One of the best reasons to have an Xbox Live Subscription
The original Bionic Commando on the NES is revered by many for being a game that did things different, and did them well. The jump button was replaced by a unique "bionic arm" that enabled players to swing over obstacles and the game has, considered by many, one of the most satisfying endings ever. Bionic Commando: Rearmed is a shining example of how a remake should be done with smooth controls, beautiful graphics and a kick-ass, manly protagonist. It is on of the best reasons to have an Xbox Live subscription.
Story has never really been the main focus of the series. An evil federation wants to build a super weapon. A man named Super Joe, considered to be a hero, was sent in to find out bout the weapon and disappeared. Now it's up to you, "Rad" Spencer, and your bionic arm to find Joe and put a stop to whatever the enemy is planning.
It's nothing that hasn't been done before, but the story provides a decent back drop to explain the proceedings. Every story sequence is played out though still images of the characters with text bubbles. These instances are short and sweet and some of the dialogue is entertaining. However, in the grand scheme of things, you're the good guy, everyone else is evil, kill them. That's all you'll ever need to know.
The gameplay consists of two parts; platforming with the use of your bionic arm and combat. As the player, you'll be doing a whole bunch of both throughout. Platforming is all about swinging from place to place and timing your shots correctly. While it starts out relatively easy, the timing needed to pass through later levels must be spot on and the obstacles presented vary from electric floors, to spike pits, to turrets that shoot in six directions at once. The only criticism I can say about the game is in this department. Some of the obstacles are placed in locations one cannot see, such as at the bottom of a pit. This can lead to frustrating instances where you jump off a ledge only to find a moving platform floating above a death trap with no way of knowing it was there. These occasional bits of trial and error take away from an otherwise flawless experience.
Combat on the other hand has no issues. Shooting is smooth and responsive and the game provides new weapons and upgrades often. Spencer will start with only a revolver but eventually gains a large arsenal consisting of machines guns, rocket launchers that allow you to control where the rocket goes with the right analog stick, and a laser beam that bounces of walls to hit hidden targets. On top of the weapons, you'll get additional upgrades like armor, flares for lighting dark rooms and an improved bionic arm that allows Spencer to grab enemies and hurl them at foes.
The main highlight of Bionic Commando: Rearmed has to be the boss fights. Each one is different with a specific tactic required for each one. It's never as simple as just shooting at weak points. First, you'll have to expose those weak points. Half the fun is figuring out just what to do and each boss offers a good challenge without being cheap. The final boss, in particular, must be credited with having one of the best ending sequences ever. Wonder why the game is rated M yet there is no over the top violence to speak of throughout the whole game? You'll see.
Presentation is certainly a strong point in Bionic Commando: Rearmed. The game has been updated with crisp 3D models and fluid animation. The backgrounds are colorful and beautiful and the hand drawn still images for each character are well done and expressive. The sound also does not disappoint with great sound effects and a memorable soundtrack of techno and rock mixed together. It's pretty much a guarantee you'll be tapping your foot from start to finish.
For only 800 points ($10) on Xbox Live Marketplace, Bionic Commando: Rearmed is well worth the price of admission. It's a non-stop thrill ride that will rarely disappoint. If not for the few times of frustrating trial and error, this game would be be damn near perfect. Even with that minor problem, Bionic Commando: Rearmed is a game anyone can enjoy and it is recommended to new and old fans of the series.
