Arcade Game Review : Bionic Commando (Capcom, 1986)

Bionic Commando
by Capcom
Platform : Arcade
Release : 1986
Re-releases : Capcom Classics Collection Volume 1 (PSP, PS2, Xbox)

The arcade version was actually the first release of Bionic Commando, and nearly every gaming platform in existence in the 1980s got a port of it; sadly, it bears only passing resemblance to the remixed (and superior) version which was later released for the NES.

This version of the game sees the grapple-equipped hero Radd Spencer up against not the Nazis, or even the Badds, but what appears to be a militarized Santa Claus and his army of chubby elves in purple uniforms. You traverse five levels with the goal of assassinating Santa and restoring the glory of Jesus to the holiday season (or so I speculate).

Since the NES version is probably more familiar to most folks, I'll use that as a reference point. You still climb and swing in the same manner as you do in that game, but Radd is a bit more stiff and limited in his movements here than he is there. For example, you cannot throw the bionic arm out when falling, or after a swing. Actually, swinging is really used only for climbing here; there's very few sections where it is necessary to traverse a gap. The NES version definitely did a much better job implementing this mechanic. This one also lacks the non-linear structure of the later game - the five levels present here are short and taken in order in typical arcade style. You also don't switch weapons or collect items between levels, weapon upgrades are obtained on the fly from random parachute drops as you play (and are lost each time you are killed).