Bionic Commando Rearmed (xbox360: 2008): Reviews

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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Bionic Commando Rearmed


8.3

based on 43 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 37 votes
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Cheat Code Central

Official Website

[Xbox Live Arcade] Bionic Commando Rearmed sees a return of the intense 2-D side-scrolling, shooting, and grappling action from the much-loved 1988 Bionic Commando. Bionic Commando Rearmed brings the gameplay up to date with stunning new visuals, new weapons, online rankings, and a reworked musical score just for starters. Bionic Commando Rearmed delivers two-player co-op, a frenetic multiplayer mode for up to four players, and a series of over 50 devious challenge rooms to test your swinging skills. Wire-tapping the enemy communication in Bionic Commando Rearmed gives you access to information about weaknesses for the newly-designed Imperial bosses in the game. Play Bionic Commando Rearmed to unlock the original NES character costume and use it in Bionic Commando. [Capcom]

PUBLISHER:	Capcom
DEVELOPER:	GRIN
GENRE(S):	Action, Platform
PLAYERS:	4
ESRB RATING:	M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE:	August 13, 2008

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

1UP

The soundtrack to Bionic Commando: Rearmed is a fantastic piece of work, a deft contemporary reworking of classic 8-bit NES tunes. In fact, it's so good that Capcom put it up for sale on the iTunes Store months ago to build hype for the game.

100

Giant Bomb

Bionic Commando: Rearmed is terrific in almost every way, revitalizing a classic but long-dormant game in an exciting way that stands on its own, but also serves as a potent reminder that there's a new retail sequel on the horizon that'll bring all this crazy swinging to 3D environments.

100

Thunderbolt

This is probably one of the best, if the not the best downloadable title on the PSN and XBLA by far.

100

Gaming Nexus

Capcom yet again proves that they are one of the few companies that knows how to resurrect a classic franchise.

100

Deeko

One of the best titles on XBLA, sporting huge production values, plenty of laugh out loud moments and some of the tightest most enjoyable levels of any game out there today.

WonderwallWeb

It has all of indicators of a classic game.

AtomicGamer

Don't be stingy with those MS points; Rearmed is more than worth the tiny hole it'll burn in your bank account.

GameZone

Bionic Commando: Rearmed is the perfect remake, retaining all of the things that made the original great, but making those things fresh again. For $10, this game is an absolute steal.

Gamers' Temple

If you're even the slightest fan of the original then you owe it to yourself to pick up this downloadable title.

Gamer 2.0

It’s got a fantastic sense of style in its presentation.

IGN

Bionic Commando Rearmed sets a new benchmark for downloadable console games...From top to bottom, Bionic Commando Rearmed is an incredible game that's well worth owning.

Worth Playing

Bionic Commando Rearmed is easily a strong enough title to go for $30 on the PSP, and it's definitely a worthy PlayStation Network/Live Arcade title at $10. The graphics overhaul, improved boss battles, hacking mini-game, new weapons and bionic arm abilities, multiplayer support and additional content will provide immense replay value.

ZTGameDomain

The epitome of how to remake a game for the next generation. If you were a fan of the original you will love the attention to detail and classically epic soundtrack. If you are new to the series you will grow to love the swinging mechanic, once you get the hang of it.

Game Over Online

All in all, I'd say that its combination of stellar, addictive gameplay and well-crafted graphical and audio work make this a must-have.

Planet Xbox 360

Xbox 360 typically lacks good platformers, but Bionic Commando Rearmed is a great one. Though it only takes several hours to beat, you will keep coming back to find more secrets and best your times in the challenge rooms. This is one of the best remakes ever made for a current generation console, check it out as soon as humanly possible.

Totally360

A fantastic update for a classic title. It is in widescreen so you don’t have to worry about the bars on either side of your screen like some other past titles. This is yet another stellar title in Microsoft’s “Summer of Arcade” and is well worth the admission fee.

MEGamers

A worthy remake of the classic.

Cheat Code Central

Bionic Commando Rearmed is one of the best downloadable titles to date. The production value, quirky humor, outstanding platforming challenge, and low cost make this a game everyone should pick up.

