Bionic Commando: Elite Forces Game Sample - GBC
0Bionic Commando: Elite Forces is a U.S. only remake to the original "Bionic Commando" released for NES and Game Boy. Licensed by Capcom and developed by the American-based "Nintendo Software Technology Corporation", originally co-founded and maintained by the founder of the "DigiPen Institute of Technology", Claude Comair (as of 2006, NSTC is now headed by Shigeki Yamashiro), BC:EF was released in 2000. The game, while riddled with some annoying bugs, is a good reworking of the original games, borrows some elements from the prior titles while introducing new content, and is one of the more enjoyable GBC action games. It is NSTC's first game.
In the game, the once-peaceful land of Karinia has been ravaged by an evil dictator known as Arturus, the leader of a group known as the "Avars". For years, a platoon of skilled commandos have fought against Arturus and the Avars and held their own, until an alarming fragmented transmission from the great commander, "Super Joe", is passed within Avar territory. This transmission, which alludes that Joe is in trouble (since they lost contact with him) and that Arturus has started a secret "Albatross Project" which will make him capable of ruling the world, has stirred the general of the Bionic Corps. In a desperate bid to save Joe, protect Karinia, and put a stop to the Albatross Project, the general has called on "you", a (male or even female) member of the "Elite Forces". Now you must trudge through nearly two dozen levels of action using your trusty tools and bionic arm.
In the game, you can use a male or female commando and name them as you see fit. They play virtually identical to each other, but they have access to a few different levels in the game, which is cool I guess since they could've had NO differences whatsoever. Speaking of gameplay, it combines many of the best aspects of the NES and GB games (grappling around, no jumping, a sort of "experience system" to increase max health, etc.) and adds some new elements like voice clips, refined grappling mechanics that make your life significantly easier, a cool-but-short-lived "Sniper Mode" on some stages to blast faraway enemies, new tools, and the ability to save your progress, among other things. The game also features four modes of play: Overworld Map (where you navigate to stages and avoid enemy trucks), Standard Side Scrolling, Top-Down (think Capcom's own "Commando" for NES), and the aforementioned Sniper Mode (think Metal Gear Solid). Other aspects of the game remain unchanged.
When all of this is combined with functional controls, a nice soundtrack, good graphics with great character animations (though the cutscenes are kinda bleh), a few secrets, and a decent challenge during later portions of the game, BC:EF is a title that GBC collectors shouldn't miss and is perhaps a must-have for Bionic Commando fans. As the game was only released in the U.S., finding a copy could prove difficult outside of online shops. This is a video of the game in action.