Bionic Commando
Description
Bionic Commando is a PS3 game that was announced on 16 October 2007 and released on 19 May 2009 and is developed and published by Capcom in collaboration with GRIN. It is a Sci-Fi adventure game with an ESRB rating of M (mature). It has been touted as a sandbox third person action game, but with some linearity offered by several mechanics (one of which is radiation) that act as barriers that prevent players from straying away from their objectives. The game centers on the protagonist, Nathan Spencer, which is a character assumed by the player. Spencer is equipped with the Bionic Arm which can be used to attack enemies at close range and to grab and launch objects such as boulders and cars at enemies. The game also features online multi-player mode that supports up to 10 players. The multiplayer mode of course features the usual Deathmatch and Capture The Flag gameplay.
Review
Playing Bionic Commando makes one feels like a donkey being dangled with a carrot. The game promises alluring possibilities to you, only to pull them away like you would a carpet from underneath you. It is like the developers didn’t know what to do with its great ideas, and you are left catching glimpse of it like a silver lining on a cloud. Gamers progress through the game in a linear style hampered by annoying radiations. You’re given great toys in form of powerful weaponry, only to find that shooting them is as lame as shooting a peashooter (and that’s actually even more fun).
The game’s main feature of course is the bionic arm attached to the main protagonist. This is your mode of transportation, as you swing from place to place by grappling on to posts, tree branches or girders; swinging and climbing to where you want to go. It does take a bit of practice initially to get it down pat. The game’s lackluster weaponry also leaves much to be desired. Much less can be said about the enemies that you encounter in-game. Mediocre would be a subtle word to describe the fire fight sequence in this game. You can only just about take as much hits before having to find cover to recover your health.
Overall there is just a feeling of something lacking when you’re playing Bionic Commando. There are some enjoyable moments, but the enjoyment seems inconsistent, making fun just out (a grappling hook’s) reach.
