Are remakes bad? It's a slippery slope, as there's a good chance that you'll anger the folks that loved the original, even if it wasn't very good in the first place. Then there are the cultural aspects, which matter a lot more than some might think. Creating a successful or innovative product can sometimes be a matter of catching lightning a bottle, as you've got to hit the market at the right time with something that people want. So where are we going with all of this? Dunno actually, but it had something to do with Bionic Commando, the upcoming re-envisioning of the Capcom NES classic.
While it would be easy to dismiss Bionic Commando as an attempt to cash in on the nostalgia surrounding the original game, it appears that this is far from the truth. With the move from 2D to 3D, there's a greater sense of being able to go just about anywhere on a given map, which in turn allows the player to approach certain situations differently. That being said, developer GRIN hasn't forgotten the franchise's roots, as it is sticking with protagonist Nathan "Rad" Spencer (voiced by none other than Faith No More singer Mike Patton!) for the game, although he won't be fighting against the Nazi menace this time out. Instead, he'll be fighting for his life after his government tries to betray and assassinate him.
The game's big gameplay mechanic is, naturally, Nathan's bionic arm, which gives him the ability to jump and swing from whatever happens to be overhead. It actually takes a little while to get the feel of this mechanic, as it's easy to overswing or miss your target altogether. Once you figure out the timing, however, you'll be swinging from one girder or tree limb to another like a modern-day Tarzan. You can also use the wire to grab the sides of vertical elements like buildings or canyon walls, then pull yourself up repeatedly. It's also a decent weapon when you're in range of enemies, as you can pull them toward you before finishing them off by crushing their throats.
Of course, there's more than one way to skin an enemy, but it seems to be the most entertaining of your options. You'll likely spend the majority of your time gunning down baddies with the wide variety of weapons that you'll pick up, but we were a bit disappointed by the gunplay. It's not that it's bad, it just doesn't have the impact we've come to expect from modern third-person shooters. The melee combat, on the other hand, is downright disappointing. It can be tough to get in the correct position to nail your foe with an uppercut or standard punch, so you'll probably end up swinging at them over and over again.
One thing that was impressive was the variety of environments and how the developers structured them to ensure plenty of opportunities for swinging around. While you'll learn to use your bionic arm in the concrete jungles of the ruined city Nathan used to call home, it won't be long before he's swinging through lush forests and a particularly massive greenhouse. Our only qualm (and it's a minor one) with the environments is the reliance on water as a hazard, as it appears to be deadly to anyone with a heavy, metal arm.
Although it's not technically a remake, it sure feels like Bionic Commando is attempting to recreate the wonder of the original game. Thankfully, it looks as though the developers have done a good job in bringing the classic style of play into the present day, as it's quite a fun experience. We're excited to check out the multiplayer offerings as well, since the swinging mechanic lends itself to some unique gametypes.
