Bionic Commando
Reviewed by Steve S.
Ahh... I remember way back in the day, when the NES was prominent
and powerful and had no competition. Capcom had only been out for a
couple of years, and every game they'd produced was a winner. In 1988,
Capcom released this game, Bionic Commando, and I doubt that anyone
was disappointed. It is the sequel to the 1986 arcade shooter Commando,
and features instead of Super Joe (the main character of the original), the
Bionic Commando. He's a powerful man with a strange but useful bionic
arm, and a whole arsenal of weaponry. He's engaged in an explosive conflict
involving the warmonger Generalissimo Killt and the captured military
soldier Super Joe. The Bionic Commando must infiltrate Killt's fortress
and destroy him to end the horrible war engulfing the planet.
Graphics: 10 out of 10
Back in the 1980's, not much was inspected in the visual area of video
games. Boy, was I sure impressed when this masterpiece was released!
Capcom is known for its high-res graphics, and this game is certainly no
exception. The animation is nice and smooth and the backgrounds are full
in rich detail. The visuals in this game hold up well to other Capcom games
of its time such as Mega Man and Ghosts 'N Goblins.
Music and Sound: 10 out of 10
I have always been a huge fan of all video game music. It's very inspiring
and very catchy, and I'm glad to say that that also applies to the tracks in
this game. The music perfectly suits the situations and the levels, and the
tunes never become annoying, which is something associated with many
early, and even newer, games. I never get tired of hearing the music in this game.
The sound effects are done very well, too. The sound of the bionic arm
as it extends forward resounds with a good coily, slinky-like effect, and
the gun makes impressive firing sounds as it shoots bullets or rockets.
There is not one annoying sound effect in the whole game! I give it all a
perfect score.
Game Challenge: 10 out of 10
If you want a game that will keep you occupied for a while due to its difficulty,
this is the one to get! Bionic Commando is challenging, but not one of those
games that requires a master gamer and two years of practice to defeat. I
beat this game for the first time when I was nine years old, seven years ago!
So that's proof that almost anybody can beat this game if they give it time
and a little bit of practice.
Frustration
I have to admit that there are several points in this game that are quite
frustrating. Some areas are extremely tricky to get through, especially
those that require expert bionic arm tactics. Some of the bosses (i.e. the
10-foot-tall robot) are very frustrating and have little mercy on you. But
again, all it takes is a little patience and practice.
Game Value: 10 out of 10
Of course it's worth the price! Back when it first came out, fifty bucks may
have seemed a tad steep, but it was well worth it even then. Now, however,
you could probably find this game for under ten dollars, which is REALLY
worth it. I would pay $50 again if I lost the game. Bionic Commando is a sure
classic, and is worth any price you can slap on it!
Overall: 10 out of 10
Most people think old video games are pretty much junk, and that's kind of
true. However, there is a small handful of games that stand out in my book,
and Bionic Commando is not an exception. Overall, the game is perfect, and I
wouldn't change a thing! Everything, from the graphics to the sounds to the
way the boss's head explodes at the end, is perfect. If you own a Nintendo
Entertainment System, having this game is a definite must! Don't miss out on it!