The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we shine the spotlight on Bionic Commando: Rearmed.
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Developer: GRIN
Region(s) available: North America, Europe
Players: 1-2
Originally released in 2009, Bionic Command Rearmed is essentially a shiny HD remake of 1988’s Bionic Commando for the NES, while concurrently serving as a prequel to the ill-fated PS3/360 entry of the same name. Rearmed focuses on hero Nathan Spencer, who has been tasked with destroying a deadly weapon engineered by the Badds.
Retro heads will certainly appreciate Rearmed’s classic, 2D-based gameplay, though with the added benefit of a 3D facelift on the visual front. Spencer’s bionic arm is equipped with several functions, chief among which includes a handy grappling hook, which can be used to nab distant objects and swing over gaping chasms. Fresh weapons can be acquired by defeating bosses, as well as various items that will help you along the way.
Stages are accessed via a world map, which Spencer can navigate via chopper. However, you’ll also bump into enemy convoys along the way, initiating a top-down view battle in the process. Aside from the obvious aesthetical differences, Rearmed also features a number of gameplay tweaks over the original 1988 classic. For example, the health system is represented via a bar that can be replenished by obtaining health items from defeated enemies. Bashing up baddies also rewards you with points if you manage to neutralize them without taking a hit, encouraging further replays.
Elsewhere, gamers can switch up weapons on the fly as opposed to being limited to a single piece of equipment per mission. Bosses have also been touched up, with scraps taking advantage of Spencer’s unique abilities thus giving them a more tactical edge than before. Also new to the table in Rearmed is the Challenge Rooms, where players must navigate a stage as quickly as possible using the bionic arm. Then there’s the multiplayer component, which allows gamers to play the main campaign locally with a mate. Here, lives are shared between players, with AI tweaked to accommodate the extra participant. Outside of this, you can also engage in various competitive offerings both locally or via network, such as Versus, Don’t Touch the Floor and Last Man Standing.
Tune in again same time tomorrow when we take another gander Inside PlayStation Network.