Johanz wrote Indeed, I agree with you Ben. Nightshade, it's a remake, it's not supposed to be the same game, if you want that, we all have the original NES version to play! A remake is supposed to change and spice things up, otherwise, what is the point? And Rearmed is so much redone in a way to match a bit more with modern game design but still being very true to the core. Spencers new arm, I think it suits him well, it gives him more personality if you ask me. The arm is a thing that he has to live with. When I played BC on the NES, I always thought his arm was mechanical and not some thing that you could take off at any time you wanted to. But seeing Spencer really being one with his arm makes it feel more personal if you ask me. Besides, the whole reason why they did change it was probably to match with the new Spencer in the new game, where he has actually lost his arm. Personally I don't think that it makes much sense if it's so easy to attach and remove, why aren't everyone bionic soldiers? In Spencers case, if he has his bionic arm replace his old one, you have to make a sacrifice and that's much more of a compelling story feature too if you ask me. Well, what I'm trying to say is that no one is forgetting about the Nes game, and Rearmed is not supposed to be the Nes game, it's a remake, something fresh. It might not be for everybody, but guys like me who enjoyed BC back in the day, well, I really liked it! I don't like the remakes where they just slap on 3D graphics and nothing else, if they are just going to do that, I'd rather play the original! If it's a whole package of new stuff, created from a new perspective etc, it's much more interesting if you ask me.

Doing a remake of an old game does not mean you have to redesign all the characters. Look at Mario, he's still the same as he was when he first appeared. They never had to redesign him to appeal to the new generation. Samus Aran, still the same as she was in the first Metroid, even in the remake of the first Metroid, Metroid Zero, she's still the same. Never had to redesign her for the new generation. Even Sonic The Hedgehog is still the same as he was, only a different artist is drawing him, and even he doesn't need a makeover to stay appealing to the new generation. So how is it necessary for every other character in every other game that's a remake of an older game to get a makeover? Makeovers suck! As I said before:If it's not broken, don't fix it!

I agree with you Dan, but yeah, everyone has their opinions about designs, and it's highly personal, and I'm not saying that you must like the new designs Nightshade, everyone has different tastes! :)

A funny thing about the BC design, the reason why he has glasses and his overall design is because of the small sprites. GRIN did some interviews with the few people that are left on Capcom that were in touch with the project or worked on it and such, and they said that they put sun glasses on the main character because the eyes didn't look good when it was just a dot on such a small sprite, and some other stuff. I can't remember it all but GRIN talked about it on the Bionic Commando podcast. So the iconic design really came from hardware limitations and such. I mean, that is the reason why Mario has a cap right? Miyamoto felt that it was too hard to animate the hair properly and it didn't feel good jumping with static hair or something, so he gave him his cap.

Anyway, it's always fun with design and how it changes over the years, and what people like. Well, all in all, I don't mind changing designs a bit here and there, take something as mainstream as Master cheif, his Spartan armor has changed through Halo 1-3. And that is often referred to as a pretty iconic piece of armor (I don't like Halo but hey, atleast I can see Master Cheif when someone shows me the design!), but the core is still intact. But yeah, anyway. Everyone has their own opinions right? Not trying to say what is right or wrong, I just like BC Rearmed because it's a fun game and I actually like the new design and feel of the character. Although, the first thing I reacted on was that Spencer didn't have his black boots from the original game. :)

All that was mentioned in Top Secret, Bionic Commando Podcast on their homepage, I don't remember which episode, but it might have been the post mortem, or some earlier ones (www.bioniccommando.com)

And yes, Bionic Commando Rearmed is made by swedish GRIN, also the next gen game is developed by GRIN. I think it's really admirable that Capcom goes this route and wants to be influenced by western design and other developers, it's great seeing a japanese developer finally cooperating with the rest of the world. And belive me, when GRIN got the job, they are pretty much hardcore fans of Bionic Commando, since what they took into the game, they put back some of the traps that were in the japanese version of the NES game, that were pulled from the US one and stuff like that. And they tried to get ahold of members that worked on the original Bionic Commando but most of them are long gone from the gaming industry, so it was really hard for them to get any solid information about the developers from the time.

All in all, this not some Snake's Revenge. Snake's Revenge is a sequel, well, okay the new BC game is a sequel too but the fact is that I think that Snake's Revenge was created for the american audience without much input from Japan, sure it's a terrible Metal Gear game, but hey, it's not like it's broken or anything. Just really horrible from a Metal Gear perspective, and besides, I think that the music in Snake's revenge, especially the jungle opening is awesome, they did something right, Ultra Games had some kickin' music. And this comes from a Metal Gear fan that has played pretty much every game in the Metal Gear universe. :P

BC Rearmed and the new game, they have contact with Capcom in Japan and set up milestones and shape the design according to what the japanese want and so, and they belive in the project, especially Keiji Inafune, who has supported Ben Judd (the producer) in the project. They want it too succeed, they see potenial and all that. It's not like it's put out to earn a quick buck. And think of it, Bionic Commando was never popular in Japan, so we would probably never have seen Rearmed or the new sequel if it wasn't for Capcom and GRIN, since GRIN are huge fans of the original, I think they were the right people for the game. And I think Keiji Inafune did a great job on supporting them, I mean, I heard that some japanese gamer said (about Bionic Commando Rearmed) "Wow! This game is so cool, finally Capcom puts out amazing downloadable games, nobody but Capcom could have made this so great." And the japanese are kinda hard to please with western design, so GRIN said that this is the greatest honor they could get from a japanese gamer, since he thought Capcom internally developed it, when it was basically some swedish dudes. Quite amazing. I mean, to get Ichiro Mizuki to do the singing in the trailer and Shinkiro to do all the drawings, that's really awesome.

I guess I'm kinda passionate about this project because I love Capcom, and it's easily one of my favorite japanese developers, if not my favorite. They embrace western and eastern game design in such a good way. They know that sequels are good for the fans but also believe in original IPs, and now they are finally leading the way in showing japanese developers that they can outsource game design to some foreign companies and that they can take inspiration from them. I mean, some people have commented that japanese game design might be a bit behind western at the moment, it's not like in the NES och Snes era, so I think it's just good that japanese developers take the best from their classic game design and mix it with the best from western game design.

Overall though, I don't think the developer matters, as long as they are competent and understand what the fans want, sure, you can't please everybody though! And I think GRIN did a great job if you look at the feedback. :)

Mavrick Hunter X = decent remake (it was pretty fun but it din't really feel very new. Also they moved the weapons around which kinda messed up the flow of the game. The addition of the new character was cool though and the graphics were pretty decent, but I still think I'd rather play the original)

Mega Man Powered up = good remake (It took a game that very few people will play anymore and totally remade it into something that was a lot more fun. Plus it added a level editor that you could share online, which was awesome. I only wish they had been able to make powered up 2 and 3)

Bionic Commando Rearmed = awesome remake (Brand new weapons, physics and moves. All new levels, better menu options than the original, all new VR mission type challenges, Amazing new graphics and remixed music, this game did everything right for me.)

Honestly the only really valid critisizum you've brought to the table is that you dislike the character designs (which is a matter of taste), but there is so much more good stuff you're not seeing by focusing on that one small detail. The gameplay is solid, the graphics are great and the music is amazing, why would you ignore all of that because the guy has a bionic arm or a new look?