History VideoGame / BionicCommando

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: The Imperial private and his commander you eavesdrop on in the NES game--and especially in ''Rearmed'', which uses them for comic relief.

All references to the Nazis were [[NoSwastikas edited out]] from the NES version's overseas release, with Hitler himself being renamed Master-D, although the controversial dictator's likeness was left unchanged (making it obvious who he is meant to be), along with a particularly gory death sequence that [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Got Past the Radar]].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Probably the most famous example of this trope in an NES game, next to Golgo 13.
** "What? You're going to fight against me? You [[PrecisionFStrike damn]] [[YouFool fool]]."
** Also, [[Main/YourHeadASplode Hitler's head graphically exploding in a gory mess]] at the very end.

** All references to Nazis were edited out of the game and replaced with Nazz/Badds, and there are NoSwastikas. For a more complete list of changes, see [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionic_Commando_%28NES%29 this game's entry]] over at Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}.

** Also in the NES game, acquiring Joe's machine gun. You have to talk to the correct person. If you talk to the wrong one, a machine gun still appears in the room, but taking it does not add a weapon to your inventory. Because the game gives no indication you've done anything wrong (or that there was even a test you could fail,) it simply appears that the item is bugged and unobtainable. Just to add insult to injury, it's a piece of crap, worse than your starting weapon.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Bionic_Commando_cover_5981.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300: Our hero Ladd Spencer, as he fights the evil imperialistic forces of Master-D ([[NoSwastikas clearly not Hitler with a fake beard and sunglasses.]])]]

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: The Japanese version of the arcade game had characters with wider cartoony eyes.

*** It's become an AscendedGlitch with signs for a Club Explode with the last E not lit in ''Rearmed 2''.
* BookEnds: The game begins with Joe telling the story of a man he met when he was young. It ends with him finishing it, and hoping it will be told for a long time.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: All references to Nazis were edited out of the game and replaced with Nazz/Badds, and there are NoSwastikas. For a more complete list of changes, see [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionic_Commando_%28NES%29 this game's entry]] over at Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: If you played the demo version of ''Rearmed'' instead of purchasing the game, the first boss will fail to load its attack patterns, saying you need to buy the full version of the game. Your character quips, "Aww, but I really wanted to fight you! Please..?" as well.

* DarkerAndEdgier: The sequel is much, much more grim and apocalyptic (most of the game takes place in a nuked mega city) than any of the prior games, including the company's own remake of the NES game. Super Joe's is shown to be an ass, but then again so has Spencer. Spencer spent a better part of 10 years in prison, without his bionic arm, after witnessing the death of two rogue bionic agents. Ten years after the Master-D mission, TheFederation has turned into a cruel and cynical the-end-justifies-the-means regime. The terrorists opposing it are even worse, nuking a capitol city IN THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME. Oh, and apparently Spencer got his bionic arm by [[spoiler:said federation possibly sacrificing the life of his wife to make it.]] Whether all this is good or bad is up to you.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Spencer was on death row, just cause he didn't follow one single order. Surely such a stunt would just have him stripped off of his Bionic Arm and position within military?
** The online comic reveals that "one single order" was murdering two bionics who didn't want to be stripped off of their life-supporting implants.
*** He was put in jail because [[spoiler:he didn't kill the two bionics, he let another one escape (Mag), and he killed an entire force of Federation troops when they tried to kill the two bionics. He also found out about the heavy crackdown on bionics, which ultimately led to the creation of [=BioReign=] (Bionic Resurrection Initiative). He was imprisoned for insubordination and treason.]]

* EleventhHourSuperpower: You have Super Joe's machine gun for the final three levels of ''Rearmed'', and the upgraded rocket launcher only for the final boss fight.

* HitPoints: You start the game as a OneHitPointWonder, but by grabbing items that various {{Mooks}} drop, you can gain more hitpoints to start out with, up to a maximum of nine per life if you're dedicated enough to get 300 of them. (Of course, you still die instantly when you fall in one of the game's many BottomlessPits.)
** No longer the case in ''Rearmed'' as you get the HitPoints meter to start. It does get upgraded, but only once.
* HollywoodHacking: Intercepting enemy communications in ''Rearmed'' requires you to play a short mini-game; in the full console sequel, you just grapple the computer and hit B (or "O," or whatever the action button is for the PC version).
** In the original game, simply having the correct communicator will allow you to listen in to enemy chatter (though they may detect you and attack as soon as you're done listening). Justified in that spies specifically tune the various communicators to the enemy frequencies.
* IdiotHero: For the most part, Spencer is a fairly competent guy. But in the sequel, [[spoiler:how in the name of all that's holy did he NOT get that his bionic arm has his wife's in it?!]]
** [[spoiler:Partially justified, due to the fact that this comes from denial. We never see his wife interacting with him except when he was asleep.]]

