Capcom continues their retro arcade titles with a new release of an old classic: Bionic Commando: Rearmed. It's not a new adventure of an old hero, it's simply an update of the graphics and sound of the original, with the core game mechanics. But is that enough to be worth the price of admission?

It may seem pointless to re-release a game without changing the level design or the any of the primary game mechanics, but the original Bionic Commando was released 20 years ago in 1988, so many of today's gamers were unable to play it in its original run. The original game for the NES was considered difficult at the time, and remains so even in the remake. Unlike the original though, Rearmed saves your progress after you complete a level, so you don't have to start over from the beginning every time. This makes it work much better as an arcade title, and prevents a lot of frustration.

The graphics are a lot darker than the original, and lighting effects and cavernous backgrounds add a lot of depth to what was originally a fairly flat game. Unfortunately the hit detection feels no more accurate than the original, and due to the slight perspective changes, it can be hard to tell what hit you, or why you can't grapple to a certain point.

There have been a few minor updates to the gameplay, including a "Hack enemy network" puzzle game that gives you some sense of challenge instead of the simple menu option in the original. Successfully hacking the network also gives you enough health to fully recharge, which can be a welcome benefit as you make your way through the absurdly dangerous enemy bases.

A challenge mode provides a way to compare your grappling hook skill against your friends and the entire world, with an achievement for those that can complete the 52 main rooms. With split-second timing required on nearly all the rooms, half the battle is knowing what to do, and the other half is actually getting the timing right.

The multiplayer portion of BC:Rearmed has a lot of potential, but suffers from one fatal flaw: it is only available to people playing on the same console. Even though both you and your friend purchase the game, you will not be able to play over Xbox Live. There are Deathmatch, Last Man Standing, and Don't Touch the Floor modes, and are playable with up to 4 people in teams or with every man for himself.

With multiple people on the same console, you can also play through the main game in Co-Op mode. The main difference is that dying does not take you back to the beginning of the level, but instead you can join in again by pressing Start, as long as your companion is still alive. The lives of the co-op players are shared, but there are no indicators of how many lives remain, so you'll have to keep mental note. If you separate from each other too far while playing, the game will split the screen and put each person on their own half. The exception is when one player enters a door and both people appear on the other side. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but it does allow a less experienced person to reach the end without having to perform the fancy grappling maneuvers that are sometimes required.

So there you have it. A solid title, with lots of old school difficulty, and good looking graphics. Don't buy it for the multiplayer, but with lots of unlockables, and the sometimes nearly impossible challenge rooms, there are many many hours of gameplay packed into this $10 title. But of course check out the demos on the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 before you buy.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed is available now for Xbox 360 (800 Points), PLAYSTATION 3 ($9.99) and PC ($14.99)

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Bionic Commando: Rearmed image gallery