Hey, this game needs a thread, especially on Retroware TV!  :)

Anyway, have you played Bionic Commando on the NES, thought it was one of the best games on the system? Yeah, so did I! And so did the swedish developer GRIN too apparently, since they made a kickass remake of a classic.

Now, this is far beyond a simple port with shiny graphics, GRIN really looked at Bionic Commando, both the japanese and US version of the game (there are some differences, like traps removed in the US version or small other stuff) and they took what made Bionic Commando great, and improved upon it. How? Well, remember the bosses? No? Well, that's because they were pretty bad in the original, so now they have had a total make over and the bosses really fit well with the game and they are cool and unique. Another thing is the weapon balancing, once you obtained the rocket launcher, you just pretty much used it for the entire game. Now the weapons have been revamped and you always carry all your collected weapons. Beam weapons are more effective against machinery, bullet type weapons are more effective against soldiers and the rocket launcher can kill you in an instant if you are too close to your target when firing!

All this makes the game so much better, with a new and modern continue system and lives are just extra lives for that Sector/mission, if you die and it's game over, you just get back to the map and get to retry. So more lives = more tries from a checkpoint on a level.

The graphics are marvelous and the music is remixed and fits so well with the game's new graphics, really electronic and good sounding stuff. There are new enemies in the game that don't feel out of place, new weapons that just feel perfect, GRIN really did a awesome job on showing how you should do a remake of a classic game. I mean, the classic game Bionic Commando still exists and you can still play it, so why just make a remake with shinier graphics? GRIN went the extra mile and made a game that everyone can enjoy, especially fans of the original game, since there is alot of humours dialouge that nods at the original translation and stuff like that. And if you speak swedish, GRIN shows off their heritage in naming a weapon in the game in a slightly odd swenglish manner, gave me a pretty good laugh. :D Also the game is jam packed with secrets. Every weapon has a upgrade and they are all well hidden except the first upgrade for your standard gun, and there are other stuff to collect which will help you in your mission.

Now, I must sound like some PR dude but there is so much love in this project, and it really shows. Great new character art by SNK and now Capcom meister Shinkiro, and all for just 10 bucks! 15 bucks on PC (but PC guys will get extra challange rooms), and the game is avalible on Playstation Network (not in Europe right now though, a bummer for PS3 euro fans!) , Xbox Live Arcade and PC (Currently only Direct2Drive, but Steam is apparently going to have the game for download too!)

So yeah, all Bionic Commando fans, do buy Rearmed! I mean, if we purchase this, we vote with our dollar or cyberbucks and shows that we want more of these remakes and more great stuff like this! Oh yeah, did I mention that there is a local multiplayer mode for four people? Not only, just local but I tried it out yesterday and "Don't Touch The Floor"-mode was pretty hilarious! And there is local co-op too! So you and a buddy can play through the singleplayer campaign. Fear that it will be too easy? Don't worry, the co-op campaign changes the bosses so you have to team up to defeat them and adds a some special co-op enemies.

I can't stress this enough but dang, this might be one of the best remakes in years of a classic game. This is how you should do a remake, and the price, just 10 or 15 bucks! It's a steal! Hey, atleast you can try demo (on PSN and XBLA) that features almost a whole level and 2 challange rooms!


So let's discuss Bionic Commando Rearmed in this thread! (And no, I don't work for GRIN or anything, I'm just super stoked about this game, and it has gotten good reviews too so I'm not alone atleast!) ((Wow, that's a long post... But yeah, shows you how much I like this game I think! Also you have some information about the game and all))

Trailer for those curious about the graphics and updated stuff!
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29799.html

I have to agree with Johanz on this.  This game is freaking awesome.  I really can't recommend this enough.  I wish the made new games like this still.  Capcom can keep re-releasing old titles polished up and I would most likely buy every one of them.  Megaman Maverick Hunter X is another example.  I have enjoyed Bionic Commando Rearmed more than I have any recent game released.  That's including Soul Calibur 4.  Metal Gear Solid 4.... I wouldn't go that far but it's close.  2d game play is just more fun for me.  I would easily pay 20 or more for this game.  It's just that good.  The soundtrack rules and you can also purchase that for 10 bones at the following address, it even comes with bonus tracks that I think are exclusive to this site, I may be wrong.  https://www.sumthingdigital.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumid=3664

no this is the original soundtrack.

