Bionic Commando "Elite Forces"
Game by Nintendo of America
Reviewed by Gamefan
Size: 8 megabits
Save: battery backup (3 slots)
Released: 2000
Works with: Gameboy Color exclusive

****************************************************************************

Opening Snide Remarks: I never played Bionic Commando before and I didn’t
know what it would be like not to jump so I stayed away.  However with all
the sites giving this game rave reviews I had to give it a chance. Will it
live up to my expectations?  I bought this game the same time I bought
Survival Kids as a "second" game but would it stay second fiddle?

****************************************************************************

Gameplay Description: This is a very fun game and I believe that you would
come back time again for the quick graphic fix and the upbeat music.

Liked: Pick up and play game. 

Hated: Read on.

****************************************************************************

Graphics Description: The graphics are very stunning; you will be amazed at
the intro.  I must say that this is a beautiful game, the background scrolls
two directions at once and has texture to it.  In the first level you will
notice a downed Helicopter that is super realistic looking.  The best thing
about BC is the animation, (not a trade usually found on GB) The girl’s hair
moves as she runs and it is incredibly smooth.  The claw is very fast and
the swing motion is done quite nicely, however I would have made it so that
you would only swing once and then the motion would calm down. Sniper mode
is really cool; you can see the target a long ways away when side-scrolling
(in the background) the game displays a crosshair and you push up to snipe.
This is really cool because you have a helicopter view of the area and a
zoomed in view in the lower right that shakes like Metal Gear Solid’s sniper
mode.  (Except there’s no diazepam) There’s also top down areas that remind
me of Operation C’s.  

Liked: Backgrounds, Sniper Mode!!! Top down areas. Cutscenes

Hated: Nothing

****************************************************************************

Sound/Music Description: The Music in BC rocks; you get pumped listening to
it.  I use headphones for this game.  The sound is well above average with
the claws clamp sound. There’s also digital voice that really sounds like
its coming from a radio receiver! (Not very loud though, best with
headphones) 
 
Liked: Digital Voice, jamming music

Hated: Voice to quiet, shooting could have sounded better. 

****************************************************************************

Play Control/Game Design: The control is tight and responds perfectly to your
buttons. You will be able to clamp, swing, fall, clamp again and pull
yourself up all in one smooth motion.  The game design is very nice the
story is fairly interesting the gameplay backs it up.  The map is ok, but I
wish that you could have shot out of the helicopter in a mission or had you
jump out and clamp on as opposed to parachuting all the time.  Some Missions
seem a little weird, like Egypt, or in a purple cave, but you hardly notice.
The one thing I don’t like is that your character can’t jump, I think that
if they added this that it would lessen Frustration and would aid in level
design.  Swinging and clamping would be more then needed and the jumping
would only be used to dodge leaders and jump over boxes.  My other problem
with BC EF is the inability to shoot up, this is not even noticed until the
seventh level, but is needed to add depth to the game.

Liked: Tight Control, Interesting story, and no flaws in Game design

Hated: Strange levels like Egypt. No Jumping, can’t shoot up. 

****************************************************************************

Improve: Allow jumping and the ability to shoot up, expand the theme to more
of a Metal Gear. 

RIYL: Bionic Commando, Metal Gear Solid, Super Metroid, Metroid 2, Platform
games

****************************************************************************

Final Words: This is a great game that displays the GBC’s power beautifully.
This is a must have for Bionic Commando lovers and certainly worth a
look-see for Metal Gear fans. 

****************************************************************************

Score
Gameplay: *****
Graphics: *****
Sound/Music: *****
Play Control/Game Design: ****
Personal Opinion: ****
Total: 23 of 25 stars

Final Score: 92%

****************************************************************************

Currently Known Codes: Nope