Bionic
Commando feels like a satisfying action game. The primary action holds up
nicely; even if it wasn’t executed perfectly, there’s a great deal of fun to
be had. This is just the sort of game that requires you to stick with the
gameplay and try to ignore everything else. Like similar titles, the
replayability is about adequate, with a few
alternate routes available for completing a mission objective. The results of
each route can be significantly different, just
don’t expect your decisions to have the epic consequences of Mass Effect. The
campaign mode for single-player missions feels decent in length, though the
story is laughable. The characters are flat stereotypes, and the plot isn’t
even on par with your typical television cartoon. Then again, story was never
a vital element in Bionic Commando. The focus is appropriately placed on the
action, and though the gameplay flaws can be irritating, they are not
sufficient to ruin the experience entirely.
Most of the sound effects
throughout the game are heavy and exaggerated, just as one would hope for an
action game of this sort. The visuals are generally pleasant, with good use of
color and lighting despite the slight monotony of urban environments.
Unfortunately, the game’s multiplayer modes also feel rather unpolished. They
consist of standard mechanics that will be easy for casual players to
understand, but Bionic Commando really deserved a bit of ingenuity in some
form or another. It pains me to admit that this is not the mind-blowing
revival that fans have been waiting years for. At least it’s a solid start,
and with any luck, future iterations will bring the franchise back up the
level of status it once held. Until then, Bionic Commando fans will probably
still prefer the original classic.
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Gameplay: 7.0
A
good idea, but we’ve been swinging through cities many times before. Isn’t
there a more interesting way to implement this mechanic?
Graphics: 8.0
Most of the game
looks good, especially the environments, if you can find a moment to admire
them.
Sound: 8.0
Sound is sharp
and clear, though the game could have benefited from a better score.
Difficulty: Medium
Sometimes easy,
and sometimes intense. Things feel a tad inconsistent with the game’s
difficulty.
Concept: 5.0
A
sequel that deserved more innovation and attention than it received.
Multiplayer: 7.0
Simple online
modes that won’t win any awards, but they’re better than nothing.
Overall: 6.9
If
you’re a diehard Bionic Commando fan, there’s nothing that will stop you from
buying and enjoying this one. For the rest of us, it feels a little mediocre
given what similar titles are offering these days.
