Difference between revisions of "Bionic Commando"

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[[Image:Bionic Commando - ARC - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American arcade cabinet.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Bionic Commando
 +
| Image           = Bionic Commando - ARC - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = Arcade - USA.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Capcom}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Capcom}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1987
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 03
 +
| PublishedDay    = 20
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Amiga}}, {{Platform|Amstrad CPC}}, {{Platform|Arcade}}, {{Platform|Atari ST}}, {{Platform|Commodore 64}}, {{Platform|DOS}}, {{Platform|ZX Spectrum}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platform shooter|Platform shooter}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Shooter|Shooter}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Action}}, {{MediaTheme|Science Fiction}}, {{MediaTheme|War}}
 +
| Multiplayer      = {{GameMultiplayer|Alternating versus}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Bionic Commando (universe)|Bionic Commando]]''
 +
}}
  
'''''Bionic Commando''''' is an action [[platformer]] developed by [[Capcom]], originally released for the arcade in 1987, but then ported to many other platforms. This was the first title in the [[Bionic Commando (universe)|series]] which has spawned several more games including remakes, reboots, and sequels.
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'''''Bionic Commando''''' is a military themed [[platform shooter]] developed and published by [[Capcom]], originally released for the arcade on 1987-03-20, and later ported to many other platforms. This was the first title in the [[Bionic Commando (universe)|''Bionic Commando'' series]] which has spawned several more games including various remakes and reboots.
  
In the game, you play a soldier with a bionic arm who is infiltrating an enemy army. You can throw your arm and connect it to various platforms to swing your way around the maps, but it can also be employed as a defensive shield by punching away enemies. You have to make your way through five stages before confronting the enemy general.
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In the game, you play a soldier who uses his bionic grappling hook arm to infiltrate an enemy army. You can throw your arm and connect it to various platforms to swing your way around the maps, but it can also be employed as a defensive shield by punching away enemies and their projectiles. You have to make your way through five stages before confronting the enemy general.
  
I first learned about ''Bionic Commando'' after playing the [[Bionic Commando (NES)|NES remake]]. I wanted to create a web page shrine for the game, and learned about the original arcade game and its various ports. Having never even seen the game in an arcade, I played it on [[MAME]], and was quite disappointed by it. The NES remake was markedly better.
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==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      =
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished =
 +
}}
  
==Status==
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I first learned about ''Bionic Commando'' after playing the [[Bionic Commando (NES)|NES remake]]. While I was creating a Web page shrine for the game, and learned about the original arcade game and its various ports. Having never even seen the game in an arcade, I played it on [[MAME]], and was quite disappointed by it. The NES remake was markedly better. However, while playing the game, I spent of lot of time getting to know it, and, while I still find it to be pretty awful, can now appreciate it.
I do not own any version of this game and have not beaten it.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
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===Good===
 
===Good===
* The game is technically impressive for its time with nice graphics and sound.
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* The game is technically impressive for its time with impressive video and audio hardware.
 +
* The game has a wide assortment of characters and backgrounds, all of which are beautifully drawn.
 
* [[Harumi Fujita]]'s soundtrack sounds properly militant.
 
* [[Harumi Fujita]]'s soundtrack sounds properly militant.
 
* Each stage is pretty unique introducing new enemies, hazards, and mechanics.
 
* Each stage is pretty unique introducing new enemies, hazards, and mechanics.
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===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* It takes a lot of practice to get used to the bionic arm mechanic.
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* It takes a lot of practice to get used to the movement of the bionic arm.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* The game is way too hard, even when you set it into easy mode. This is mostly due to a frustratingly slow bionic arm and obnoxiously fast enemies. But there are also sections of the game where you have no choice but to move up to a platform swarming with enemies, which is extremely difficult
+
* The game is way too hard, even when you set it to easy mode. This is mostly due to a frustratingly slow bionic arm and obnoxiously fast enemies. But there are also sections of the game where you have no choice but to move up to a platform swarming with enemies, which is extremely difficult to do without getting hit. And, since this game doesn't give you hit points, it's often a death sentence.
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
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Bionic Commando - ARC - Japan - Marquee.png|This is the marquee of the Japanese arcade cabinet. It merely feature's the game's logo.
 
Bionic Commando - ARC - Japan - Marquee.png|This is the marquee of the Japanese arcade cabinet. It merely feature's the game's logo.
 
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA.jpg|North American arcade cabinet.
 
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA.jpg|North American arcade cabinet.
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Marquee.png|The marquee features the logo flanked by characters from the game in a typical comic book cartoon style.
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Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Marquee.jpg|The marquee features the logo flanked by characters from the game in a typical comic book cartoon style.
 +
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Marquee (Full Art).png|A smaller scan which includes the cropped sides.
 
