Bionic Commando (1988 video game)
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| Bionic Commando | |
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 North American boxart |
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| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Designer(s) | Tokuro Fujiwara |
| Platform(s) | NES/Famicom |
| Release date | JP July 20, 1988 NA 1988 EU October 26, 1990 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Media | 2-megabit cartridge |
| Input methods | NES controller |
Bionic Commando (also known as Top Secret: Hitler's Revival (トップシークレット ヒットラーの復活?) in Japan) is a video game released in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game works as a sequel to the arcade game of the same title released in 1987 (see Bionic Commando (arcade game)) although they share the same name outside of Japan.
The game is an action/adventure game in which the player has to explore each stage and obtain the necessary equipment to progress through the game. The protagonist of the game is Nathan "Rad" Spencer, a commando equipped with a bionic arm featuring a grappling gun, allowing the protagonist to pull himself forward or swing from the ceiling.
The series is notable for being one of few instances of a platform game in which the player cannot jump. To cross gaps or climb ledges, the hero must use his bionic arm.
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[edit] Plot
In the year 198X, a group of imperialist Nazis (referred to as Nazz in the instruction manual) developed a project called "The Albatross". The project was put to practice by their leader Generalissimo Weizmann[1]. During the game it is revealed that part of the plan consists in resurrecting Adolf Hitler to lead them to dominate the world.
The Federation found about the project and decided to send special commando Joseph "Super Joe" Gibson (the protagonist of Commando and the arcade version of Bionic Commando)[2]. However, they lost contact with him when apparently he was captured by the Imperialist forces.
The main character of the game, Nathan "Rad" Spencer, is sent behind enemy lines to try to rescue Super Joe[3].
[edit] Changes to the American version
For the release of the American version of the game, several changes were made to the game. Due to the strict censorship of Nintendo of America at the time, all references to Nazism were removed from the American release. This meant that the swastikas shown on cinema sequences, or on the background of some levels were replaced by Albatross figures. Furthermore, the enemies were renamed from "Nazis" to "Badds" (though the backstory in the instruction manual referred to them as Nazz). Also, the name of the leader of the Imperialist group was changed to Generalissimo Killt.
One of the most known changes involved the final boss of the game (Adolf Hitler). For the American version, the name was changed to "Master-D", but he still clearly resembles Hitler. Interestingly, there is a notably gory ending sequence in which his face explodes, which was kept intact in the American version; an unusual move, considering the heavy censorship issues at the time. In the artwork for the American version, the figure of Hitler was changed with a hat, a heavy beard and glasses (see picture).
Another difference is that the overall difficulty of the game was reduced. All these changes remained for the European version, but the game manual still mentions Nazis.[4]
[edit] Characters
- Nathan "Rad" Spencer - The hero of the game. A special commando armed with a bionic arm that must complete all the levels and rescue Super Joe.[5]
- Joseph "Super Joe" Gibson - A special commando sent to infiltrate the Enemy forces and ended up being captured. The purpose of this game is to rescue him. He is the lead character in Commando, and Bionic Commando (arcade game).[6]
- Generalissimo Killt (Weizmann in the Japanese version) - The leader of the Imperialist Forces (Nazis/Badds). He is the one leading the Albatross Project meant to resurrect Adolf Hitler/Master-D. You get to face him in the end, but he gets killed by Hitler/Master-D himself.
- Master-D (Hitler in the Japanese version) - The last boss of the game. The purpose of the Albatross Project was to resurrect him so he can help the Nazis/Badds dominate the world.
- Commander - The leader of the Special Forces. He's the one sending you to rescue Super Joe.
- Hal - A soldier Rad must find to get the Hyper Bazooka.
[edit] Game Play
[edit] Stage-selection map
Another original feature of Bionic Commando is that, instead of moving in a straight path through the levels, the player can, between levels, move around on a map-like screen. The player can move his helicopter one space at a time between the areas, represented by numbers.
Once above a numbered area, the player can either choose to play it or move to another area. The player has to complete the current level to move on, although he can go back to the map by pressing either Start, A, and B, or Select, A, and B (depending on the version). After descending in the selected area, you can choose the equipment you which to take with you. Certain equipments are designed to work at certain areas. For example, communicator Alpha works only in Areas 1, 4, and 6, and so on.
