When Nathan Spencer swung across screens 20 years ago, people went wild. Graphics and audio had only advanced but so far at this point in gaming history, so good ol’ Nathan had to rely on just one thing: gameplay. Regardless of what might have drawn us to games back then, we kept playing them for the same reason we keep playing them now. Of course, as the technology advanced, the mechanics of gameplay had greater potential for expansion. Not only do games look and sound better than ever before, they also feature more buttons, special moves, technical algorithms, and more mind-boggling programming code than you can shake a photonic cutter at.

With all this advancement, we sometimes forget to ask ourselves if games have actually gotten any better over the years. Capcom’s Bionic Commando is already a familiar title to the seasoned gamer, so after waiting so long for a new game in the series, much is expected of this latest version. Sadly, this resurrection is largely unimaginative and predictable. This was a good opportunity to present new ideas, but no risks appear to have been taken. Not surprisingly, swinging from building to building in a three-dimensional cityscape feels awfully familiar these days. Generally speaking, Nathan can be easily guided from one grapple point to the next without much precise planning or careful camera course-correction. This works out nicely given the game’s focus, but the thrill of action is immensely dulled by the ease of use. Although you will fall to your death many times, this is not a common enough occurrence for the danger to feel omnipresent. Some would argue that the game is meant to be action oriented and not super-realistic, but this still feels like a missed opportunity for depth and enjoyment.

Even when played at the standard difficulty levels, Bionic Commando seems to be tricky to gauge in terms of difficulty. While some players do prefer games that they feel like they can dominate, the overall challenge throughout the adventure seems to fluctuate wildly. One moment might be tedious, then suddenly you’re sweating it out with some crazy boss battle. The shooting mechanics are strangely cumbersome, with generic armaments and a clunky aiming system. This might have been forgivable in other games, but Bionic Commando has been in hibernation for the better part of two decades. This lack of polish is very noticeable, and causes one to wonder how much the game may have benefited from further time in development or play-testing.

Inventory is also unsaved in the event that the player dies, so prepare to do a lot of backtracking in Bionic Commando. The checkpoints are fairly spread out, so the game will certainly try your patience rather than reward your efforts. Much of the experience reminded me of Prototype, from flinging cars at enemies to leaping around rooftops with corporate logos abound. Speaking of corporate logos, I must say that Bionic Commando contains some of the worst in-game advertising I have ever seen. Shamelessly showering the levels with Pepsi logos does not lend greater credibility to the atmosphere, as it might in a sports game.

Nevertheless, much of Bionic Commando feels like a satisfying action game. The primary action holds up nicely; even if it wasn’t executed perfectly, there’s a great deal of fun to be had. This is just the sort of game that requires you to stick with the gameplay and try to ignore everything else. Like similar titles, the replayability is about adequate, with a few alternate routes available for completing a mission objective. The results of each route can be significantly different, just don’t expect your decisions to have the epic consequences of Mass Effect. The campaign mode for single-player missions feels decent in length, though the story is laughable. The characters are flat stereotypes, and the plot isn’t even on par with your typical television cartoon. Then again, story was never a vital element in Bionic Commando.  The focus is appropriately placed on the action, and though the gameplay flaws can be irritating, they are not sufficient to ruin the experience entirely.

Most of the sound effects throughout the game are heavy and exaggerated, just as one would hope for an action game of this sort. The visuals are generally pleasant, with good use of color and lighting despite the slight monotony of urban environments. Unfortunately, the game’s multiplayer modes also feel rather unpolished. They consist of standard mechanics that will be easy for casual players to understand, but Bionic Commando really deserved a bit of ingenuity in some form or another. It pains me to admit that this is not the mind-blowing revival that fans have been waiting years for. At least it’s a solid start, and with any luck, future iterations will bring the franchise back up the level of status it once held. Until then, Bionic Commando fans will probably still prefer the original classic.

Gameplay: 7.0
A good idea, but we’ve been swinging through cities many times before. Isn’t there a more interesting way to implement this mechanic?

Graphics: 8.0 
Most of the game looks good, especially the environments, if you can find a moment to admire them.

Sound: 8.0
Sound is sharp and clear, though the game could have benefited from a better score.

Difficulty: Medium
Sometimes easy, and sometimes intense. Things feel a tad inconsistent with the game’s difficulty.

Concept: 5.0 
A sequel that deserved more innovation and attention than it received.

Multiplayer: 7.0
Simple online modes that won’t win any awards, but they’re better than nothing.

Overall: 6.9
If you’re a diehard Bionic Commando fan, there’s nothing that will stop you from buying and enjoying this one. For the rest of us, it feels a little mediocre given what similar titles are offering these days.