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Side.jpg|The side art has a swinging hero surrounded by enemies from the game. This is similar to the Japanese art, but with an American cartoon style.
 
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Side.jpg|The side art has a swinging hero surrounded by enemies from the game. This is similar to the Japanese art, but with an American cartoon style.
 
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Bezel.png|The bezel uses more of the game's content in the same comic book style.
 
Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Bezel.png|The bezel uses more of the game's content in the same comic book style.
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Bionic Commando - C64 - USA.jpg|North American releases for the Amiga, Commodore 64, and DOS (as well as the very different [[Bionic Commando (NES)|NES port]]) use this art. The painting is modified from the side art of the arcade cabinet. It's very nicely painted, and features many of the various enemies you meet in the game. It also uses the arcade cabinet logo. My only problem with it is that the main character doesn't look right. My favorite box.
 
Bionic Commando - C64 - USA.jpg|North American releases for the Amiga, Commodore 64, and DOS (as well as the very different [[Bionic Commando (NES)|NES port]]) use this art. The painting is modified from the side art of the arcade cabinet. It's very nicely painted, and features many of the various enemies you meet in the game. It also uses the arcade cabinet logo. My only problem with it is that the main character doesn't look right. My favorite box.
 
Bionic Commando - C64 - UK.jpg|European releases for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, and ZX Spectrum use this art. It's based off the Japanese arcade flyer, only with a more European cartoon style. The painting is pretty good, but the player's faces is pretty jacked. This uses the superior in-game arcade logo.
 
Bionic Commando - C64 - UK.jpg|European releases for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, and ZX Spectrum use this art. It's based off the Japanese arcade flyer, only with a more European cartoon style. The painting is pretty good, but the player's faces is pretty jacked. This uses the superior in-game arcade logo.
 +
Bionic Commando - Logo - 1987.svg|I vectorized the logo used on home computer boxes.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
===Documentation===
 
===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Bionic Commando - ARC - Manual.pdf|Manual (Arcade).
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Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - Arcade - USA.
Bionic Commando - DOS - USA - Manual.pdf|MS-DOS (USA).
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Bionic Commando - DOS - USA - Manual.pdf|Manual - DOS - USA.
Bionic Commando - C64 - Manual.pdf|Manual (European home computers).
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Bionic Commando - AMI - Europe - Manual.pdf|Manual - Home computers - Europe.
Bionic Commando - CPC - Manual - Front.jpg|Manual (Home computers - alternate) - Front.
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Bionic Commando - C64 - Europe - Manual - Digital.pdf|Manual - Home computers - Europe - Digital.
Bionic Commando - CPC - Manual - Back.jpg|Manual (Home computers - alternate) - Back.
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Bionic Commando - CPC - Manual - Front.jpg|Manual - Home computers - Europe - Alternate - Front.
Bionic Commando - ARC - Flyer - Japan.jpg|Japanese Flyer.
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Bionic Commando - CPC - Manual - Back.jpg|Manual - Home computers - Europe - Alternate - Back.
Bionic Commando - ARC - Flyer - USA - Front.jpg|US Flyer - Front.
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Bionic Commando - ARC - Japan - Flyer.jpg|Arcade - Flyer - Japan.
Bionic Commando - ARC - Flyer - USA - Back.jpg|US Flyer - Back.
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Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Flyer - Front.jpg|Arcade - Flyer - USA - Front.
Bionic Commando - ARC - UK - Ad.png|UK Advertisement.
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Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Flyer - Back.jpg|Arcade - Flyer - USA - Back.
Bionic Commando - ARC - Poster - USA.jpg|US Poster.
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Bionic Commando - ARC - USA - Poster.jpg|Poster - Arcade - USA.
 +
Bionic Commando - ARC - UK - Ad.png|Advertisement - Arcade - UK.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG620nr7vko youtube.com/watch?v=zG620nr7vko] - Longplay, arcade.
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{{YouTube|3ogqLxO8YJw|Longplay, Amiga.}}
 +
{{YouTube|zG620nr7vko|Longplay, arcade.}}
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{{YouTube|R5hTRZRdZok|Longplay, Atari ST.}}
 +
{{YouTube|u2SKjwQELh8|Longplay, Commodore 64 (Europe).}}
 +
{{YouTube|bDGiE4wu07w|Longplay, Commodore 64 (North America).}}
 +
{{YouTube|Cs1NZT-n1pE|Longplay, ZX Spectrum.}}
  
 
===Logos===
 
===Logos===
 
There are four separate logos used for the various Bionic Commando arcade versions. The original Japanese Top Secret logo, the arcade cabinet logo, the arcade game logo, and  a plural "Bionic Commandos" logo based on the in-game arcade logo.
 
