Bionic Commando. A Zip Line Grapples the Hearts of SXSW Goers

Finally a series that can actually stay on track with it's own timeline, Bionic Commando (PC) was featured as a playable game at the SXSW 2009's Screenburn arcade. Even though it was the PC version players had a choice to play with an Xbox 360 remote or the classic keyboard and mouse. Only the multiplayer was available to play as a demo and that was more than enough to understand what Bionic Commando, not Bionic Commando: Rearmed, has to offer.

Bionic Commando is the first in the series to not be set in a 2-D environment and is a direct sequel to the 1988 NES Game Bionic Commando. This is a great move on behalf of developers that have created an incredible environment for the protagonist Nathan Spencer. What makes him a Bionic Commando is his bionic arm that boasts one of the greatest accessories in gaming; a zip line arm.

This zip line arm is the main selling point in the game that is a 3rd person shooter/action game in the sense that Nathan Spencer jumps off buildings like Altair from Assassin's Creed and shoots like Chris Redfield of Resident Evil 5. To it's core, its absolutely a shooter and the zip line is seamlessly used for action purposes; to get to enemy to shoot. It's not to easy or hard to use the zip line for transport since there is a balanced group of hooks/edges to grapple and zip towards.

All of the characters movements not only look cool but beautiful which is a certain aspect similar to Assassin's Creed. The graphics (on PC) look amazing and super polished. Shooting in this game occurs from an over the shoulder perspective and can be used for "combo-like" moves using the zip line. When players are grappled onto something and attempting to zip up the building they can also shoot as long as they let go of the zip line. So once your in the air it's fair game and yes, you are certainly launched a story above your opponent (like a Halo's launch pads).

The best part of implementing the zip line into a 3-D perspective is it's uses as a weapon. Players can grab their opponents face, zip them towards themselves, then kick them in the face for heavy damage.

In multiplayer mode, all characters are put in uniforms ala Halo and with zip lines going across the screen-it's simply insane-in multiplayer mode. The sound of the zip line alone makes you antsy and paranoid that a player can easily get you. With up to 10 players on one screen it is easy to see that this game has potential to sell millions of copies. This game can easily be described as Halo with a zip line which is never a bad thing.

Bionic has been pushed back once already and is slated to be out in May 2009.http://www.bioniccommando.comhttp://trashwire.com/blog/index.php/2009/03/18/film-interactive-happy-sxsw/