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Bionic Commando

Game Mechanics

The original version on arcade staging Super Joe (the hero of Commando and The Speed Rumbler), which must cross five levels to stop a threatening armed force. The levels are, as in most conventional platform games, long straight spaces, including multiple situations through which the character meets enemies and other kinds of dangers, while at the same time it must pass precipices and other cliffs. Bonuses such as points and power-ups can only be obtained by crates falling from the sky, hung to parachutes and can be opened by shooting. Unlike other versions, the player cannot use his arm when he shoots, or when he is already in the air; moreover, the only one power-up available is an increase in ammunition.

This version was later released in the compilation Capcom Classics Collection on PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

The original Japanese version Bionic Commando placed the character in a battle against a future Nazi army. The final boss was Adolf Hitler, having been raised by scientists. All references to Nazism have been deleted in the American version: enemies have been renamed Badds instead of Nazis and the overall difficulty of the game has been reduced. The name of the final boss then became "Master-D", although he still clearly looked like Hitler. The end sequence of the game was rather bloody, we saw the head of the bump exploded, and it remained in the American version of the game; something quite unusual if we consider the important trend of censorship from Nintendo at that time. All these changes remained in the European version, even though the game manual still mentioned the Nazis. The story in the English version begins with the search for Super Joe, the main character of Commando.

Screen-map

An original inclusion is access to a kind of cardboard screen allowing the selection of the level between two of them. The player can move his helicopter from one space each time between the different areas represented by numbers.

Once arriving on a numbered area, the player can choose to play the level or move to another area. The player must complete the current level before returning to the card screen by pressing both Start, A and B; or Select, A and B (according to the version).

We also find green-colored enemy trucks on the map, and if the player crosses their route, then he must face them in a forced fight, in the way of the previous game, Commando. Some enemies offer additional continuouss when they are rigged, the NES version does not allow to backup.

Some levels are neutral areas, in which the player can access various information. In these areas, it is forbidden to use his weapon under penalty that the player is attacked by a squad until he leaves the level.

The bionic arm

Ladd Spencer holds a pistol in one of his hands and an extensible bionic device in the form of a pliers in the other. Its bionic arm can be extended and inclined to 45 degrees above the ground. When he clings to something, Ladd can propel himself where the clamp is anchored, letting him swing as he pleases in both directions. From this position, it can jump off or climb to the attachment point of the arm.

Ladd's arm can also pull some sort of bullets and catch some enemies and items.

Other inclusions

Another well-known inclusion of this game is the ability to communicate with allied forces in order to obtain information about the current level, or some tips. The player can also use the enemy communication system and get the same result, although the enemy can sometimes detect infiltration and send a squad attack the player.

The enemies sometimes leave bullets behind after they die. The player can collect them, and if he has enough, offers an additional health point. It is important to know, since the player only starts with a single point of life. A maximum of nine life points can be won after collecting a total of 300 bullets.

The first Game Boy version (known worldwide as Bionic Commando) was developed by Capcom. It is an advanced version of the NES version, with redefinite game controls, different levels and new scenarios, even if it remains rather similar to its predecessor. It is also possible to keep its parts and continue them via passwords. This version is far from being as popular as the NES version, especially because of the game environment, which is not as interesting as the scenery planted by the Nazis before.

The original NES version is released with the game Mighty Final Fight and the NES version Strider on the compilation Capcom Classics Mini-Mix on Game Boy Advance.

Computer porting (available on 8-bit Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum computers, and 16-bit Amiga and Atari ST computers) are taken from the arcade version of the game. There are two different versions on Commodore 64, an American version of Capcom and an English version of Software Creations.