Bionic Commando (PC)

Graphics

Bionic Commando on any platform, even the PS3 is a good looking game. There’s the occasional tearing issue or a texture that seems misplaced. However these are few and far between, for the most part it looks really nice with a good level of detail on everything and a quality polish on most enemies and objects. The level design is pretty good as well with some nice environments to traverse and some excellent things to see.

Animation

Good stuff. The animation in the game is one of the highlights and delivers a really well animated character. Nathan is well done, his moves look good and the combat moves are pretty damn good to watch. You could do worse, like say, buy Terminator Salvation, or should I say, one of the shortest games on the planet.

Physics

Er, things blow up, things are knocked down. There’s physics in there somewhere and Nathan’s swinging has really good physics in that respect, nuff said.

AI

Some enemies use cover, some are dumb as rocks, season to taste and add a grating of game cheesiness to a few of the bad guys. I almost feel like I’m back in the Arcades.

Sound

It’s not bad, the weapons are weak and the environments feel a little stale at times with a lacking audio atmosphere. I guess that’s what you get when some crazy Bionic Terrorists blow stuff up.

Music

I like the music, it’s not going to win any game soundtrack awards but it does a good job of keeping up with the action on screen when you’re in combat and the lull when you’re not. Not quite Epic, but not falling to pieces either (aha, you see what I did there?)

Voice/Dialogue

Following on from my Epic comment, growl-master, Mike Patton (singer: Faith No More, who also released the album Epic and falling to pieces is one of their song lyrics, aren’t I clever? Give me a prize) provides the voice of Nathan and almost sounds like he’s toned back his Darkness voice from the game of the same name. Still, I like Mike so he can do no wrong. The script lends well to the overall video-game cheesy of the actual game itself and as long as you don’t take it too seriously, it works.

Multiplayer

With some lag issues and the occasional drop-out, it’s not that stable yet. There’s the unholy trinity of Capture the Flag, Deathmatch and Teamdeathmatch to keep you going and it’s probably more fun to lock-onto some poor sap with the Tarantula and fire a multi-rocket party his way. However most games devolved into Bionic Swing and latch dog-fights which took some skill to counter or pull off. If you like this kind of thing then you’ll probably find there’s something in the multiplayer to keep you company through those long winter nights before a really great game comes along.

Is Bionic Commando a great game?

No, its pretty average really, it doesn’t blow as hard as Terminator Salvation, but then, not even an expensive sex worker from Bangkok could manage that feat.

So pick it up if you want to turn CAPCOM’s classic into a 3rd person romp that’s pretty worth it. Otherwise save your money and get a Nathan ‘Rad’ Spencer haircut!