First look: Bionic Commando
Monday, August 04, 2008 12:00 AM
The 'next-gen' Bionic Commando is the sequel to the NES version of the same name, which achieved some degree of notoriety for its plot about taking out Hitler.
This, indeed, led to it being censored when it washed up on western shores. Anyway, the new game is being developed by Capcom and Grin (who are also developing Bionic Commando: Rearmed) and is slated for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC.
The plot for the updated Bionic Commando goes thus: Nathan Spencer, hero of the original games, has been betrayed by his own government and falsely imprisoned.
His day of execution arrives, but, conveniently, an experimental weapon detonates in Ascension City, pretty much destroying the metropolis and taking out the population with it.
As if that wasn't bad enough, there's also terrorist force threatening invasion. Looks like Nathan has got to clean up his former boss's mess.
The main character, Nathan Spencer, will be voiced by the legendary Mike Patton (lead singer of Faith No More, Mr Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk and many more).
Super Joe - Bionic Commando's answer to Grey Fox - will not only make an appearance, but will be graced by the dulcet tones of Steve Blum, famous for his roles in a number of much-loved Anime series.
As an interesting aside, Super Joe's real identity is Joseph Gibson, one of the main characters from the Sega Mega Drive (and arcade) hit, Mercs.
In terms of gameplay, Bionic Commando, despite rumours, will not be a sandbox-style game - it will follow a more linear path than had been anticipated.
Despite this, missions in Ascension City will have multiple routes through them, utilising the main attraction of the game - the Bionic Arm.
Players can swing around as if they were a macho Spider-Man, with Spencer even able to take out enemies while hanging upside down, climbing a building or even in mid-swing.
The arm is so powerful it can even be used to hurl boulders and cars at enemies. Diplomacy isn't an option when you have a bionic arm, it seems.
To add more longevity to the game, Capcom have seen fit to add an online multiplayer that will have up to ten players competing in standard modes such as deathmatch and capture the flag.
And yes, you can use the grappling hook online, which will make people both happy and annoyed in equal measure, one suspects.
Bionic Commando is not due out until sometime this winter, which is plenty of time for more details to emerge.
Gabriel May