Xbox 360 PS3

Bionic Commando

ShooterPlatformAdventure

Overview

Bionic Commando is a 2009 action-adventure game developed by Grin and published by Capcom. Part of the Bionic Commando series, it is a sequel to the 1988 game Bionic Commando, with certain storyline elements taken from its 2008 remake Bionic Commando Rearmed. It runs on Grin's Diesel engine.

Bionic Commando is an action-adventure game, in which the player controls player character Nathan Spencer. The game uses several mechanics (primarily radiation) which act as barriers. These barriers are used to keep the players within the confines of the linear level design. Nathan Spencer is able to target enemies while hanging, climbing a building or even in mid-swing, while using an implement called the 'Bionic Arm' which can also be used to attack enemies at close range. The bionic arm can be used to grab and launch objects such as boulders and cars at enemies.

The events of the game take place ten years after the original game. The game follows Major Nathan "Rad" Spencer (voiced by Mike Patton), a government operative working in the fictional Ascension City and an Operative named Joseph Gibson aka "Super Joe" (voiced by Steven Blum) for the Tactical Arms and Security Committee (T.A.S.C) that trains bionic operatives like Spencer. After he is betrayed by his own government and falsely imprisoned, the Great Bionic Purge begins. Before his execution, an experimental weapon detonates in Ascension City, unleashing an earthquake along with a radioactive shock wave that leaves the city destroyed and wiping out its populace. The terrorist force known as the "BioReign" claims responsibility, threatening invasion.

A comic book tie-in was written by Andy Diggle, with Colin Wilson providing the art. In the weeks leading up to the title's release, every Wednesday a new page was posted on the game's website. These single pages were collected in a thirty-five page comic, which was offered as a bonus for pre-ordering the title. After the game's release, a monthly comic was published by Devil's Due Publishing. Players can also use a code found in Bionic Commando: Rearmed to unlock a skin of "RAD" Spencer from the original game with short red hair, green blazer and converse like shoes.

Bionic Commando received "average" reviews on all platforms as reported by the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN praised the visuals and unpredictable storyline of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. GameSpot said of both console versions, "Bionic Commando has some enjoyable moments, but consistent fun always seems just out of arm's reach." In Japan, Famitsu gave both console versions a favorable review, giving each a score of 34 out of 40.