VideoGamer

If you're short on patience or have a nervous disorder, then you should approach Rearmed with caution. If, however, you love the genre and harbor fond memories of the original, then this game will seem like a gift from the Eighties God of Shooty Bang-Bang.

Console Monster

Bionic Commando is not as amazing as the recently released Braid, but it is up there as one of the best Xbox LIVE Arcade titles available.

Team Xbox

As challenges go, it’s brutal, so be prepared what you’re in for. Of course, what you’re in for is a brilliantly realized XBLA game, with scads of replayability, a hot look and a commitment to its arcade roots—if the MIDI-based soundtrack doesn’t pump your heart rate up to 120 BPM, then maybe you should double check that you’re even alive—that deserves our deepest respect.

Extreme Gamer

Bionic Commando is one of the top ten classic remakes that have been revived for the consoles since the concepts debut. Bionic Commando Rearmed does everything right from its updated beautiful looking graphics, to the added multiplayer support and new challenge mode.

Wired

Gorgeous re-imagining of the original, lots of gaming for your buck.

DarkStation

There is no doubt that Bionic Commando Rearmed is the best title out on XBLA to date.

3DJuegos

Bionic Commando Rearmed is an extraordinary opportunity to reunite action and arcade lovers with one of most emblematic titles of the past. With good taste and scrupulous respect for the original game, Grin releases its best game thanks to stunning graphics and spotless game play values.

GameTrailers

At $10, Bionic Commando Rearmed is a steal. It's one of those games that feels organic to play.

PTGamers

Bionic Commando Rearmed is obligatory for nostalgic players. Some design choices are dubious and not quite up with the times, but they're not major flaws.

Destructoid

While the single-player experience is truly the high point of the $10 purchase, the multiplayer and challenge rooms act like the "sprinkles on the cupcake," giving the player more game than they should ever expect for $10.

Game Positive

Bionic Commando Rearmed is a first-rate downloadable title, and if you don't mind 2D platforming gameplay with a bit of old school challenge, this is one to check out.

GamerNode

BCR is one of the better remakes of one of the better games of the 8-bit era. If you are looking for a fun platformer with unique and inventive gameplay, I'd recommend picking this one up for 10 bucks.

MS Xbox World

Bionic Commando: Rearmed gives both old school fans and newcomers alike an arcade title worthy of spending 800 Microsoft points.

GameDaily

Everything you know and love from the classic NES Bionic game is back, including challenging level design, tons of shoot-em-up action and a bionic arm that requires some strategy to utilize.

GamePro

Capcom really did a great job of walking the fine line between paying homage to the classic and moving in a new direction. Of course, Rearmed isn't perfect: the controls take some getting used to, the hacking mini-game's sort of lame, and the game is still brutally tough--curse you spiked floors!--but it's a great update that I heartily recommend to old school NES fans and new gamers alike.

Official Xbox Magazine UK

It has a solid, unrelenting challenge that will remind veteran gamers of years gone by when games made no apologies for being so stupidly, frustratingly, agonisingly tough.

EuroGamer

Between the multiplayer modes and the Challenge Rooms, there's more than enough innovation to make up for the minor irritations of the retro controls.

GameSpot

The updated graphics and new modes in Bionic Commando Rearmed aren't quite enough to distract from the cumbersome controls.

Game Revolution

More than just a straight remake, Rearmed feels like a game that really has been refined twice.

Gaming Age

They even managed to spice things up by re-tooling boss fights, puzzles, and later sections in the game to sit more comfortably with the way gaming has evolved.

X360 Magazine UK

It's the kind of old-school outing that will frustrate and satisfy in equal measure, above control issues proving the major reason behind such frustration. [Issue#38, p.115]

360 Gamer Magazine UK

Chunky, colourful and smooth it may be but Rearmed is about as retro as modern games get. With new challenges and pickups to spice up the action and round off the package nicely, it exudes an air of quality seldom seen in remakes.

Official Xbox Magazine

So yes, we recognize and appreciate that this is an exact remake of a classic game, but the bottom line is, many of you will decide that its unforgiving nature saps too much fun out of what is otherwise a lovingly reassembled classic.

