Bionic Commando
| Company type | Video game series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Tokuro Fujiwara |
| Products | Platform video games |
| Owner | Capcom |
Bionic Commando is a series of platform video games developed and owned by Capcom. Distinct from conventional platformers, the hero Nathan "Rad" Spencer is unable to jump; instead, he navigates levels by utilizing a bionic arm that functions as a grappling hook, enabling swinging, climbing, and descending. The franchise includes seven installments, beginning with the original 1987 Bionic Commando and extending to 2011's Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Set within an alternate historical timeline where Nazism endures beyond World War II, the series combines innovative gameplay mechanics with a unique narrative setting.
Gameplay
The central gameplay element involves Spencer’s bionic arm, which acts as a grappling hook used both for movement and combat—allowing players to pull themselves toward foes or push enemies away. The 2009 release Bionic Commando introduced a jump mechanic alongside the arm’s capabilities; prior entries lacked any jumping ability. This jumping feature was retained in Bionic Commando Rearmed 2.
Most titles employ a 2D side-scrolling platform style with occasional top-down segments. The 2009 version shifted to full 3D environments with an over-the-shoulder camera angle. Players have control over the swing’s arc and lateral movement for precise targeting. Although the Rearmed games utilize 3D graphics, they maintain gameplay on two-dimensional planes, categorizing them as 2.5D platformers.
Setting
The world of Bionic Commando unfolds in an alternate timeline where Nazism continues after World War II. While fascist themes were subtly present in the 1987 original, they became overtly apparent in the 1988 Famicom and NES editions. The Japanese release depicted the Empire as a neo-Nazi regime, featuring Nazi Swastikas on the Imperial Army’s insignia. In contrast, the English localization replaced Nazis with terms like "Badds" or "Nazz," and swapped the swastika emblem for an eagle-like symbol. The antagonist originally named Weizmann in Japan was renamed Killt in English versions, though Nazi imagery persisted. The Western release also adjusted game difficulty. The final boss was a resurrected Adolf Hitler in Japan, renamed "Master-D" for English audiences but retaining his graphic ending scene. Subsequent titles further developed this alternate reality, with protagonist Spencer facing off against terrorists and authoritarian figures.
Games
The original arcade and Famicom versions in Japan were titled . In the U.S., the arcade edition was marketed as a sequel to Commando, featuring a protagonist named Super Joe. Capcom’s 1988 NES home adaptation diverged significantly from the arcade version. More faithful ports appeared on platforms like Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. Designed by Tokuro Fujiwara based on his earlier 1983 arcade game Roc'n Rope, Bionic Commando expanded upon that foundation. Harumi Fujita composed the original arcade soundtrack, which Junko Tamiya adapted and extended for the Famicom/NES releases.
The franchise expanded with a 1992 Game Boy version and an early 1990s MS-DOS port. The 1999 sequel Bionic Commando: Elite Forces for Game Boy Color introduced a new storyline and enhanced gameplay features such as platform climbing and sniper rifle use. In 2008, Capcom launched Bionic Commando Rearmed, an upgraded remake of the 1988 NES title for Windows, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade; this served as a prequel to the 2009 console release. Its follow-up, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, was released in 2011.
In November 2015, Capcom published the five-disc collection Senjo no Okami & Top Secret Original Sound Collection, compiling soundtracks from both series along with liner notes by Manami Matsumae. Nathan "Rad" Spencer also appears as a playable character in crossover fighting games such as Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, voiced by Dameon Clarke and designed based on his 2009 incarnation.