Bionic Commando Rearmed

E3 2008 Preview

Capcom has been a busy publisher these days. Besides the highly anticipated Resident Evil 5, the company is also readying the unique and ambitious Dark Void; the UFO sheep herding game called Flock; and the ninth addition to the Mega Man series. Each of these are shaping up to be can't-miss releases, and they aren't the only thing on Capcom's plate. Later this summer, one of its oldest franchises will receive a proper Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC remake: Bionic Commando Rearmed.

It's not everyday that a remake can compete with the newest version of a game. Then again, it's not everyday that Capcom does a remake. Rearmed is more than 2D bliss, as it features levels that are played from a top-down perspective as well as those scroll sideways. There are vertical scrolling levels as well, just like you remember. In the background of one construction area, there are warnings posted that you're in a hardhat area. That hat comes from the world of Mega Man.

The controls are excellent but not seamless. "Seamless" is a word reserved for the new Bionic Commando. This one is a tad stiffer since it must capture the essence of the original game. You can grip platforms vertically and diagonally, and pull barrels forward by shooting the grappling hook horizontally. There's only one degree of running sensitivity, and double jumps are out of the question.

With a new engine and new boss battles, Rearmed is more than a remake. The graphics aren't limited to being clean and crisp -- they are also dressed in some of the best lighting and textures you'll find in a side-scrolling action/shooter.

When fighting one of the bosses -- a giant circular thing with a weak spot on the top and bottom -- Capcom explained how their difficulty changes if another player jumps in. The two weak spots are only available if two people are playing. That probably makes the game sound easier, but that is not at all the case. This boss can cover his weak spots whenever he senses danger. However, he is unable to cover both of them at the same time. So if you climb the nearest platform and tell your buddy to stay on the ground, you can double-strike the robot and inflict some damage. He's invulnerable to your weapons so you'll have to use barrels, which are found on the left side of this area. What happens if you're fighting the boss solo? He stops blocking your attack. Now you have to simply focus on waiting for him to approach and throw the barrel at just the right moment.

We all know how much co-op can suck when one player falls behind. In a brilliant move, the developers fixed this problem with a cinematic split-screen transition. Both characters appear on screen together for as long as they're standing within a certain distance of each other. After that, the screen splits with a smooth, 24-style adjustment, allowing both players to freely control their commandos.

The only downside to this game is that, despite being finished and ready to go, Capcom cannot yet confirm a specific release date. "Summer" is still the listed timeframe. Let's hope that doesn't really mean "early September."

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