2009’s Bionic Commando is Capcom’s 7th-generation attempt to revive the Bionic Commando franchise as a third-person 3D action game. Notably, Capcom would not develop the title in-house, instead opting to pass development duties to Swedish developer Grin. The game is the first official sequel to the events of 1988’s Bionic Commando on the NES, retconning the Game Boy Color game from 2000. The title was originally released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on May 19, 2009, with a Windows PC version arriving not long after on July 28, 2009.
Interestingly, Bionic Commando would prove to be polarizing among critics. While many Western outlets would award the title fairy average reviews, Japanese publication Famitsu awarded Bionic Commando a very respectable 34/40. Player response to the title would also be similarly split, with many noting that the game’s swinging mechanics open up the opportunity for some inventive combat and traversal, while others found the game’s linear structure and arbitrary limitations frustrating. Though Bionic Commando would initially get off to a slow start with its sales, the game has since moved over 1.3 million units as of June 2022, solidifying itself as a 7th-generation cult classic.
Bionic Commando Premise
©Bionic Commando gameplay screenshot – Original
Picking up 10 years after Nathan’s successful battle against the FSA, Bionic Commando sees the once-great titular hero stripped of his honor and placed in prison. After attempting to save his partner’s life, Nathan is accused of treason and held in anticipation of his execution. When a terrorist group calling itself “BioReign” initiates a bionic purge, Ascension City is thrown into chaos, prompting the government superiors who betrayed Nathan to once again request his service. Together with his former partner Jayne Magdalene, Nathan sets out in search of missing operative Joe “Super Joe” Gibson while also seeking to learn answers regarding his missing wife’s whereabouts.
In terms of its gameplay, Bionic Commando is a 3D action-adventure title with some shooting elements and semi-open levels. Though the game is linear and not open-world, each level presents players with a semi-open sandbox that they can swing around using Nathan’s bionic arm, which opens up some unique approaches to how players tackle each combat encounter and platforming section. Nathan’s bionic arm is the main focus of gameplay, as players can use it to swing around levels, throw objects at enemies, “kite” enemies by pulling them up into the air, and manipulate parts of the environment. In addition to his arm, Nathan also has several weapons at his disposal, including the standard pistol and shotgun as well as more experimental weaponry like lock-on rocket launchers.
Notably, the game shepherds players into primarily relying on their bionic arm by limiting the amount of ammunition players can find for each weapon. Additionally, the game’s guns have no reload mechanic, forcing players to acquire ammo drops to refill their magazines.
Bionic Commando Main Characters
©Bionic Commando gameplay screenshot – Original
The 3D reboot of the iconic Bionic Commando series picks up 10 years after the events of the NES original and its remake, Bionic Commando: Rearmed, once again putting players in the shoes of the titular hero Nathan Spencer, and his bionic arm. After years of faithful service, Nathan is betrayed by his government and placed in prison, only to be put back in action after a mysterious terrorist force detonates an experimental weapon triggering a bionic purge. Spencer and his partner, Lt. Jayne Magdalene, initially head out in search of operative Joe “Super Joe” Gibson, but quickly learn that not all is as it seems. The main characters in Bionic Commando include:
- Nathan Spencer: Nathan “Rad” Spencer is the main protagonist of the Bionic Commando series and the hero of the 2009 reboot. After being framed for treason, Nathan takes back the mantle of being the Bionic Commando to thwart a rogue bionic terrorist organization.
- Jayne Magdalene: Jayne Magdalene is Nathan’s partner and ally. The two work together to track down “Super” Joe Gibson.
- Joe Gibson: Joe “Super Joe” Gibson is a former operative and ally of Nathan Spencer’s who ends up switching sides to work with the terrorist organization “BioReign”.
- Groeder: Nathan’s counterpart and a secondary antagonist of Bionic Commando, Groeder is the opposing force’s Bionic soldier and the final boss of the game.
