History VideoGame / BionicCommando

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The NES version calls the main character "Ladd", while the Game Boy version uses "Rad Spencer". ''Rearmed'' renames the character "Nathan Spencer", but uses "Rad" as his nickname[[hottip:*:He was the first bionic solder, and spent a lot of his time in Research and Development, enough that people started calling him "R And D". When he went into the field, this nickname was shortened into his codename, "Rad"]].

''VideoGame/BionicCommando'' is a sequel of sorts to the very different, top-down shooter ''Commando'' (Super Joe was the hero of Commando), and the game includes several mini-levels based on the original. It in turn had its own sequel, a similar game but with a more sci-fi look, for the Nintendo GameBoy. It also received another sequel for the GameBoyColor, titled ''Bionic Commando: Elite Forces''.

* VideoGameRemake: ''Every single Bionic Commando game but the very first and the very latest.'' The NES game was a remake of the arcade game. The Game Boy version was almost a direct remake of the original, with only a few changes, mostly an ArtShift. The Game Boy ''Color'' version added a heroine and redesigned some levels. ''Rearmed'' is the last and best remake. Thankfully the madness ends there with the '09 sequel and Rearmed 2 in '11.

* AnticlimaxBoss: In most of the original games, the bosses are poorly-designed--it's a bad sign when the typical end boss is a wall that you just shoot over and over. In the new console sequel, the bosses are much easier than the rest of the game--even the final boss and the ending sequences. However, in Rearmed, the bosses are just right.
** Often, it was easiest in the NES version to just run around the boss and blow up the reactor with a few rockets without killing the boss.
** At the end of the arcade game, after spending a billion quarters fighting your way through the horrible FakeDifficulty, you reach the enemy general... an old man who doesn't fight back, and dies in a couple shots.

* ScrappyWeapon: The machine gun from the NES version. It only shoots bullets, and they have a pretty short range. Your regular weapon, that you ''start the game with'', is better in almost every way - it has long range, and with a "turbo" button-equipped controller (or Turbo feature in an emulator) fires just as fast. The fact that the machine gun is kind of out of the way, and a little tricky to actually get if you don't know how, makes it even worse.

* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: The '09 game features an ''anti-tank shotgun'' usually aimed at infantry. The Rearmed shotgun isn't that powerful, though, and mainly used to get swinging again.

Ladd's job is to rescue a soldier named "Super Joe" from the Imperial Army (who were a [[ThoseWackyNazis Neo-Nazi nation]] in the Japanese version). Along the way, he shoots various {{Mooks}}, communicates with friendly agents, wiretaps enemy conversations, but most importantly, learns the purpose of the Imperial Army' "Albatross" project: - which involves the revival of the project's original leader, AdolfHitler ("Master D" in the American version).

* SequenceBreaking: Mostly Averted in the NES version. You can only play areas 1-6 at the start but you won't get far without the proper equipment. (See UnwinnableByMistake)

* UnwinnableByMistake: In the NES game, If you don't have the right equipment before starting a level, you'll end up getting stuck with no way out other than resetting the game. (See SequenceBreaking)

* MookChivalry: {{Subverted}} in the sequel. [=BioReign=] soldiers duck and cover, attack in groups, spot you from long distances and try to kill you dead from that range if possible. The list of things they do correctly is astonishing, and it's clear from the get-go that these guys want to survive, go home and see their families. [[DoubleSubversion Double Subverted]] [[HeroicSociopath in that none]] [[SuperSoldier of this manages]] [[OneManArmy to accomplish a damn thing.]]

* HeroicSociopath: When not angsting about his missing wife or that his country has betrayed him in the most vile way possible, Spencer takes a little too much joy in throwing people off cliffs and shooting them in the head.

The series remained dormant for several years before being revived. First an [[{{VideoGameRemake}} enhanced remake]] of the original NES game titled ''Bionic Commando: [[PunBasedTitle Rearmed]]'' was released for [[PlaystationNetwork Playstation Network]] and [[XboxLiveArcade Xbox Live Arcade]] in 2008. Then in 2009 a DarkerAndEdgier sequel was produced, named simply ''Bionic Commando'', and released for [[{{Xbox 360}} Xbox 360]] and [[PS3 Playstation3]]. An {{interquel}} to the said two games, ''Bionic Commando Rearmed 2'', was released in 2011.