* InvulnerableCivilians: Averted -- it's very possible to shoot innocent civilians in a neutral area; you'll just set off alarms and the peacekeeper forces will attempt to kill you.
** Played straight in ''Rearmed''; opening fire in a [[strike:neutral zone]] FSA camp doesn't trigger anything.

* MoodWhiplash: The halfway point of ''Rearmed'' is interrupted by Spencer mentioning his missing wife to Haley. It's an important plot point in the 2009 sequel, but in ''Rearmed'' it came right out of nowhere.

** SurpriseDifficulty: Stage 1 isn't too bad. The next few areas, while harder, are still reasonable. Stages 5 and 6 are really very hard.

* NoSwastikas: In the translation, the Nazis were changed to the Nazz/Badds, swastikas were removed, and Hitler was renamed Master-D. Strangely enough, his dialogue portrait, which clearly shows Hitler, wasn't changed at all. In ''Rearmed'', the Nazis are simply referred to as "a long-dead military regime."
** What ''is'' strange is that there's symbols and power-ups scattered around in both the NES game and the updated remake which resemble [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Reichsadler_der_Deutsches_Reich_%281933%E2%80%931945%29.svg the Imperial Eagle.]] That can't be coincidental.

* NotAsYouKnowThem: Spencer and Joe in the sequel. In ''spades''.
** Somewhat justified in that Spencer has been in prison for five years, just waiting to be killed, and Joe has become bitter and jaded from the events of the Bionic Purge, which he didn't entirely agree with but was forced to implement.

* OneManArmy: And Spencer is called out on this in the sequel. According to Armstrong, over 10,000 troops fought against the Imperials, but Rad Spencer and Super Joe got all the glory. For their part, the soldiers in ''Rearmed'' all say how much easier Spencer's actions are making the fight, and the Imperials are hugely demoralized because of how bad Rad is kicking their asses.
** Also the reason why he's pulled out of death row and sent to Ascension City in the sequel: Even after ten years in prison, he's considered so capable and uniquely adapted to the situation that he's the best shot the Federation has.

* PoweredArmor: About half the bosses of ''Elite Forces'' are guys wearing this.
** Also shows up in the sequel in several variants. Because they're not nearly as vulnerable as basic infantry, they need special tactics to take down. [[CombatPragmatist Or you can hit them hard with the secondary weapons]], that works too.

* PuzzleBoss: All of them. None of them can be taken down by direct fire. Instead, you'll have to listen to enemy conversations to figure out their weaknesses.

* [[spoiler:RogueProtagonist: Super Joe in the 2009 game.]]
* SchrodingersPlayerCharacter: Averted in ''Elite Forces'', which grants the player a choice between a male and female commando. The commando you don't choose must be rendezvoused with throughout the game.
** Though Areas 6 and 9 are different for each character. The boss and level reward in each are the same regardless.

* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: The '09 game features an ''anti-tank shotgun'' usually aimed at infantry: The Hiker fires nine super sized buckshot shells for clearing out armored enemies, and is, in fact, unstoppable against anything that isn't powered armor, while the last shot is specifically a super heavy armor piercing giant shell for use against armor.

* SoundtrackDissonance: The music for the first level of the Arcade game is far too upbeat for the setting, especially considering the rest of the soundtrack.

* TruceZone: Various neutral zones in the original.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness:
** In both the original and ''Rearmed'', Killt, having activated Albatross without the help of "Master-D", decides he doesn't need him anymore. Unfortunately, Master-D then wakes up and kills Killt, declaring that Killt, having allowed him to waken, no longer needs to be kept around.
** ''Rearmed'' has "The Leader" say the phrase word for word upon his arrival, aimed at both Killt and Spencer.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: The Imperial private and his commander you eavesdrop on in the NES game -- and especially in ''Rearmed'', which uses them for comic relief.

* TheUnfought: Imperial President Wiseman (aka Generalissimo Killt in the NES translation and ''Rearmed''), the person who stole the Project Albatross plans and apparently ordered the attack on Federation cities in the first place.

* {{Gorn}}: In the NES game, and both ''Rearmed'' entries, enemies just die or explode fairly normally without a single hint of blood, and the games even seemingly take steps to have surprisingly content despite all the people and stuff you take down. Then you finish off Hitler- I mean, [[{{Bowdlerise}} Master-D]], with a rocket to the cockpit. Even in the NES game, you get to see [[YourHeadAsplode his head graphically blow up as his eyeballs fly off]], and the ''Rearmed'' equivalent even does a RepeatCut followed by a [[{{Overcrank}} slow motion close-up of the chunkiness]] just to bask in recreating the infamous moment. This single scene earned the otherwise fairly-tame remake an M rating, even despite arguably making the game DenserAndWackier.

