Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
Encyclopedia
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 is the sequel to the platforming
video game Bionic Commando Rearmed
. It was developed by Fatshark
and published by Capcom
. It was released February 1, 2011 for the PlayStation 3
via the PlayStation Network and February 2, 2011 on the Xbox 360
via Xbox Live Arcade
. It features enhancements to protagonist Nathan Spencer's bionic arm, which he primarily uses to grapple to and swing from objects. New bionic enhancements include abilities such as hacking
data terminals, a powerful uppercut, and firing grenades.
The game's plot revolves around a dictator named General Sabio and a missing commander from Spencer's organization, Colonel Brubaker. Spencer and a team of four other bionics are sent to locate Brubaker and his platoon and help them complete their mission of disarming Sabio's missiles. The team's original mission evolves as the bionics, split into three teams, face opposition greater than they have previously faced. Reception from critics was lukewarm, with the game averaging in the 60% range at aggregate websites GameRankings and Metacritic
. Some critics praised the new gameplay mechanics, while others felt that it was a step down from its predecessor.
perspective, with players being able to move horizontally and vertically. The protagonist is equipped with a bionic arm that can be used to grapple onto scenery, allowing the player to ascend or to swing to otherwise unreachable areas. The arm can also be used as a defensive mechanism, allowing the player to grab barrels and enemies and use them as shields, and to repel larger enemies. Rearmed 2 changes traditional mechanics slightly, requiring users to press a button to release the arm from its hold point, allowing players to user their momentum to swing in any desired arc.
Challenge rooms return in Rearmed 2, but have been altered to require the use of specific abilities in certain challenges. Rearmed 2 features 24 challenge rooms, which are unlocked in a progressive order rather than a group at a time as seen in Bionic Commando Rearmed. Veteran players who've become accustomed to the glitchy swing mechanics of prior entries will be relieved, or frustrated, to know they'll need new strategies for completing some of the challenge rooms, most notably making use of the spike pits in order to progress. Local cooperative gameplay also returns, with the second player controlling a version of Spencer that resembles the one on the cover of the NES version of Bionic Commando.
Rearmed 2 also features new gameplay mechanics. Some of these were first introduced in the 3D shooter Bionic Commando. These include the ability to jump and maneuver known as Death From Above in which the player slams into the ground upon landing from a fall, causing a shockwave to affect nearby enemies. Once the game is completed players may opt to activate the game's Retro mode which disables the ability to jump. Players can also climb over small obstacles, or onto slightly higher elevations. Entirely new to the series are Components; items and attributes that can be equipped to enhance the player character. Components include a grenade launcher attachment for the bionic arm and a passive heath regeneration ability. The player can upgrade or change Spencer's abilities in the enhancements screen during gameplay. Also new to the series will be the ability to enter a scanning mode known as Bio Vision. While in this mode players can search for secrets and scan facts about enemies and locales which may help them progress through the game.
Absent from Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 are top-down levels, which in its predecessor symbolized an enemy attack while en route to a location. When the game's producer Rey Jimenez was asked why they are being excluded, Jimenez responded “People liked them because they were in the original, but I don’t remember hearing anyone say that was their favorite part of the game. It doesn’t have the swinging, you know?” Jimenez also revealed that with Rearmed 2 level progression will be linear instead of allowing the player to pick and choose their path. Players will, however, be able to return to previous levels using newly acquired abilities and weaponry to access areas they were previously unable to.
En route to Brubaker's last known location Spencer receives a communication from Mag, one of the team leaders, informing him that "something huge" had attacked them, taken her partner McNamara's bionic arm, and forced them to separate. Spencer instructs the team to regroup at Brubaker's last coordinates. Upon arriving Spencer finds the area in shambles with Brubaker's forces dead. Spencer soon discovers that a large mechanized robot designated GORILLA is responsible for the carnage. After disabling the robot, Spencer contacts FSA headquarters to inform them of the situation and the possible demise of Brubaker. Spencer's commanding officer, Joe Gibson (Super Joe) tells him that Brubaker is indeed alive, as his tracking device is still active. He informs Spencer that he may have been taken captive as his signal appears to be moving quickly across the island. Spencer is again tasked with rescuing Brubaker at all costs and completing his mission.
Shortly afterward Spencer finds one of his operatives, Wilcox, dying outside a factory. Wilcox tells him "something huge" took his bionic legs, killed Hauser, and left him for dead. As Spencer begins to signal for help Wilcox dies. Deep in the factory Spencer confronts GORILLA, disabling it again. He is then contacted by McNamara, one of his remaining team, who struggles to tell Spencer that he must find and disable missiles armed by General Sabio. Upon finding Brubaker's signal, Spencer is knocked unconscious by poison gas while contacting Super Joe. He is placed in a high security prison by Sabio's men, which he promptly escapes. Outside he learns from Mag that Brubaker had actually lost his legs and an arm in the FSA's service. Following a hunch he heads to a nearby facility. Inside he finds Brubaker, equipped with the bionic legs and arm from Spencer's teammates Wilcox and McNamara. He tells Spencer that he has orchestrated a war between the FSA and Sabio's army. In exchange for Sabio's help retrieving and installing the bionic parts Brubaker gave Sabio the coordinates and performance data for all of the FSA missile batteries, giving Sabio the upper hand in the coming war. After a confrontation, the GORILLA robot appears. Brubaker orders it to kill Spencer; however, the robot now sees Brubaker as an "extreme bionic" and confronts him instead, thus allowing Spencer to escape.