GameFocus

Annoying dialog will drive you insane.

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

The retroest modern game you'll play and not nearly as updated as it could be. [Oct 2008, p.101]

The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Singule J. gave it a10:
Stunning, enchanting and may I say bloody brilliant! Gameplay, controls 100 %.

Des O. gave it a9:
By far the best and most challenging sidescroller to come out for XBLA and a worthy remake of an arcade classic. The single player can last anywhere between a single hour and 10 hours depending on how good you are and how quickly you can figure out how to beat each boss (each one is like a puzzle). If you get really stuck you can play co-op with a friend who can help. When you do finish the story mode the challenges and local multiplayer will keep you entertained for weeks. The only thing that could have made it better is online play and at 10 euro its not like you've been horribly ripped off. Obviously if sidescrollers aren't your thing then stay away from Bionic Commando but please, don't tarnish it with bad reviews just because you can't figure out how to use the grappling hook (seriously, it takes all of about 10 minutes practice before you're punching away bullets and swinging over gaps like spiderman).

John B. gave it a10:
We all hear the same garbage all the time; that a game would be better if it had online multiplayer. Well, you know what? That's just straight bollocks. This game is fantastic. It revamps the original in a thoughtful and well-executed manner and keeps to why we play games in the first place...for a challenging and fun escape from everyday life. So, here's an idea, why not invite a friend over to play WITH you? Have we become so socially degenerate that we have to hold entire relationships with people through a communicative medium? Should we hold every developer to making a game available online-multiplayer ready, whether or not it improves the game? Is 800 points for this gem not enough? Don't mind me, I'm probably the only person who gets tired of douche bags online whistling and humming craptastic house music in my headphones. Anyway, the game is great and anyone who can't appreciate that bit of fact...well, I just can't relate to you.

Johan K gave it a9:
A breath of fresh air among all the cheap ports and remakes on old games this gen. Capcom being Capcom, commissioned GRIN to show everyone how you properly re-release an old classic for the new generation of gamers. It still feels old, with melodramatic dialogues and unforgiving difficulty. But some of the cheapness is taken out and instead we get a "how it should have been made in the first place". Its a shame its getting some bad scores because of its controls. Once you learn to control the arm, its as easy as one, two, three, and I think its unfair to blame your own shortcomings on the game. To give it a 3 out of 10 because of the controls is just moronic. Support the future of arcade titles like this instead of spending your money on cheap ports (VC *cough*) and by next gen, this genre could mature into its own industry.

Pio H. gave it a9:
The only people who don't enjoy this game 1. Never did the CRUCIAL basic tutorial, 2. Didn't try playing it on normal difficulty, and after playing the game for a bit without 1. or 2. threw it down and never played it again. I was unsure if this would be worth my Microsoft Points buying it and my mind was almost preparing for regret. Then I was dumbstruck. The cool, stylish and skilful gameplay, the epic and controlling music, the beautiful visuals and the boss battles. The only flaw is an irregular control system that needs to be gotten used to. But once you do master it, you're in. This was the best remake I have ever played and one of the best XBLA games ever. You just need to get into it.

Matt S. gave it a3:
I never played the original version and now I'm glad I didn't. But then again maybe if I had I wouldn't have wasted my money on this game. The controls blow, update them, maybe a little?

Scott T gave it a10:
Anyone who says the control mechanics are broken hasn't taken the few minutes to run through the tutorial. Contrary to some complaints, you don't need to point diagonally to shoot the arm diagonally. By default, it shoots diagonally: hold forward to shoot forward, up to shoot up, and no direction to shoot diagonally (when swinging, it shoots diagonally when you point in no direction OR forward). The controls work perfectly. That said, I was a fan of the NES original. The remake is much much better though. The bosses are much more fun and the weapons system is way cooler since you have access to all of your weapons at all times now. Also, the machine gun is now fun to use and useful, and the challenge modes are a blast (though I don't think I'll ever get 5 stars on most of them). As others have said, the top down mode isn't very fun, however, you can breeze through them quickly and they don't distract too much or too often. By far, this is the best remake I've ever played and it would be worth a purchase at twice the price.