Bionic Commando

"My Favorite All Time Game"

This is one game that never received the full recognition or acclaim that it deserved. The play mechanics were original, the graphics and sound were amazing for the time, and the storyline was intriging.

Graphics: 9/10
The graphics in Bionic Commando are excellent, particularly considering that the game came out in 1988. The animation of the character is good (for the time), the backgrounds are well done and add a lot of variety to the game. Look at the detail of the rivets in some of the buildings and structures scattered throughout the game.

Music/Sound: 10/10
The music perfectly complements the gameplay and storyline. Some of the music has a sort of forboding quality to it which is appropriate for the WWII setting. Also, I never found the music the slightest bit irritating even after listening to it as I played the game over and over again. There is also a nice variety of music as you progress to deeper levels in the game. The sound effects of the bionic arm are also very well done, with different sounds being made when the arm shoots out and when it grapples onto something.

Replay Value: 10/10
To this day I play this game even though I have beaten it many times. Playing it from start to finish takes about 2 hours (if you are good!) which is not too long, not too short.

Gameplay: 10/10
The gameplay in Bionic Commando is the real strength of the cart. No jumping allowed! What a clever idea. Instead you have to maneuver your way around by using a bionic arm. You can grab onto buildings and swing from level to level. Believe me, this is fun! It is a fresh, original concept that has never been improved upon, at least in my opinion. Also, to a certain degree you can select which levels you want to go to without following a preset path (the game is somewhat non-linear). You also have the ability to choose which items you want to take with you when you decend into the diffent levels. Finally, you actually have to earn your continues in this game by going through overhead ''shoot-em-up'' type screens. I mean, what else can this game come up with. It's got it all! Oh, wait, it's got it all except for a password feature. That omission makes the game much more challenging and somewhat more frustrating since you have to complete it in one sitting, but don't dispair, the ending is the coolest that I've seen in any video game for any system.

Overall: 10/10
Yes, as I said at the beginning, this is my favorite all time video game. The game designers at Capcom were geniuses at the time. Just look at some of the other games they produced in the late 1980's such as the Mega Man series, Strider, Gunsmoke, 1943, ect. Those games were fun to play. Bionic Commando is the best of the bunch. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/31/00, Updated 01/31/00