Bionic Commando - Mmm, Marmite

So thats the first hour of play into Capcom's new Bionic Commando and first impressions are mixed. Fist concern is the sheer quantity of loading time. Whether you have the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of the game you're looking at around 15 minutes to install the game to the hard drive - I suppose you could play the Xbox 360 version straight from the disc but the in game loading times would just be ridiculous - then a loading screen between each major section of the game. No game should have to load this much. It does get a little excessive.

On to character first thoughts - you are first introduced to the narrator with the gruffest voice in a video game since the first time we heard Snake in English. Our narrator goes into great exposition about why "bionics" are bad, a menace to society and that they should be sentenced to death. But he also mentions that one "bionic" in particular had saved his life previously. The individual here is the lead character - the Bionic Commando himself. Don't ask me what his name was as it must be the most forgettable name for a lead in gaming history - Horace, from Horace Goes Skiing still sticks in my mind though, but that's another story.

The swing mechanics are a lot like marmite - some like it, some dont - but regardless of whether it gets eaten or not its still going to be a sticky mess. I can imagine that when you get fully used to swinging around in a George of the Jungle stylee it will be immensely satisfying - covering entire stages in a matter of seconds - getting to the next loading screen in record time! The downside is it's no too easy to pick up and play. The first few sections in between the loading screens for me were spent running around. Not gracefully swinging like the promo trailers had suggested. Each time I did get going with a good swinging session they were cut short by my ham-handedness and Mr. Bionic fell to his death in a pit of radiation for the bazillionth time.

This brings me on to my final gripe - the dying. As mentioned previously until you get the hang of rope based flight chances are you're going to die. Irradiated areas are not well sign posted so level progression could very much just be a case of trial and error. Im sure the designers intended that you spend the game suspended high above ground like a platforming god but now and again you could miss that final ledge and fall to your death, only to have to try it again. Not the best way to learn, but persistence is key.

This is only an hours play so I'm holding out for great things on the horizon. Ill run another post about Bionic Commando with a final review once I've finished it - but for now its time for bed.

Night folks.
Pepsi