Bionic Commando

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"Bionic Commando" is the sequel to the 1988 NES game, featuring the return of protagonist Nathan "R.A.D." Spencer. After being betrayed and imprisoned, Spencer is called back into action when terrorists destroy Ascension City with a powerful weapon. As the only Bionic Commando available, Spencer must use his unique abilities to swing and shoot through the ruined city and take down the terrorist threat. The game features updated swing-and-shoot gameplay in a 3D environment.

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Play Modes

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,276 reviews

gameplay200 positive mentions

story113 negative mentions

The swinging mechanics are fun and provide a unique gameplay experience.
The game features a satisfying combat system that allows for creative ways to defeat enemies.
The graphics and soundtrack are decent for its time, enhancing the overall atmosphere.

The story is weak and filled with cliches, making it hard to engage with the characters.
The game suffers from poor checkpoint placement, leading to frustrating replaying of sections.
The controls can be clunky, especially for players using keyboard and mouse instead of a controller.

story
552 mentions
20 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many reviewers describing it as boring, generic, and filled with predictable plot twists. While some appreciate its campy, B-movie style and occasional humor, the overall consensus is that the narrative is poorly executed, with weak dialogue and uninteresting characters that detract from the gameplay experience. Despite its flaws, some players find enjoyment in the gameplay mechanics, suggesting that the story should be approached with low expectations.
- “After playing Bionic Commando (NES 1988), seeing these characters again and expanding their stories kept me interested till the end.”
- “There are many interesting twists and a setup for future sequels that make its story richer.”
- “The story is very cool and is told through conversations between Super Joe and Spencer and messages on relays.”
- “The story is abysmal but the swinging mechanics are fun.”
- “The story is complete nonsense.”
- “The story is terrible and so predictable you can set your watch by it.”
gameplay
517 mentions
39 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Bionic Commando (2009) is characterized by its unique grappling mechanics, which many players find engaging and fun once mastered, allowing for fluid movement and creative combat options. However, the execution is often criticized for being clunky and frustrating, with issues such as imprecise controls and a lack of depth in combat mechanics. While the swinging mechanics are a highlight, they can also lead to repetitive gameplay and are hampered by a poorly designed story and level structure.
- “Incredibly satisfying grapple and swing mechanics.”
- “The swinging mechanic is very freeing, and allows you to combat your enemies and traverse the environment any way you see fit.”
- “The gameplay is fun once you've gotten into the swing of things, the challenge is real and the experience is like a dumb action movie somewhere between 'cool in its time' and so bad that it's good.”
- “There's a good game buried in here, but the sloppy execution (what with the bugs and missing quality of life features) and questionable (if not outright flawed) gameplay design decisions keep me thinking too much about what the game could be to fully enjoy what it is.”
- “The swinging feels like they tried to copy the spider-man games but came up with a frustrating and at times unusable mechanic.”
- “The whole swinging mechanic is ridiculously awkward and unnatural feeling.”
graphics
188 mentions
42 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered decent, especially for its release period, with many reviewers noting that they have aged reasonably well. However, there are complaints about the lack of customizable graphic options and some instances of muddy textures. Overall, while the visuals may not compete with modern titles, they still provide an enjoyable aesthetic experience for players.
- “Even the jingle that plays upon finding a spinning 2D collectible calls back to yesteryear, like finding a time capsule complete with NES sprite-fashioned graphics to preserve the past and celebrate Spencer's return.”
- “A highly underrated game that combines third-person shooting with 3D platforming, a must if you love challenge and involved gameplay. The graphics are good to look at, and the game has a certain weight to its swinging mechanic, giving you a rush and feeling of tension every time you go for that collectible pick-up just under swinging distance from a ledge.”
- “The graphics are great on high settings.”
- “This honestly might be the worst game I've ever played, from terrible graphics, the most frustrating gameplay I've ever witnessed combined with a boring, generic story, poor voice acting, and a horrendous PC port.”
- “The combat feels grafted on and could easily have been removed, the story is the typical Capcom-level cringefest, and the graphics are boring and uninspired.”
- “You notice that decoration objects appear 1-2 meters before your feet like debris (not joking, they appear one step ahead of you out of nowhere) and massive screen tearing; there are no graphic options like VSync (if I recall right, resolution was the only one to change).”
music
140 mentions
63 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its epic and memorable soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is noted for its high quality, dynamic range, and ability to complement both intense combat and serene exploration, making it a standout feature of the game. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in certain tracks, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack for this game is the absolute bomb, one of my favorites.”
- “The music can be serene at times, when you're exploring the ruins of the city, but is intense and fast as you progress into more enemies and bosses.”
- “And one of the best soundtracks one could find in a game, challenging even the biggest productions.”
- “Several musical scores had grating sound effects such as alarms, static, and grinding noises.”
- “The audio design leaves much to be desired: the weapon sounds resemble plastic toys, and the music quickly becomes annoying.”
- “I'm okay with presentation (although the music and voice aren't good enough), but the gameplay doesn't feel enjoyable.”
humor
38 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as campy and self-aware, featuring cheesy one-liners and bizarre situations that characters often react to with indifference. While some players appreciate the over-the-top ridiculousness and grim quips, others find the humor to be generic and lacking in depth compared to other titles. Overall, the game balances its comedic elements with engaging gameplay, making it a colorful and entertaining experience despite its flaws.
