Games for Lunch: Bionic Commando

In a nutshell: It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.
5/18/2009 9:03 PM | 1 Comments | Page 1 of 4

Developer: GRIN
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: May 19, 2009
Systems: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3, PC
ESRB Rating: M
Official Web site

0:00 I wasn't too enamored with a quick five-minute demo of an early version of this game at CES, but it's Capcom, so it gets the benefit of the doubt for the full release.

0:01 An obligatory downloadable update, some loading, and the Capcom logo appears with the familiar old-school jingle. Yay!

0:02 The title floats on a light-blue background with soft, haunting piano music. I thought this was an action game. Why's the music going all emo on me?

0:03 I choose options from the circular menus using what looks like a length of pulsating black fiber-optic cable. Is that supposed to be the bionic arm? Ew.

0:04 Difficulty Settings are "Normal," "Hard" and "Commando." I'm guessing Commando is supposed to be harder than Hard, but it's really not clear on this circular menu ... Normal is normal enough for me, anyway.

0:05 I can see which button does what on an interactive loading screen. Then we fall slowly through the cloud cover to an overhead view of "Ascension City," by the bay. Gentle strings play in the background as a nuclear weapon goes off, disabling the camera. "Let me tell you about the man I met when I was still young..." Hmmm, that sounds familiar. So bionic soldiers were heroes, but the public turned on them. "They called them dangerous, crazy, not completely human. Bionics were a public menace." One was sentenced to death. "This is where our story begins..."

0:07 Cut to a plane with a grinning face painted on it, sitting in a hangar. "Spencer, you finally arrived," says a man in a suit. Spencer is a bionic soldier with no arm on his left side. Some expository dialogue reveals that he was saved from execution to help infiltrate post-bombing Ascension City, which is being controlled by "pro-bionic terrorists." "I'm just a man, Spencer," says Mr. Suit. "I can't give you the last five years back, but I can give you this." He hands over a picture... "What the f*** does this have to do with Emily," Spencer growls. Apparently Mr. Suit can help Spencer find her. "The clock is ticking ... are you in or out?" He's in, and as they lower his arm down via crane you can see the faintest hint of a smile go across his lips.

0:09 Cut to fighter jets burning the diesel over the ocean. They fire two missiles into a building in Ascension City. "Package Delivered. Heading Home." Then ... more loading! Hooray!

0:11 Spencer jumps out of his pod. "Now, where did the rest of me land?" I'm finally in control. "FIND your Bionic Arm," says a message in the corner. Good advice!

0:13 Standard third-person dual-stick controls. Spencer has a huge jump ... like 20 feet from a standing start easily. I take out an enemy that comes around the corner without even thinking about it. "Nailed ya!" Spencer yells in triumph.

0:14 Nice lighting effects from an enemy flashlight through a set of ruined cubicles. I navigate through the pieces of downed drywall and floating bits of paper to take him out. "Eat that!" Man, Spencer has some anger management problems.