Games in the Bionic Commando Series
Though the original Bionic Commando in arcades would prove to be a reasonable hit for Capcom, it would be that game’s NES port/sequel that would solidify the franchise as a cult classic and one of the more iconic franchises of the third console generation. Following 1988’s Bionic Commando on NES, the series would remain largely dormant except for a Game Boy Color sequel more than a decade later, before finally being rebooted for modern audiences. To bring Bionic Commando back into the mainstream, Capcom would launch a remake of the 1988 NES classic as part of its 20th anniversary, Bionic Commando: Rearmed, which would also pave the way for the new 3D game in the series, also named Bionic Commando. Games in the Bionic Commando series include:
- Bionic Commando (Arcade, Amiga, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, 1987)
- Bionic Commando (Famicom/NES, 1988)
- Bionic Commando (Game Boy, 1992)
- Bionic Commando: Elite Forces (Game Boy Color, 2000)
- Bionic Commando: Rearmed (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, 2008)
- Bionic Commando (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, 2009)
- Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, 2011)
Bionic Commando Cheats & Secrets
Though there are no official cheats for 2009’s Bionic Commando, there are plenty of secrets to uncover and bonuses to unlock. Additionally, PC players have the option to use third-party cheat engines and cheat trainer files to alter Bionic Commando‘s gameplay.
Bionic Commando Unlockables
Bionic Commando: Rearmed Bonuses
With both Bionic Commando and the retro reboot of the original, Bionic Commando: Rearmed, installed, players can complete tasks in Rearmed to unlock bonuses for use in Bionic Commando. After completing the requirements below, players will need to go to Bionic Commando‘s “Extra” menu and select “Unlock Features” to activate the bonuses.
| Unlockable | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Prototype Weapon | In Bionic Commando: Rearmed, head to Area A and find the FSA Symbol there. |
| Purple Matrix | Collect all 12 Yasichi symbols in Bionic Commando: Rearmed and then open the Yasichi door in Area 0. |
| Retro Outfit | Automatically unlocks if Bionic Commando: Rearmed is installed on your PC/console. |
Retro Outfit (Alternate)
If you don’t have Bionic Commando: Rearmed, you can still unlock the classic Nathan “RAD” Spencer outfit from the original 1988 Bionic Commando by beating the main story. The costume will be available for use on any subsequent playthroughs.
Upgrades
Completing the following tasks will unlock different upgrades for Nathan Spencer in Bionic Commando.
| Upgrade | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Ammunition Upgrade 1 | Kill a Grunt using a Grenade |
| Ammunition Upgrade 2 | Kill an enemy with the “Death From Above” skill |
| Faster Reload 1 | Defeat a Biomech |
| Faster Reload 2 | Use the “Kite” ability on 15 Grunts |
| Firestorm | Kill 3 Grunts with one Bulldog shot |
| Hip Shot | Kill 10 Grunts |
| Hollow Point | Destroy one Polycraft |
| In Your Face | Kill 2 Grunts with a single Hiker shot |
| Light Armor | Kill a Grunt in hand-to-hand combat |
| No Clipping | Defeat the MOHOLE boss |
| Precision | Shoot an enemy while zoomed-in with the pistol |
| Red Matrix | Defeat the MOHOLE boss |
| Reloaded | Kill 2 Grunts with the Bulldog while swinging |
| Six Shooter | Destroy the Buraq |
| Sledgehammer | Kill 3 Grunts with the Hiker while swinging |
| Super Charges | Kill a Grunt using the “Whip Spin” attack |
| The Bullet Hoser | Kill 3 Biomechs using hand-to-hand combat |
| White Matrix | Defeat the Constructor |
Challenges
Throughout Bionic Commando‘s campaign are Challenges — optional objectives separate from the main quest, many of which unlock several of the game’s achievements/trophies. Completing these Challenges offers up additional Challenges, new moves, and upgrades to Nathan Spencer’s existing moves and equipment.