There are four separate logos used for the various Bionic Commando arcade versions. The original Japanese Top Secret logo, the arcade cabinet logo, the arcade game logo, and  a plural "Bionic Commandos" logo based on the in-game arcade logo.
 +
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/amiga-bionic-commando.html|Amiga}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/cpc-bionic-commando.html|Amstrad CPC}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/arcade-games/bionic-commando-us-set-2.html|Arcade}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/c64-bionic-commando.html|Commodore 64}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/bionic-commando.html|MS-DOS}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/zx-spectrum-bionic-commando.html|ZX Spectrum}}
 +
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = There are no women.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = There are no women.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = Everyone appears to be white.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
  
 
==Titles==
 
==Titles==
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! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 
|-
 
|-
| English || Bionic Commando || ||  
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| English (Europe) || Bionic Commandos || ||
 +
|-
 +
| English (USA) || Bionic Commando || ||  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Japanese || トップシークレット || Toppu Shikuretto || Top Secret
 
| Japanese || トップシークレット || Toppu Shikuretto || Top Secret
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: 1987 Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platform Shooter]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Shooter]]
 
[[Category: Media Theme - Science Fiction]]
 
[[Category: Media Theme - War]]
 
[[Category: Amiga Games]]
 
[[Category: Amstrad CPC Games]]
 
[[Category: Arcade Games]]
 
[[Category: Atari ST Games]]
 
[[Category: Commodore 64 Games]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
[[Category: ZX Spectrum Games]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Multi-Player]]
 
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]

Latest revision as of 15:53, 12 March 2024

Bionic Commando

Bionic Commando - ARC - USA.jpg

Arcade - USA.

Developer Capcom
Publisher Capcom
Published 1987-03-20
Platforms Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, ZX Spectrum
Genres Action, Platform shooter, Platformer, Shooter
Themes Action, Science Fiction, War
Series Bionic Commando
Multiplayer Alternating versus
Distribution {{{Distributions}}}

Bionic Commando is a military themed platform shooter developed and published by Capcom, originally released for the arcade on 1987-03-20, and later ported to many other platforms. This was the first title in the Bionic Commando series which has spawned several more games including various remakes and reboots.

In the game, you play a soldier who uses his bionic grappling hook arm to infiltrate an enemy army. You can throw your arm and connect it to various platforms to swing your way around the maps, but it can also be employed as a defensive shield by punching away enemies and their projectiles. You have to make your way through five stages before confronting the enemy general.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?No.

I first learned about Bionic Commando after playing the NES remake. While I was creating a Web page shrine for the game, and learned about the original arcade game and its various ports. Having never even seen the game in an arcade, I played it on MAME, and was quite disappointed by it. The NES remake was markedly better. However, while playing the game, I spent of lot of time getting to know it, and, while I still find it to be pretty awful, can now appreciate it.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
3 3 5 5 2

Best Version: Arcade

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The game is technically impressive for its time with impressive video and audio hardware.
  • The game has a wide assortment of characters and backgrounds, all of which are beautifully drawn.
  • Harumi Fujita's soundtrack sounds properly militant.
  • Each stage is pretty unique introducing new enemies, hazards, and mechanics.
  • The swing mechanic was certainly a creative concept.

Bad

  • It takes a lot of practice to get used to the movement of the bionic arm.

Ugly

  • The game is way too hard, even when you set it to easy mode. This is mostly due to a frustratingly slow bionic arm and obnoxiously fast enemies. But there are also sections of the game where you have no choice but to move up to a platform swarming with enemies, which is extremely difficult to do without getting hit. And, since this game doesn't give you hit points, it's often a death sentence.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Screenshots

Videos

Longplay, Amiga.
Longplay, arcade.
Longplay, Atari ST.
Longplay, Commodore 64 (Europe).
Longplay, Commodore 64 (North America).
Longplay, ZX Spectrum.

Logos

There are four separate logos used for the various Bionic Commando arcade versions. The original Japanese Top Secret logo, the arcade cabinet logo, the arcade game logo, and a plural "Bionic Commandos" logo based on the in-game arcade logo.

Play Online

Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum

Representation

Strong female character?FailThere are no women.
Bechdel test?FailThere are no women.
Strong person of color character?FailEveryone appears to be white.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English (Europe) Bionic Commandos
English (USA) Bionic Commando
Japanese トップシークレット Toppu Shikuretto Top Secret

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-VGMPF.png  Link-TCRF.png