I love enhanced remakes of classic NES games. I also love classic NES games, but since I never experienced the original Bionic Commando, Rearmed was an entirely new experience. It’s obvious from the get-go that Rearmed is an old game made new, and the level of detail put into the project, remake or not, is very impressive. Enemies are smarter, graphics are (much) prettier and boss fights are downright fun, if a bit simple. The only constants between the original and Rearmed are the humorous dialogue and of course the addicting gameplay.
In Bionic Commando Rearmed, you cannot jump. There is no jump button. For some, that alone is enough reason to never play the game. If you’re one of those people, cut it out. Stop it. Knock it off. Think of Zelda! Anyway, left to right mid-air movement is controlled by your bionic arm. That’s right, the title of the game is indeed a pun, and your bionic arm will be your saving grace as well as the most cursed mechanism for maneuvering. The controls are very challenging to master. You probably won’t have trouble making it through the main story of the game, but if you expect to tackle the challenges, you’ll need practice. The tightness and strict timing of the control scheme takes some getting used to, but fortunately, however frustrating, the controls are solid and reliable.
As Nathan “Rad” Spencer, you’ll make your way through the game using your gun and grappling hook to take out enemies and swing to victory. Rearmed has a map view for level selection, and should you end up crossing paths with an enemy utility vehicle, a 3D ground mission will commence. This stray from the rest of Rearmed’s 2D gameplay is usually a short affair, but it’s always a good time. Especially with the missile launcher, because amidst your average enemy peon are tanks and vehicles, primed and ready to be turned into beautiful explosions.
Apparently the original NES title had a slew of references to Nazis, but most of them have been removed. The final boss, known as “The Leader”, still clearly resembles Hitler, and that’s OK because by the game’s end his head is reduced to bits. Speaking of boss battles, there really ought to be a few more in here. The fun is short-lived and made me wish for a greater challenge, or at least a boss with a bit more health.
Fans of side-scrollers will definitely appreciate Bionic Commando Rearmed, whether or not they’ve played the original. It can be frustrating at times, but once the controls are figured out, you’ll discover a whole new way to explore two dimensions. The thinking process for this platformer is unlike any other; it’s outside the box for sure, and it allows for a refreshing experience with an age-old genre of games. It’s also cheap, and available for both PC and Xbox 360. What are you waiting for, a remake of Banjo Kazooie? Yes?! Yeah, me too.
