Bionic Commando

aka: Bionic Commandos, Top Secret
Moby ID: 8779
Arcade Specs
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay or Amazon links (prices updated 3/16 4:45 AM )
Included in See Also

Description official descriptions

In Bionic Commando the player takes control of a soldier with a bionic arm that extends and contracts. The bionic arm allows the soldier to grab onto fixed objects and swing around and climb up levels — no jumping allowed! The arm also grabs opponents and pulls them towards the protagonist.

The player's mission is to storm the enemy's fortress and destroy the launch computer to prevent the enemy from using their doomsday weapon.

Spellings

  • トップ・シークレット - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Arcade version)

5 People

Game Designer (uncredited)
Programmed by
Sound Composers

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 75% (based on 19 ratings)

Players

Average score: 2.9 out of 5 (based on 49 ratings with 1 reviews)

It's amazing what you can do with a bionic arm

The Good
In a hidden underground laboratory, scientists have perfected new fighting equipment. One of them is a bionic arm that can extend and contract, providing unheard-of strength and maneuverability. The bionic arm is placed on a soldier, nicknamed “Bionic Commando”, in an attempt to defeat the invading forces that killed your people for many years, reducing them to about half.

The arm is really useful as it lets you destroy soldiers at long distances. As you can't jump in this game, you will also use it to grab onto ledges and pull yourself up. We might see a bionic arm being developed in the future. It would be useful to add to a human if they have lost heir arm. It might also be used to punch someone at a fair distance, then get away before the recipient decides to punch you back. You can control the arm in all directions, except downwards.

You can also make use of your default weapon, which is the crappiest weapon that you can use in Bionic Commando, but you have the opportunity to get a better weapon, but you have to shoot its parachute before you can get it, otherwise it will continue going downwards into the screen.

The graphics of the Amiga/ST versions of Bionic Commando are better than its 8-bit cousins, giving them the same detail as in the coin-op version. Each character is drawn nicely, particularly the large enemies. I like the huge enemies that ride around in helicopters and mechs in the last two levels.

The environments in each of the game's five levels are interesting to pass through. The animations are quite good. The way that you parachute down to the surface after losing a life is cool, and the animation of you swinging left or right with your arm is very good. The music in the game suits the gameplay and is easy to listen to. It is quite different to that of the coin-op version.

Controls are easy to get used to in the game. You simply move your character left, right, up, and down using the joystick, and its fire button to either fire your weapon or extend or contract your bionic arm.

The Bad
Nothing.

The Bottom Line
In Bionic Commando, you can only use your bionic arm to either destroy soldiers or grab onto a platform. No jumping is allowed in the game. There are five levels, and the environments in those levels look good as you pass through them. It is faithful to the coin-op version, because of the similar gameplay and graphics, but the music is much different and much better than the music that the coin-op version has.

Amiga · by Katakis | カタキス (43092) · 2006

Discussion

Subject By Date
Bionic Commando(arc.) released for Windows(via Steam) on Capcom Arcade Stadium Andrew Fisher (697) Aug 25, 2022
Trivia is wrong ReyVGM (15) Oct 15, 2014

Trivia

References

  • "Super Joe", who you are sent to rescue is the character from Capcom's original Commando game. Apparently without someone to insert credits to continue, he was easily captured.
  • Generalissimo Killt's name might be a reference to Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, since Generalissimo was to Franco what Führer was to Hitler. Besides, Franco and Hitler collaborated together several times, first Hitler aiding Franco in the Spanish Civil War and later Franco aiding Hitler in the World War II. Another interesting fact, although in that case might be just a coincidence, is that the most representative image of Franco during the post-war is the one with him wearing a cloak, just like G. Killt.

Awards

  • ACE
    • October 1988 (issue #13) - Included in the Top-100 list of 1987/1988 (editorial staff selection)* Computer and Video Games
    • Issue 06/1989 - Winner Golden Joystick Award 1989 for Best 8-Bit Soundtrack (reader's vote)* Game Informer
    • August 2001 (Issue #100) -#66 in the "Top 100 Games of All Time" poll

Information also contributed by Captain Canuck, Kohler 86 and PCGamer77

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Sky Taxi 4: Top Secret
Released 2011 on Windows
Bionic Commando: Rearmed
Released 2008 on Xbox 360, Windows, PlayStation 3
Full Secret
Released 1995 on Windows, Macintosh
The Bionic Commando Pack
Released 2009 on Windows
Bionic Commando: Elite Forces
Released 2000 on Game Boy Color, 2014 on Nintendo 3DS
Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2
Released 2011 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 2014 on PlayStation Now
Monster Hunter
Released 2019 on Windows, Macintosh, Android
Commandos: Collection
Released 2006 on Windows
Crime Lab: Body of Evidence
Released 2010 on Nintendo DS

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 8779
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by KnockStump.

Amiga added by EboMike. Commodore 64 added by Exolon. DOS, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum added by Martin Smith. Arcade added by Pseudo_Intellectual. Amstrad CPC added by Katakis | カタキス.

Additional contributors: Daniel Saner, Shoddyan, Alaka, lights out party, Patrick Bregger, piltdown_man, Rik Hideto, Jo ST.

Game added April 4, 2003. Last modified March 4, 2024.