NES Alphanumeric! #026: BIONIC COMMANDO
5I write young adult science fiction and fantasy (novels: FAIR COIN, THE SILENCE OF SIX), and I love playing 8-bit Nintendo games. But it's hard to find time for both; over the years, I've collected nearly 300 NES games, yet I still haven't played most of them for long—or even once!
POST-STREAM THOUGHTS: I was not ready for this game when I first played it as a kid. I didn't find the controls or game mechanics intuitive, nor did I have the manual or any strategy guides to point me in the right direction. Over the course of an hour, I began to master the technique of grappling and swinging, and it's really addictive and fun. The music is great, and the game is challenging but fair -- especially as you earn power-ups and continues, which make the game more playable. I really enjoyed this. It's been on my to-complete list as one of the bigger gaps in my classic gaming history, and I'm now looking forward to fighting through to the end!