--> '''Super Joe''': "Spencer! There's no way out! You'll just have to [[strike:fight]] [[PrecisionFStrike fuck it]]!"
-->'''Spencer''': "[[strike:My pleasure!]]Umm..."

* FinalBoss: [[strike:Hitler]] Master D in the original and remakes, [[spoiler:Groeder]] in the sequel.

''VideoGame/BionicCommando'' is a sequel of sorts to the very different, top-down shooter ''Commando'' (Super Joe was the hero of Commando), and the game includes several mini-levels based on the original. It in turn had its own sequel, a similar game but with a more sci-fi look, for the Nintendo Game Boy. It also received another sequel for the Game Boy Color, titled ''Bionic Commando: Elite Forces''.

The series remained dormant for several years before being revived. First an [[{{VideoGameRemake}} enhanced remake]] of the orginal NES game titled ''Bionic Commando: [[PunBasedTitle Rearmed]]'' was released for [[PlaystationNetwork Playstation Network]] and [[XboxLiveArcade Xbox Live Arcade]] in 2008. Then in 2009 a DarkerAndEdgier sequel was produced, named simply ''Bionic Commando'', and released for [[{{Xbox 360}} Xbox 360]] and [[PS3 Playstation3]]. An {{interquel}} to the said two games, ''Bionic Commando Rearmed 2'', was released in 2011.

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'''Featured Tropes:'''

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Said word by word at the end of ''Rearmed'' right after Master D's revival.

*** Your mileage may vary with rearmed 2 since it changes the timeline thus making things slightly more confusing

* AlasPoorVillain: The ending to ''Rearmed 2'' has a lot of this, with Super Joe remarking that none of the game's villains were bad people, just decent folks who ended up doing bad things due to a series of unfortunate events. It also includes a HeelRealization by Super Joe, which somewhat humanizes his previous CompleteMonster portrayal in the next-gen game.

** The Xbox sequel has large signs for [[ResidentEvil5 TriCell]] all over Ascension City.

** Area 5 of ''Rearmed'' features safety posters reading ''Warning! Falling Objects! Wear a helmet!", depicting a [[Franchise/MegaMan Metool helmet.]] In the same level, there are background decals of a hanging iron balls on chains, an irritating obstacle in the first game which is no longer implemented in the remake.

''Bionic Commando'' (a.k.a. ''Hitler's Revival: Top Secret'') is an [[ActionAdventure action-adventure]] side-scrolling platformer for the NintendoEntertainmentSystem made by Capcom. You play as Ladd Spencer ([[SpellMyNameWithAnS or Rad in later versions]]), who as the titular commando wields various guns and also has a bionic arm, which he can use as a [[GrapplingHookPistol grappling hook]] to swing across the levels. (Interestingly, he is unable to jump, and is instead dependent on the arm to climb around and cross gaps. Perhaps a form of GameplayAndStorySegregation?)

* FridgeHorror: In the NES version of Area 5, one of the communication rooms has a spot where you can wiretap. if you choose to, you get words on the screen, but no picture of the person's face like there usually is. And this is what it says.
-->"Where am I? Who is awakening me?"
** Playing through it again, it's implied that the voice was [[spoiler:Hitler]].

* GuideDangIt: In the NES version, the player can abort a mission by pressing Start+A+B simultaneously and return to the map screen. This would've come in handy if you enter an area without the proper equipment... except for the fact that the manual doesn't tell you this.

* Level1MusicRepresents: An odd case. The NES Area 1 music is iconic of the series to the point it makes up a large portion of the soundtrack in the sequel but it is infact a remix of the arcade's level 2 music.

* PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo: Super Joe, from the original, appears briefly.

* AdaptationDistillation: The original arcade game had a high FakeDifficulty due to frustrating enemy placement and the fact that you couldn't use your bionic arm again in midair, and your regular gun only fire up to two shots on-screen. While not a terrible game, the [=NES=] version was far more fun.

** In ''Rearmed'' There's a challenge run called the "Dragon Run" which is a reference to the Mecha Dragon Boss of ''VideoGame/MegaMan 2''.

''BionicCommando'' is a sequel of sorts to the very different, top-down shooter ''Commando'' (Super Joe was the hero of Commando), and the game includes several mini-levels based on the original. It in turn had its own sequel, a similar game but with a more sci-fi look, for the Nintendo Game Boy. It also received another sequel for the Game Boy Color, titled ''Bionic Commando: Elite Forces''.