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 638 reviews

gameplay101 positive mentions

story58 negative mentions

The swinging mechanics are incredibly fun and allow for creative movement throughout the levels.
The game features a unique combat system that lets players throw enemies and objects at each other, adding a satisfying layer to the gameplay.
Despite its flaws, the game has a certain charm and nostalgia that keeps players engaged.

The story is generic and poorly executed, with many plot holes and unlikable characters.
The game suffers from frustrating design choices, such as instant-death radiation zones and a lack of meaningful checkpoints.
The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, especially when trying to grapple or swing accurately.

story
276 mentions
20 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely criticized for being generic, predictable, and poorly executed, often described as a cliché action movie plot filled with absurd twists and lackluster dialogue. While some players find unintentional charm in its B-movie quality, many agree that the narrative fails to engage or immerse, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the gameplay mechanics and action elements are often praised, suggesting that players should focus on the fun of gameplay rather than the story itself.
- “The story has many interesting twists and a setup for future sequels that make its story richer.”
- “The story is goofy but basically amounts to nothing and me caring about nobody by the end.”
- “The story is very b-movie like, and the main character is unlikable throughout the entire game.”
- “The story is bad and the way it is told does not immerse you at all.”
- “Amongst that, you have an awful story with terrible dialogue, voice acting, and one of the dumbest twists in video game storytelling.”
- “The story is complete nonsense.”
gameplay
263 mentions
38 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Bionic Commando" is characterized by its unique swinging mechanics, which offer a fun and engaging way to navigate the environment, reminiscent of Spider-Man games. However, many players note that the execution can be clunky and frustrating, with issues such as poor physics, linear level design, and repetitive combat detracting from the overall experience. While the game has its share of enjoyable moments and creative mechanics, it often struggles with bugs and design flaws that hinder its potential.
- “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.”
- “The swing mechanics are so enjoyable in this game, providing a sense of freedom and skill that is truly unique.”
- “The gameplay allows a sense of freedom and skill that is truly unique, and once you get the hang of the mechanics, it's a blast to swing around and shoot stuff.”
- “The swinging feels like they tried to copy the Spider-Man games but came up with a frustrating and at times unusable mechanic.”
- “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.”
- “What could have been an excellent gem of a game is bogged down by unperfected mechanics, unimmersive collectibles, a boring story, and painful gameplay.”
graphics
93 mentions
42 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising their quality for the era, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking customization options. Many users note that the visuals can be appealing in certain environments but falter in enclosed spaces, and the absence of adjustable settings is a significant drawback. Overall, while some find the graphics enjoyable and fitting for a game of its release date, others describe them as mediocre or uninspired.
- “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.”
- “The graphics are great on high settings.”
- “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 screenshots are misleading: the visuals really don't hold up, even for the time.”
- “Horribly ugly, brown and bloom aesthetics, with clunky movement and zero feedback to the gunplay or combat.”
- “There are barely any graphical options other than gamma and resolution.”
music
70 mentions
63 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives a mixed reception, with many praising its epic and memorable soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during intense combat and exploration. However, some users criticize certain sound effects as grating and the overall audio design as lacking depth. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to 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.”
- “On top of this, you have an incredibly well-realized vision of a city hit with a recent disaster of apocalyptic scale and some of the best music in gaming.”
- “The audio design leaves much to be desired: the weapon sounds resemble plastic toys, and the music quickly becomes annoying.”
- “Several musical scores had grating sound effects such as alarms, static, and grinding noises.”
- “I'm okay with presentation (although the music and voice aren't good enough), but the gameplay doesn't feel enjoyable.”
humor
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of dark, self-aware quips and campy one-liners, often delivered in a way that highlights the absurdity of the situations. While some players appreciate the over-the-top ridiculousness and the engaging dialogue, others find it generic and lacking the depth of similar titles. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise grim narrative, making for a colorful and entertaining experience.
- “Despite his record, everyone hates the protagonist for various reasons and he hates everyone, which brings out some hilariously grim lines and quips, like the protagonist snickering to himself after killing grunts with the sniper rifle, or the general giving orders then adding you don't need to try too hard not to die, or the protagonist's ex-subordinate defending the terrorists for killing an entire city by saying the government wanted to put her in a wheelchair.”
- “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
12 mentions
83 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of nostalgia and emotional resonance with the game, particularly highlighting its impactful ending that still evokes tears years later. However, some also note feelings of loneliness and a lack of emotional depth in the story and characters, suggesting that while the gameplay can be exhilarating, it may not fully engage players on an emotional level. Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players, with some finding deep connections and others feeling detached.
- “I played the hell out of this game on PS3; at the time, the ending made me cry, and 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. This game is fun as hell.”
- “My only gripe with the game was that this is the only game I've ever played that made me feel lonely.”
- “I remember back when I first played this about 10 years ago; it made me emotional as a teenager.”
- “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
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant performance issues, crashes, and poor support on platforms like the Steam Deck, largely attributed to problematic DRM. While a few players noted stable performance with minimal issues, many criticized the PC port as poorly optimized, leading to awkward controls and frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, the game's optimization appears inconsistent, with notable glitches and stuttering affecting the experience for many players.
- “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.”
- “This DRM causes performance issues, crashes, and has broken Steam Deck support on some games.”
- “Crapcom's DRM added years after launch harms performance and deliberately breaks mods.”
- “Unfortunately, the PC port here isn't remotely optimized.”
stability
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs causing players to get stuck on geometry and experience clunky movement mechanics. Glitches and inconsistent physics detract from the overall experience, making navigation frustrating and reminiscent of older, less polished titles.
- “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.”
- “Partly a fun vision of what the retro game could be in 3D, but mostly an incredibly frustrating and buggy experience.”
- “Moving about the maps is clunky, and the ground feels buggy.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to rough save point design that forces them to replay sections after dying. Combat can become repetitive, and some design choices lead to a punishing experience rather than an enjoyable one, despite moments of fun and achievement.
- “Of course, there are sections that force combat and those can get tedious, even frustrating.”
- “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.”
replayability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many players expressing a lack of desire to replay it after completing the campaign, which lasts about 8 hours. The absence of a new game plus mode and an unengaging story contribute to this sentiment, although some unlockables tied to a classic remake may offer a slight incentive for replay.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
0 % 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 certain elements, like stiff controls, detract from the overall ambiance, leading to mixed feelings about the game's atmospheric impact.
- “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 that Bionic Commando lacks atmosphere.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a lazy cash grab, with players expressing concerns over the focus on microtransactions and in-game advertising that feels out of place. Many feel that this approach undermines the game's quality and variety, particularly for a AAA title.
- “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.”