GDC08: Arms-on with Bionic Commando Rearmed

The clue is right there in the title really. Bionic Commando Rearmed is Bionic Commando, only a little different. For those out there who liked the original, your purchase decision is (and should be) made already. Those who have never played the game should really take up Rearmed's opportunity to do so. That's really all anyone needs to know, but it hardly makes for interesting hands-on impressions, so perhaps some more details are in order. First, it's definitely worth noting that the game looks great, especially for a downloadable title. Character animations are solid. Particle effects follow every bullet, shotgun blast, and grenade explosion. Individual shells eject from weapons as they're fired. All in all, it's very slick.

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Graphics aren't everything though, and thankfully Bionic Commando Rearmed doesn't stray from the formula that made the original work so well. That formula, for the uniformed, is as follows: run, swing, shoot, all of which is followed by more running and swinging. Swinging of course, is what Bionic Commando is all about, and Rearmed nails it perfectly. Anyone who has played the original will be right at home, and those that haven't won't have any trouble figuring it out. There are small tweaks and improvements to the system that vets will appreciate too. For example, it's now possible to launch the grappling hook horizontally in midair. It doesn't sound like much, but it opens up many more swinging possibilities.

These new possibilities are particularly interesting in light of one of Rearmed's new features, challenges. Challenges are specially designed courses that require players to clear the obstacles in the shortest amount of time possible. These scenarios are based entirely around effective and efficient swinging. Challenges are littered with hazards like spikes or bottomless pits, so missing a critical shot with the grappling hook means instant failure. Players receive a star rating and score based on the amount of time taken to complete a given challenge, which is sure to make for excellent leaderboard fodder on Xbox Live Arcade.

Apart from the addition of challenges, there are new weapons and upgrades that are earned for completing levels. We saw grenades, bazookas, and a shotgun, each useful for different situations. Enemy lurking below you? Drop a grenade from above. The bionic arm sees new combat uses as well. Players can grab and toss small obstructions like barrels for example. It's particularly rewarding to watch an enemy hide behind a barrel for cover only to crush his ribs with it a few moments later. Of course, you can always cut out the middle man and opt to grab and toss an enemy instead.

There are some other additions as well, such as new, bigger boss encounters. Communications rooms make a return too. As in the original, you can choose to radio your allies or tap into the enemy network. Attempting to hack the enemy network initiated a nifty looking mini-game. Failing the game results in alerting the enemy to your presences. The Capcom rep on hand informed us that the mini-game wasn't working properly in the build we tested, which is unfortunate because it had a very interesting look to it (sort of Tron meets Marble Madness). We're interested to see how it turns out in the final version.

Overall, it looks like Bionic Commando Rearmed should be able to please both veterans and newcomers alike. New players will be able to enjoy the excellent swing mechanics, and old-school gamers will get a kick out of the new challenge levels. We're looking forward to grappling our own copy when the game releases this May.