- “Cheesy and sometimes funny and self-aware dialogue, this game has no pretensions over what it is.”
- “The humor is spot on and the game doesn't take itself too seriously.”
- “The character dialogue had me laughing not because it was intentionally funny, but because it was so generic action hero one-liners that were so over-the-top ridiculous for the situation.”
emotional
24 mentions
83 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game varies significantly among players; some recall feeling deep nostalgia and emotional resonance, particularly with the ending, while others criticize the story and characters as boring, leading to a lack of emotional engagement. While mechanics like the grapple arm evoke feelings of freedom and excitement, the overall narrative shortcomings diminish the potential for emotional connection. Ultimately, the game elicits mixed feelings, with some players experiencing profound emotions and others feeling isolated or disconnected.
- “I remember back when I first played this about 10 years ago, it made me emotional as a teenager.”
- “I played this game on PS3, and at the time, the ending made me cry. Now, it still does the same, partly due to nostalgia and partly due to me remembering the cost of having a cool bionic arm to smack people around with.”
- “My only gripe with the game was that this is the only game I've ever played where it made me feel lonely.”
- “What could have been an excellent gem of a game is bogged down by unperfected mechanics, unimmersive collectibles, a boring story, and painful gameplay.”
optimization
17 mentions
12 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
35 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users citing significant performance issues and crashes, particularly due to aggressive DRM measures that hinder modding and overall gameplay experience. While some players report stable performance, others experience stuttering and awkward controls, indicating that the PC port is poorly optimized. Overall, the addition of DRM has negatively impacted the game's performance, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck.
- “Performance and stability were great; the game crashed on me once, and that's it.”
- “The game itself runs well, and I had very few performance issues, but with a game of this age, that’s not surprising.”
- “I simply cannot recommend purchasing a game where the company has added in an aggressive form of DRM (by a frankly shady and scummy company, no less) well after launch that hurts performance and frame pacing, for the singular purpose of trying to prevent you from modding their game.”
- “Crapcom DRM added years after launch that harms performance and deliberately breaks mods.”
- “... unfortunately, the PC port here isn't remotely optimized.”
stability
14 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent glitches, clunky movement, and problematic physics that detract from the overall experience. Players often find themselves caught on geometry, and the swinging mechanics are described as frustratingly imprecise, even when compared to older titles. While there are moments of enjoyment, the pervasive bugs lead to a largely frustrating gameplay experience.
- “Partly a fun vision of what the retro game could be in 3D, but mostly an incredibly frustrating and buggy experience.”
- “Worst of all, the game is buggy with you getting caught on geometry constantly, and the swinging mechanics are clunky even compared to the PS2 Spider-Man games from years prior.”
- “Moving about the maps is clunky, and the ground feels buggy.”
grinding
11 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a significant drawback, citing rough save point design that forces them to re-run tedious sections and repetitive combat that can become frustrating. While some moments are enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by clunky controls and underpowered weaponry, leading to a sense of tedium and rage.
- “The save point design is pretty rough, and makes you re-run some tedious zones and dialogue if you die.”
- “The combat becomes a little repetitive and tedious at points.”
- “I had to quit shortly after the second boss (and even passing that was an achievement) because the game design choices moving forward just became increasingly tedious and instead of allowing the player to enjoy the experience, rather chose to punish them with clunky controls and underpowered weaponry.”
replayability
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with most players noting that the campaign lasts about 8 hours and lacks compelling reasons to revisit after completion. Many reviewers expressed disappointment in the absence of a New Game Plus mode or engaging unlockables, leading to a general consensus that once beaten, the game offers little incentive to play again.
- “The game even ups in replay value, as there are certain unlockables you can only access by playing (and progressing) in the classic remake, Bionic Commando: Rearmed.”
- “I would fully recommend it, but it's not very long — about 8 hours for the campaign with little to no replay value and can be a bit janky in spots.”
- “There is little replayability once beaten.”
- “There's not a lot of replay value and after beating this once, I don't want to imagine going back and starting from the beginning with all of the later powers still locked; this game would have been better with a new game plus mode giving you double the enemies and everything unlocked from the start.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its intriguing plot and well-designed locations, contributing to an engaging experience. However, some players feel that issues like stiff character controls detract from the overall atmosphere, leading to mixed feelings about its effectiveness. Overall, while the atmosphere has its highlights, it may not consistently resonate with all players.
- “The game is very interesting in terms of the plot, as well as the atmosphere and design of the locations.”
- “The plot and the atmosphere are awesome.”
- “It's fun and the atmosphere shines through.”
- “Something doesn't feel right about this game; maybe it's the stiff control of the main character or perhaps Bionic Commando lacks atmosphere.”
monetization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a "lazy cash grab," with reviewers expressing concerns over the focus on microtransactions and skins at the expense of game quality and modding support. Additionally, there are complaints about in-game advertising that feels overly tailored to gamers, detracting from the overall experience.
- “This really is a lazy cash grab.”
- “Do not support this anti-consumer company; they want to destroy modding to sell you skins and microtransactions!”
- “For being a AAA game, you might expect there to be more variety in the environments, objects, character models, etc. There's also some obvious in-game advertising, but none of it is anywhere that you wouldn't expect to see a billboard; it's just that the billboards are a little unrealistically geared toward a gaming audience.”