US Title: Bionic Commando
JAP Title: Top Secret
Console System: Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom
Game Type: Side-Scrolling Platformer
Year Released: 1988
Company: Capcom
Born in Capcom's age of innovation, Bionic Commando was a game that saw too-few fans, and even fewer sequels. From it's lack of advertising in Gaming Magazines, to it's new (and tougher) side-scrolling gameplay, kids in the 8-10yr old range just didn't realize the sheer perfection they were holding in their hands...
Graphics: 9
Like most everything with this game, finding flaws in the graphics (when compared to what hardware was available at the time), is extremely difficult. Each stage makes you feel like you are truly behind enemy lines, at an outpost, at a weapons depot, at a naval base, or even in the lair of Hitler Himself. Aside from the obvious censorship of the "Swastika" logo, changing "Hitler" to "Master-D", and using "GeneralissmoKilt" instead of a german-sounding name, I can find no faults.Sound: 10
Typical of Capcom's former glory, the soundtrack for this game makes you feel even more immersed than the graphics do. Each has it's own "feel" and "personality" t o it, to the point where you can expect what to find in a stage simply by noting which music track is playing. Every bit as great as the music found in the Megaman's, Capcom lived up to the "outdoing ourselves" standard with this soundtrack.Gameplay: 9
The gameplay can be summed up in one sentence: "Why jump, when you have a Bionic Grappling Arm?" From swinging across massive chasms in pursuit of a new weapon, to grappling yourself to the ceiling just in time to evade some boss fire, the Bionic Arm either had you "hooked on the first play", or it made you trade the game and never think twice. It's a style of gameplay that was never done before, or since, and that only adds to the magic of it all.Overall: 9
Anyone who still harkens back to the days of side-scrolling games shouldn't pass up this classic. From it's unforgettable lines to it's revolutionary gameplay, Bionic Commando stands within a genre of it's own making. It's an example of what a game company can do if they stop being politically correct, brainstorm a little, then throw caution to the wind. In my mind, the immortality of this game is unquestionable, as is my devotion to it.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Final Thoughts:
It's a shame this game didn't target older gamers. I've talked to a number of people who played this game when they were 8-10, then diden't pick it up again until 16-20, only to find perfection waiting for them. The gameplay of this game required more patience and thinking than others of the time, which in my mind was the only reason it didn't have a larger fanbase, and thus, more sequels. I personally found the censorship of the graphics offensive. (and this coming from a fan of "clean games for kids") This was a title with a dark setting, and the removal of Nazi references only served to make things look corny. Everyone who isn't 99% blind in both eyes can see that "Master-D" has a portrait of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi's had a Swastica (not an eagle) for a logo, and that "Generalismo Kilt" is actually some German general. It's sad - We nurfed Bionic Commando, but hailed and lauded Wolfenstein 3-D. What hypocracy...Related Games:
The first sequel was a original-gameboy version game. It featured nearly all the original tracks, weapons, and gameplay. Even the majority of the stages were included, though you do see a few new ones. The "Bionic Grappling Arm" saw an improvement, as it fires faster and can be used more efficiently in this title, which is a plus. Even "The Albatross" was raised to a whole new level of terror, and now looks more like a "battleship of mass destruction" than a "1-screen-NES-Boss". But, overall, I got the feeling like it was more of a "port" of the NES Bionic Commando to the Gameboy, and nothing more. Actually, if I could port the Gameboy Version of BC back to the NES, I would. Give it some color, and throw in the original characters along with the new ones, and you'd have a Bionic Commando that would be a perfect 10 across the board.
The Second sequel was for the Gameboy Color, and featured all new levels, characters, and music. I diden't like it as well as the originals, as all references to the Nazi's were again removed, and the setting wasn't even a real-world one. The bosses were extremely tough, which was both good and annoying. You can play as a man or woman, with each of them having certain advantages. The stages were all much tougher than the original titles, and definately forces you to conserve every point of energy. Overall, if you are addicted to the BC series, grab this game, otherwise pass it up. The overall toughness/annoyness factor of the stages/bosses will drive away all but the most determined gamer.