There are also green enemy trucks on the map, and if the player runs into them between icons, he will be forced into an overhead battle, similar to the previous game Commando. Certain enemies can be defeated there to get extra continues.
Some of these stages are neutral areas, in which the player gets information as well as items that might be helpful. In these areas it is forbidden to fire any weapon or the player will be attacked by a squadron until he or she leaves the stage.
[edit] Bionic arm
Rad Spencer sports a gun with one hand and an extendable bionic gripper device on the other. His bionic arm can be extended and rotated in 45-degree increments, from horizontally left to directly upwards to horizontally right. Once attached to something, Rad can pull himself to wherever the arm has latched, typically leaving him swinging back and forth under the point of connection. From this position, he can swing off or hoist himself up to the point of connection.
Rad's bionic arm can also deflect some types of bullets and grab certain enemies and items.
[edit] Other features
A well-known feature in this game is the possibility of communication with allied forces in order to get useful information on the current stage the player is in, or some hints. Also, the player can tap into the enemy forces' communication lines for the same results, though the enemy will sometimes detect the infiltrating line and send a squadron to attack the player.
Enemies can sometimes be defeated for "bullets", which, if the player gets enough of them, will add extra units of health. This is important because the player only starts with one life point. A maximum of nine life points can be gained, after collecting a total of 300 bullets.
[edit] Music
The NES version of the music, produced and composed by Junko Tamiya (under the pseudonym "Gondamin"), is also very highly praised for its militaristic compositional element. Two songs from the Arcade versions are used in some areas.
A section of the theme from area one is used in the song "A Million Exploding Suns" by self-proclaimed 'Nintendocore' act Horse the Band.
| Bionic Commando | |
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| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Designer(s) | Tokuro Fujiwara |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy |
| Release date | NA 1992 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Media | 2-megabit cartridge |
[edit] 1992 Game Boy version
The Game Boy version of the game is almost a direct remake of the NES installment with only a few differences. While bearing the same plot (rescuing Super Joe), the enemy forces are referred to as the Doraize Army (instead of Nazis or Badds), and their leader is called Director Wiseman, like the Japanese version of the game[7].
This version also shifts the military theme present in the original to a more modern, sci-fi territory. The uniforms and helmets of the enemies are changed for futuristic armors and "spiky" hair. This version also adds a more modern cinema-like opening sequence.
Like the NES version, the player must navigate through the overworld map to move from level to level. On the road, though, you might encounter enemy transports. Another difference from the NES version is during these encounters. While on the NES version, these encounters featured a top-down interface, on the Game Boy version, they remain side-scrollers like the rest of the game.[8]
[edit] Novelization
A book was written in the Worlds of Power series of novels based on Bionic Commando (the American NES version). The Bionic Commando is Jack Markson, who loses an arm when ninjas attack his hotel room and kidnap Super Joe. The Federation replaces his missing limb with a bionic arm that has a grappling hook and a number of other gadgets that are not featured in the game, like a flame thrower and a device that forces prisoners to tell the truth. Like most books in the series, violence was toned down to non-lethality in most cases (he usually shoots enemy soldiers with tranquilizers), although certain events, like the deaths of Hal and Killt, are kept. Much of the game's middle is skimmed over in order to fit it all into the book.
[edit] Re-releases
The NES game has been re-released, along with Mighty Final Fight and the NES edition of Strider, in the Capcom Classics Mini-Mix compilation for Game Boy Advance.
An enhanced remake of the game will be released in 2008 for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and Windows under the name Bionic Commando Rearmed.
[edit] See Also
- Bionic Commando, for other games in the series.
[edit] References
- ^ Reidy, Gearoid (January 22, 2008). Bionic Commando Newswire.
- ^ BC.com. Bionic Commando: Personnel - Key Figures.
- ^ Elite Coder. Bionic Commando HQ - Instruction Manual.
- ^ Elite Coder. Bionic Commando Famicon Version.
- ^ BionicCommando.com. Bionic Commando Key Figures.
- ^ BionicCommando.com. Bionic Commando Key Figures.
- ^ Bionic Commando GB Intro.
- ^ Game Spot. Bionic Commando Game Review.
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