Revisiting a classic

by Steve Parsons { Jul 20th 2005 at 8:06AM }

I was always more in the Sega camp than the big N. If I ever played Bionic Commando, I don't Bionic Commando 2 remember it, and I have a pretty good memory for such things. (Unless it involves 1991-1992. Don't ask.)

1UP has revisited a classic title from days of yore. This time it's Sonic The… Just kidding, it's Bionic Commando, duh! Harkening back to the NES, you can marvel at the sheer graphical awesomeness! Of course, kids today will dismiss it due to the graphics, but us old folk know that gameplay is king, right? Right? Hello? Bueller?

Interesting to learn that in Japan, the game was titled Top Secret: The Resurrection of Hitler. Can't possibly imagine why they felt the need to change that title. Though apparently, you can still get to see Hitler's face explode in the US version. Sweet! That alone is a reason to track it down.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

The game was rocking because of the grappling hook. I loved games where you could swing on stuff. A few batman games had it, Spiderman, and lately Spiderman2 on GC/PS2. Awesome game, if not just for the massively detailed swing engine. Surely ain't for the combat.

Bamboo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

That was an awsome game. I had it as a kid and sold it or traded it. A couple of years ago I saw it forsale on e-bay and bought it. It was crazy playing it all over again, remembering some parts and not others. If you have an old NES 8-bit, I recommend you try to pick it up. Just the sound the arm makes brings back memories.

P.S., a quick check of E-bay shows a lot of copies for as cheap as $0.99, with a buy it now of $2.99. You could get Hours of fun for a couple of bucks.
http://search.ebay.com/bionic-commando_Video-Games_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8QQsacatZ1249

jonli @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

One of my all-time favorite NES games. My only complaint was that there was never a reason to use any weapon other than the rocket launcher. Memorable moments: fighting the Albatross with it's patterned engine wash, shooting the cockpit of the helicopter with pseudo-Hitler inside and watching his face explode in 3-frame glory, and retrieving the useless Joe's Machine Gun which looked like a trumpet and shot like one too.

shindakun @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

This game ranks on the top of my list for NES games. It's fantastic. In fact I still make some time now and then to play it. I suggest everyone try it if they've never played it.

Fortyseven @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

One of my favorites, too. Just picked up the sequel for the Gameboy Color a week or so ago. Having a hard time getting into it for some reason.

But the original I can play all day. It just FEELS right.

I'd love to see a proper update to the game that isn't on a weaker platform. :P

Useful_Arts @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Ninja-Five-0 for the GBA was also a lot like this game.

craig @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

yes yes yes. this is the best game. and by the way Jonli, the rocket launcher bounced off some things.

Codejoy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

yes the game was a good case study as well cause its a game that does away with the typical jump mechanic that are found in most platformers.

chris26 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Great game indeed.
As is Master Blaster.
Remember that one?

CapTn_InSanO @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

This and Master Blaster both defied convention and made great gaming. I never owned this but rented it many times over. I also stole it from a friend for a year--then felt bad and gave it back (after completing it)

Chapu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Does anybody remember a game that was basically a fighting game, but with robots? The best thing about it was that you could replace parts of your own robot-body from other robots you smashed. I've been dieing to know what it is (so I can find a ROM)... I think it was a genesis game, but could be super nintendo, too.

Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Useful Arts:
Hell yeah! Ninja Five-O reference!

Anyway, if anyone else wants some nostalgic love that isn't done at the rate of one title per week, check here:

http://www.netjak.com/section.php?sec=vintage

From C-64 to Sega Dreamcast...and I'll get a TI 99/4A game in there before too much longer.

afearofnightmares @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

#10:

It's Cyborg Justice for the Genesis.

Chris K @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

TI/994A? Sweet! We wasted many hours with games like Parsec and Tunnels of Doom. Slimoids was awesome, too. And I can still see the Wumpus eating me if I close my eyes. :)

brett @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Good game, never beat it though. If you really have the need to see some old school Hitler destroying, play Total Carnage for the SNES (not positive the snes one still includes the giant robotic Hitler head boss) or MAME. Best boss ever.

kiddanger @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

i have it, it rocks.

Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Chris K:

Tunnels of Doom was actually the first game on my list to review. I'll probably do Blasto, too. Man...can you believe they did pseudo-3D for the hallways in that game back in '82?

CV @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

I loved Bionic Commando. I spent hours and hours playing it. Not that that's a big deal. I spent hours and hours playing tons of games. I always wondered if they'd be able to translate that kind of gameplay into three dimenions. No, they wouldn't be able to.

Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

I played through this one recently on an emulator on my XBox.

I still remember the day this came out and they were actually sold out at the KMart closest to my house.

This was before walking barefoot both ways to the EBGames store. Before they even existed.

Bionic Commando rocks.

Jason
http://www.xboxsoftmods.com/main/

Christian Brousseau @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

To Chapu.

the robot game you're refering to must be Heavy Nova (on the Genesis).

A friend of mine had it. I was NOT good at this game. Somehow, he always managed to rip one of my arm off...

Christian Brousseau @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

To Chapu.

the robot game you're refering to must be Heavy Nova (on the Genesis).

A friend of mine had it. I was NOT good at this game. Somehow, he always managed to rip one of my arm off...

Chris K @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Yeah Alkaiser, it was a pretty awesome game for its day. The 3D made it a lot more spooky for me as a kid... crawling through a dungeon, near death... seeing a life-replenishing fountain ahead. I sprint to it, only to have a giant dust devil monster suddenly appear on the screen and make its hideous sword-dissolving hiss. That game scared the crap out of me a few times. :)

Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Chris:

To this day most I just core dump all video game music from my memory as soon as I finish the game.

But for some reason the tune that played once you died from Tunnels of Doom is stuck in my head to this day.

Chris K @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

For me it's the Hunt The Wumpus death music. I didn't realize it was part of an actual song until years later. :)

monkeypup @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

Ahh, Bionic Commando....I love you so much. So much, in fact, that I will write a Haiku in your honor..

You taught me so much
about Life, Love, Grappling Hooks
And killing Nazis.

ER @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM

This wasn't a bad game, but it was a bad port from the arcade version. Kinda like Pac-Man for the Atari 2600. All that aside, they should remake this like they did with Ninja Gaiden, not that the title resembles anything like THAT great arcade game other than there being a ninja in the game. In fact, that was a bad port, too.