| Challenge | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Arm and Wire Action: Leap Up! | Perform a leap up |
| Arm and Wire Action: Barrage | Kill 3 enemies at the same time using “Death From Above” |
| Arm and Wire Action: Feel the Beat, Y’all! | Kill 30 Grunts using hand-to-hand combat |
| Arm and Wire Action: First Swing | Perform a swing |
| Arm and Wire Action: Hand-to-Hand | Kill a Grunt using hand-to-hand combat |
| Arm and Wire Action: Incoming! | Kill an enemy using “Death From Above” |
| Arm and Wire Action: Jabber Man | Kill 10 Grunts using hand-to-hand combat |
| Arm and Wire Action: Kick In The Back | Perform 2 Zip Kicks on an enemy |
| Arm and Wire Action: Monkeyman | Swing for more than 30 meters without touching anything |
| Arm and Wire Action: Pull! | Kill an airborne enemy with a throw attack |
| Arm and Wire Action: Receiving End | Throw an object at an enemy |
| Arm and Wire Action: Reel In | Perform Reel In 3 times |
| Arm and Wire Action: Speed Swinger | Complete 5 consecutive Speed Swings |
| Arm and Wire Action: Swinger | Complete 3 consecutive Swings |
| Arm and Wire Action: The Pinball Effect | Kill 2 enemies with 1 throw |
| Arm and Wire Action: The Pitcher | Kill 50 enemies using throw attacks |
| Arm and Wire Action: Train Block | Pull down the vehicle blocking your way |
| Arm and Wire Action: Train Wreck | Pull down 3 train cars |
| Arm and Wire Action: Worthy Foe | Kill 3 Biomechs in hand-to-hand combat |
| Enemy Combat: Anti-Air Measures! | Destroy 1 Polycraft |
| Enemy Combat: Biomech Sweeper | Defeat 15 Biomechs |
| Enemy Combat: Blood Trial | Kill 10 Grunts |
| Enemy Combat: Cracker | Defeat 5 Biomechs |
| Enemy Combat: Fair Fight! | Defeat 1 Biomech |
| Enemy Combat: Headshot Bonanza | Kill 50 Grunts with headshots |
| Enemy Combat: Nemesis | Kill 350 Grunts |
| Enemy Combat: Poly Cruncher | Destroy 10 Polycraft |
| Enemy Combat: Slayer | Kill 25 Grunts |
| Enemy Combat: The Bold Approach | Hit a Biomech using “Death From Above” |
| Enemy Combat: Torn Into Pieces | Destroy a Polycraft while airborne |
| Weapon Usage: Air To Surface | Kill 6 enemies while swinging using the Tarantula |
| Weapon Usage: Close Up | Shoot an enemy while zoomed-in |
| Weapon Usage: Drive By | Kill 3 Grunts while swinging using the Hiker |
| Weapon Usage: Explosive Delivery | Kill 2 Grunts while swinging using the Bulldog |
| Weapon Usage: Kaboom | Kill a Grunt using a grenade |
| Weapon Usage: Let The Dog Out | Kill 3 Grunts with 1 Bulldog shot |
| Weapon Usage: Man Locked Up | Kill an enemy using the Tarantula’s lock-on |
| Weapon Usage: Rocket Man | Kill 10 enemies using the Tarantula |
| Weapon Usage: Stroke of Luck | Kill 1 enemy using the Bulldog |
| Weapon Usage: The River | Kill 5 Grunts with 1 grenade |
| Weapon Usage: The Turn | Kill 4 Grunts with 1 grenade |
| Weapon Usage: Two-Hit Wonder | Kill 2 enemies with a single Hiker shot |
Bionic Commando Secrets
Hidden Ending Message
After completing the game and watching the Credits sequence, a screen with red Morse Code will appear. Translating the Morse Code will reveal the German message:
“BESTAETIGE. AUSFUEHRUNG VON PHASE ZWEI VORBEREITET. AKTIVIERE PROJEKT ALBATROSS.”
Further translating this message into English reveals it to say:
“CONSENT. IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE TWO PREPARED. ACTIVATE PROJECT ALBATROSS.”
Resident Evil 5 Reference
At the beginning of Bionic Commando, after exiting through the hole in the side of the building, players can spot a Tricell billboard. Tricell is the shadow corporation that the remnants of Umbrella secretly control in Resident Evil 5.
Bionic Commando Cheat Engine Cheats (PC Only)
PC players can download any compatible third-party cheat engine and cheat trainer file for Bionic Commando. One such cheat trainer file can be found here and includes the following cheat options:
- Infinite Health
- Infinite Ammo
NOTE: Players must reactivate these cheats any time the game loads to a new area or level.
