The game's graphics are good, for the most part. There were areas in the game where I slowed down the camera and just to study the details of the level. Some of the underground locations are stunning looking. However, the game's visuals don't look nearly as crisp when the people begin speaking. What's more, I found noticeable slowdowns when battling large groups of bad guys (and a certain boss). Technical imperfections aside, the game does have a strong look from beginning to end. Any complaining would just be nitpicking at this point.
Bionic Commando isn't an especially long game, either. Most gamers shouldn't have trouble getting through the game in less than ten hours, though I suspect a dedicated gamer could cut that time in half. The cinemas add some minutes to the clock, but none of them are interesting enough to watch more than once. And, like I said, the story has too many imperfections to even be bothered with. At one point you're introduced to a female character who is never explained or resolved. She meets a fate that implies that maybe we won't get resolution with her character, either. Actually, that's the whole problem with the game. It has all of these great idea, but we never get any closure. Nothing much gets resolved. Even after you've beaten up all of the bad guys, it doesn't really feel like anything will change. I'm sure this is just the set-up for a Bionic Commando 2 (or 3, as it should be), but it's hard to be satisfied by the way this game wraps up.
Outside of the short single-player campaign, there's an online multiplayer mode. Like the single-player game, the online mode has a lot of untapped potential. It's hard not to get excited about a Gears of War-style multiplayer game that allows you to climb huge buildings and swing from one place to the next. And at first this game does exactly that. The problem is that it doesn't do anything else. All of the multiplayer modes are as generic as they come and there isn't enough content to keep you going for very long. As great as this idea is, it's going to take another installment or two before Capcom gets it perfect.
Bionic Commando is a strong action game, but it's nowhere near as groundbreaking as the first game. The groundwork has definitely been set for this franchise and I'm excited to see where Capcom can take it. As a first attempt it's not bad, but GRIN plays it a little too safe for my taste. It's great to have Nathan "Rad" Spencer back, how about next time we send him on a much more ambitious battle.
B
Bionic Commando is a lot of things. It's an exciting action game full of great set pieces. It's a great way to demonstrate how much fun swinging around a destroyed city can be. It's a great way to show off your art talents and ability to remix classic music. But try as it might, it is NOT as good as the original game. You'll have a lot of fun with this new Bionic Commando, but he ultimately plays it safe in his first adventure in twenty years.
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