First Look: Bionic Commando: Rearmed
Monday, August 04, 2008 12:00 AM
The second Bionic Commando game due out this year, BC: Rearmed, is being made for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC.
Development duties are again being handled by Capcom and Grin, the latter's main claim to fame so far has been Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and its subsequent sequel.
The game will have updated 2.5D graphics, new areas for players to grapple their way through, an online leaderboard to boost replay value and so on.
Modes on offer include single player, co-op mode and a four player 'versus' mode that will play out like Super Smash Bros.
If you're wondering if the Nazi storyline and characters from the original Japanese version have been reinstated, you'll be disappointed. What we have here is a remake of the 'censored' Western version.
To compensate for this, the game will be featuring purposefully over-the-top acting, and to ensure Rearmed remains faithful, gameplay-wise, the developers who worked on the original NES version will be acting as consultants.
However, that's not to say it will simply be a clone of its NES forbear; Rearmed will have a more efficient save system, enemies aren't quite so tough and there are Easter eggs to collect (one of these is apparently Mega Man's hard hat, trivia fans).
It's also been mentioned that the PS3 version will have trophy support in the near future - which makes it likely the Xbox 260 version will follow suit with achievements in the near future.
Rearmed will be priced at around £5, which is lower then the original price Capcom planned (£8).
In an odd, yet not unwelcome move, Capcom actually asked fans to decide between the two prices. Considering it could probably have got away with charging double the prices listed above, it is pleasing to note Capcom hasn't done so.
With the general media reception towards the game being positive so far, August 13th is a day Bionic Commando fans around the world will be eagerly looking forward to.
Gabriel May