Bionic Commando Achievements/Trophies
Completing the following in-game tasks will unlock the corresponding achievements/trophies:
| Achievement/Trophy | Description |
|---|---|
| Go-Go Bionic! | Collect all other Trophies (PlayStation-exclusive, Platinum) |
| Choke on That | Kill Groeder |
| End Game | Complete the final mission |
| The Collector | Find all Collectibles |
| I Got Hard | Beat the game on Hard mode |
| I Went Commando | Beat the game on Commando mode |
| Blood Trial | Kill 10 Grunts |
| Close Up | Shoot an enemy while zoomed-in |
| Leap Up! | Perform a Leap Up |
| Kaboom | Kill a Grunt using a grenade |
| Train Wreck | Pull down 3 train cars |
| Swinger | Swing for 3 meters without hitting the ground |
| Man Locked Up | Kill an enemy using the Tarantula’s lock-on |
| Stroke of Luck | Kill 1 enemy using the Bulldog |
| Kick In The Back | Perform 2 Zip Kicks on an enemy |
| Receiving End | Throw an object at an enemy |
| Jabber Man | Kill 10 Grunts using hand-to-hand combat |
| Incoming! | Kill an enemy using “Death From Above” |
| Slayer | Kill 25 Grunts |
| Torn Into Pieces | Destroy a Polycraft using Zip-Kick |
| Fair Fight! | Defeat 1 Biomech |
| Cracker | Defeat 5 Biomechs |
| Whoo-paah! | Kill a Grunt using Whip-Spin |
| Down to Earth | Kite 1 Grunt into another |
| Rocket Man | Kill 10 enemies using the Tarantula |
| Two-Hit Wonder | Kill 2 enemies with a single Hiker shot |
| Explosive Delivery | Kill 2 Grunts while swinging (Bulldog) |
| The Pinball Effect | Kill 2 enemies with 1 thrown item |
| Worthy Foe | Kill 3 Biomechs using hand-to-hand combat |
| Spence is in the Air | Kill 1 Polycraft using an Adrenaline move |
| The River | Kill 5 Grunts with 1 grenade |
| Let the Dog Out | Kill 3 Grunts with 1 Bulldog shot |
| Barrage | Kill 3 enemies at once using “Death From Above” |
| Air to Surface | Kill 6 enemies while swinging (Tarantula) |
| Drive-By | Kill 3 Grunts while swinging (Hiker) |
| Pull! | Kill an airborne enemy with a throw attack |
| Come Out and Play | Kill a Biomech using an Adrenaline move |
| Crowd Control | Kill 6 Grunts with 1 Whip attack |
| Shoot ‘Em Up! | Kill 15 Grunts in the air |
| The Pitcher | Kill 50 enemies using throw attacks |
| Feel the Beat, Y’all! | Kill 30 Grunts using hand-to-hand combat |
| Shellshock | Kill 5 enemies using “Death From Above” |
| Headshot Bonanza | Kill 50 Grunts with headshots |
| Out of the Bush | Defeat the Buraq |
| Poly Cruncher | Defeat 10 Polycraft |
| Nemesis | Kill 350 Grunts |
| Can You Dig It? | Defeat the MOHOLE |
| Biomech Sweeper | Defeat 15 Biomechs |
| Whip ‘Em Good | Whip attack 50 enemies |
| Bionically Challenged | Complete all Challenges |
Bionic Commando Cheat FAQs
Is Bionic Commando an open-world game?
Though the game does feature large semi-open levels, 2009’s Bionic Commando is not an open-world game. Instead, it is a linear, level-based game that affords the player some freedom in how they navigate through environments and tackle objectives.
Who is the main villain in 2009’s Bionic Commando?
The primary antagonist in the Bionic Commando reboot is Groeder, a fellow Bionic Commando like Nathan Spencer who works for the opposing force. Notably, Groeder is also a villain from the remake of the 1988 Bionic Commando, Bionic Commando: Rearmed. Nathan believes that Groeder dies at the end of the original Bionic Commando, only for him to show up again as the leader of a terrorist organization in 2009’s reboot.
Is Bionic Commando hard?
The 2009 reboot of Bionic Commando is similar to many other action, character action, or third-person shooter games of the era in that players will be acting as a one-man army against waves of enemies using both melee combat and firearms. As such, difficulty can be fairly subjective depending on your experience with those genres. For someone with lots of action game experience, Bionic Commando is fairly accessible on the default difficulty mode.
How long to beat Bionic Commando (2009)?
Like most other similar titles of the era, completing Bionic Commando takes roughly 8-10 hours on the standard difficulty setting. To fully complete the game on all additional difficulty modes and unlock all achievements, players can expect to spend about 20 hours.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Bionic Commando key art.