* AdaptationExpansion: In both the original NES game and ''Rearmed'', [[spoiler:Area 12 features Generalissi

** Said word for word at the end of ''Rearmed'' right after The Leader's revival.
** In the original, Killt, having activated Albatross without the help of "Master-D", decides he doesn't need him anymore. Unfortunately, Master-D then wakes up and kills Killt, declaring that Killt, having allowed him to waken, no longer needs to be kept around.
* YourHeadASplode: Hitler (aka The Leader or "Master-D"), when you destroy the helicopter he attempts to escape in at the end of the game. Quite gory, really, considering the Bowdlerization to the rest of the game. This is the ''only'' reason the ''Rearmed'' release has an "M" rating, as there's surprisingly little blood elsewhere. In the sequel, it's the only way to make sure a bionic stays dead.

*** He was put in jail because [[spoiler:he didn't kill the two bionics, he let another one escape (Mag), and he killed an entire force of Federation troops when they tried to kill the two bionics. He also found out about the heavy crackdown on bionics, which ultimately led to the creation of [=BioReign=] (Bionic Resurrection Initiative). He was imprisoned for failing to follow orders and treason.]]

* {{Gorn}}: In the NES game, and both ''Rearmed'' entries, enemies just die or explode fairly normally without a single hint of blood, and the games even seemingly take steps to have surprisingly FamilyFriendlyViolence despite all the people and stuff you take down. Then you finish off Hitler- I mean, [[{{Bowdlerise}} Master-D]], with a rocket to the cockpit. Even in the NES game, you get to see [[YourHeadAsplode his head graphically blow up as his eyeballs fly off]], and the ''Rearmed'' equivalent even does a RepeatCut followed by a [[{{Overcrank}} slow motion close-up of the chunkiness]] just to bask in recreating the infamous moment. This single scene earned the otherwise fairly-tame remake an M rating.

* {{Gorn}}: In the NES game, and both ''Rearmed'' entries, enemies just die or explode fairly normally without a single hint of blood, and the games even seemingly take steps to have surprisingly FamilyFriendlyViolence despite all the people and stuff you take down. Then you finish off Hitler- I mean, [[{{Bowdlerise}} Master-D]], with a rocket to the cockpit. Even in the NES game, you get to see [[YourHeadAsplode his head graphically blow up as his eyeballs fly off]], and the ''Rearmed'' equivalent even does an excessively detailed RepeatCut just to bask in recreating the infamous moment. This single scene earned the otherwise fairly-tame remake an M rating.

** Also in the NES game, acquiring Joe's machine gun. You have to talk to the correct person. If you talk to the wrong one, a machine gun still appears in the room, but taking it does not add a weapon to your inventory. Because the game gives no indication you've done anything wrong (or that there was even a test you could fail,) it simply appears that the item is bugged and unobtainable. Fortunately, the rocket launcher you acquire much earlier obviates the need for every other weapon, anyway.

** Also in the NES game, acquiring Joe's machine gun. The instructions he gives you are wrong, and the correct method is so non-intuitive that almost nobody finds it without consulting a guide. Fortunately, the rocket launcher you acquire much earlier obviates the need for every other weapon, anyway.

* 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 a stage without having the proper equipment... if it weren't for the fact that the manual doesn't tell you this. Because of this, many first-time players often reset the game when they enter Area 6 without the Rocket Gun.

** [[HalfLifeFullLifeConsequences IT WILL EXPLOD!]]

* ''Bionic Commando: Elite Forces'' (GameBoyColor, 1999)

* HollywoodCyborg: Yes indeed, although the sequel tries to real-physics it up a bit.

* DiscOneFinalBoss: In the sequel, [[spoiler:Super Joe isn't really the final boss -- it's more of an interactive ending sequence. Still, take one look at that suit and you'll lament the boss fight that could've been.]]

Despite this, the NES version of ''Bionic Commando'' was a cult success and the game inspired a few remakes and successors throughout the years, including a book in the ''Literature/WorldsOfPower'' series, most notably a 2009 sequel again titled ''[[RecycledTitle Bionic Commando]]'' for seventh generation consoles, which was developed by the now-defunct Sweden-based developer GRIN. The 2009 incarnation of Spencer also appeared as a character in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', with the ''Rearmed'' rendition as an alternate DLC costume.

Despite this, the NES version of ''Bionic Commando'' was a cult success and the game inspired a few remakes and successors throughout the years, most notably a 2009 sequel again titled ''[[RecycledTitle Bionic Commando]]'' for seventh generation consoles, which was developed by the now-defunct Sweden-based developer GRIN. The 2009 incarnation of Spencer also appeared as a character in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', with the ''Rearmed'' rendition as an alternate DLC costume.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Said word for word at the end of ''Rearmed'' right after The Leader's revival.

* NonIndicativeTitle: There was nothing "bionic" about the unnamed protagonist in the original arcade game or with Ladd/Rad Spencer in the NES and Game Boy versions. The grappling hook he uses to swing into places was just that, a hook. Played straight with ''[=ReArmed=]'' and 2009 sequel.