I actually have it (RetroBeats?)

It's awesome that Capcom are reviving their old franchises for digital distrobution. 1942, Bionic Commando, Mega Man, Street Fighter 2(SSF2 turbo HD remix). I hope they make a new Final Fight...better than that abomination known as Final Fight:Streetwise.

I only played a demo of BC: rearmed, but I enjoyed it and will buy it when I get the points.

Yeah, so much awesome. Currently I have found every one of those Yasichis, every weapon upgrade, every item in the game and and two secret items! Very fun stuff. There is only one room in the game that I don't know what it's for. And well, I won't tell you where it is, but it's a room that requires co-op play. Now not a mandatory level or anything, just a very hidden bonus or secret. I don't know what the reward is but I'm going to find out later!

And yeah, currently at the very last level and damn, it's a tough one! It's super long, very challanging, good stuff, good stuff. I'm loving this game, although, after I complete it on Normal, I have to go through on Super Hard so I can earn that achivement, (playing the Xbox 360 version :)).

This game is really messed up. Why did they feel it was necessary to redesign the main character, and make his arm artificial? It wasn't artificial in the original game, and there's proof on the cover for the japanese Famicom edition of the original game as well as one frame of the ending. The Bionic Arm was an attachment he wore on his wrist. Even the guy from the arcade version which has nothing to do with the NES version or future versions used a grappling hook type of thing. What the hell did they do to him in this remake? He looks so stupid. The people who made this forgot an important rule:If it's not broken, don't fix it. And what's with the character designs? Why did they have to make all the characters all realistic looking? I'd rather they'd given them an anime look and made the CG cell-shaded. Again, WHY did they do this? Was this just some attempt to make the game more hip to the younger gaming crowd of this generation? I remember back when I first played Bionic Commando, I dreamed of an updated version featuring the original hero of the NES version staying the same, and having anime cut scenes like Mega Man 8 and Mega Man X4. And the sad part is that because this game was such a success, the populus will be more familiar with his design in the remake will be more familiar with the redesign instead of his classic, signature look from the NES version. I don't care if there are new abilities and 3D graphics! This game is just visual effects eye candy, and nothing more. I'm just gonna stick with the NES version and stay as far away from this remake as I can. The Capcom programmer who made the NES version is probably so embarrassed by this remake. I would be if I were that person. I hope that rumored Strider remake isn't gonna be worked on by the same team who made this. This game is almost on the same level as Bomberman Act Zero (but I doubt you get only one life and no continues like that game in this game). Remember that one? They turned Bomberman into some Master Chief wannabe and everyone hated it, and our hero of Bionic Commando suffered a similar fate in this game. And everytime I see this, I just laugh my ass off:

The Evolution of Commando? More like the ruining and disrespect to an iconic character who's of the same legendary status as Capcom's other heroes like Mega Man, Ryu, Leon and the like.

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.

So, I finally got around to downloading this game this weekend, and holy crap it's fantastic! I love it! I played it for a bit and got to the end of the 3rd or 4th stage, I can't remember which. I just know if was some big stupid armored tank thing that I haven't figured out how to beat yet, heh.

The game play is awesome, and I love the soundtrack! Seriously, these classic remakes like this are wonderful! I hope they just keep coming!

I think Derek hit the nail on the head in his MM9 video: New Super Mario Bros., Contra 4, Mega Man 9, and Bionic Commando Rearmed! it doesn't get much better than that!

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