Pad-On: Bionic Commando Multiplayer Demo
This week, along with the addition of Sorry!, Virtual On and Banjo-Tooie, marks the first time anyone in the public has been able to play the new Bionic Commando game. After the hair-pulling, blood pressure rising popularity of Bionic Commando Rearmed last year, fans have been looking forward to the new 3D iteration of the classic game series.
The demo is, oddly enough, multiplayer only. You start a map with 8 players in a deathmatch situation and, thus far, I’ve only been able to play 1 map. As limiting as the demo is, the game definitely shows its strengths right out: Everything that you remember about Bionic Commando is left intact in this game and from what I can tell, it’s been implimented very well.
The game may remind some people of a moderately modified Lost Planet. In Lost Planet and in Bionic Commando, the key similarity is the grappling hook attached to the main character. The key difference between the two is that Lost Planet uses the grappling hook in an point A to point B in a direct line, while Bionic Commando grabs on a point and uses momentum and physics to get from the start to the finish.
The dynamics of the swing system is what makes the multiplayer demo engaging. Using the environment to zip, swing and jump to the rafters while sniping other players incredibly entertaining. The weapons are standard fare: shotguns, SMG’s, Sniper Rifles, Assualt Rifles and grenade launchers are sprinkled throughout the level. Yet, with the standard fare the mechanics of the swing system actually brings different strategies to the table.
My favorite move? In a session with 7 players, I grappled onto the top of a bar while holding a Sniper Rifle. As people pass by, ignoring my existence, I picked off about 4 people until someone finally swing up and pulled a shotgun on my face. Another favorite move I loved to use was the Swing n’ Shotty: Where in mid-swing, I’d blast an opponent with a Shotgun blast.
As fun as the swing mechanic is, there is a learning curve to using it. You’re not going to be swinging from pole to pole with relative ease: The engine calculates momentum, placement of objects and the speed at which you hit an area to the overall equation of movement. It’ll take a match or two to get down, but once you do, you’ll never really want to just walk or jump to an area.
Needless to say, although word has it that the singleplayer game may disappoint, the multiplayer seems to be incredibly fun. I’ll definitely hold this for a rent when its released next month, but I’m looking forward to it more than I was previously.