Spencer makes his way to Sabio's headquarters in order to disarm the missiles. He tries to convince Sabio of Brubaker's treachery, but is unsuccessful. Defeating Sabio, he boards one of the missiles as it takes off. Spencer disarms several missiles while en route to their target but is unable to disarm the last missile in time. Upon waking from final missile's impact, he is astonished to find that he is alive and that the missile did not explode. He encounters McNamara, who struggles to tell him that he was the one who disabled the final missile. Spencer notices McNamara has equipped the bionic arm of his fallen teammate Hauser in place of his lost arm. As each bionic is synchronized for only one user, the merge drives McNamara insane. Spencer reluctantly battles and defeats the crazed McNamara.
In the game's epilogue the player learns that initially the public was grateful for the bionics' service, but soon began to be fearful and distrust the bionics as more details of the conflict were revealed. The bionic program was ordered to be disbanded and all implants removed or disabled. The player also learns that Super Joe placed the weight of the conflict on Spencer, something that would later drive him to his villainous ways in the future.
's Captivate 2010 event on April 20, 2010. It was developed using the Diesel engine
, which was used on both Rearmed and 2009's Bionic Commando. The protagonist, Nathan Spencer, received a visual redesign for the sequel to tie in the years between Rearmed and the 2009 3D game. Spencer is equipped with an updated arm, has changed his hair style, and has grown a mustache.
The title originally started development under GRIN
, who had developed the previous title. When the company folded four months into development, Fatshark took over, having worked with GRIN previously on other games. Some key employees worked with Fatshark following the closing of GRIN. Simon Vilkund, Creative Director on the first Rearmed was hired as a Creative Advisor to the Fatshark team. Of his position with Fatshark, Vilkund remarked "They were taking over things mid-project and I worked as a creative advisor during the hand-over to tell them what they were looking at." Vilkund further stated that the original design for the game involved events beyond the existing plot. "I wanted to start off there and end up in a city in the FSA where everyone can see a bionic fighting. [I thought it would be] a nice way to convey that now everyone will see that bionics can't always be controlled." He noted that this would be an event in which the public would notice the dangers of bionics and seek to outlaw them.
Cooperative gameplay is again included in the game, though limited to local multiplayer. Producer Ray Jimenez stated that the reason for this was that the developers "wanted to concentrate on the actual game itself rather than adding new features to it." The splitscreen gameplay was removed from cooperative gameplay. According to Fatshark's Robert Bäckström the developers found that "gameplay became more fun if you played it on the same screen." Bäckström further stated that coop will feature modified gameplay, requiring players to work together to defeat level bosses. Developers added the ability to jump in the game, along with several other abilities from the 2009 3D game Bionic Commando. The developers provided the ability to complete the entire game without ever jumping, which also results in an achievement or trophy. In an interview with Gamereactor
, Robert Bäckström stated that although he did not know a definite release date, the developers had completed the game as of December 2010. It was later released February 1, 2011 for the PlayStation 3
via the PlayStation Network and February 2, 2011 on the Xbox 360
via Xbox Live Arcade
.
Simon Viklund returns as the game's composer for the sequel. The arrangements were created in Buzz, a freeware virtual studio program. Vilkund cited games on the Nintendo Entertainment System
as influences for Rearmed 2s music, including the Mega Man series
, DuckTales
, and Gun.Smoke
. When asked about the possibility of a commercial release to the game's soundtrack, Vilkund states "I do encourage those who ask me if there will be a BCR2 soundtrack to contact Capcom. Really, it's up to them." A contest was held from July 16, 2010 to August 11, 2010 allowing fans to remix
an 8-bit
Bionic Commando track for inclusion in the game. On September 14, 2010 two winners were chosen. Their remixes were included in the music for Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Regarding the winners' arrangements, Vilkund stated "What I had to say about the winning submissions was that I think it's a cliché at this point to bring in the electric guitars on interpretations of old NES songs, and yet it’s always nice to hear that (or any) cliché actually done well. Those two guys both did it really well."
to an 85% approval rating from Jobert Atienza of 1UP.com
GameRankings reports an aggregate score of 63.19% for the PlayStation 3 version and 64.02% for the Xbox 360 version. Metacritic
reports similar scores, with 63/100 for the PlayStation 3 and 62/100 for the Xbox 360.
IGN
's Daemon Hatfield gave the game a mediocre score and stated it doesn't feel as special as the original Rearmed. He noted that the ability to jump just makes the game "just another platformer." He also warned potential buyers of Rearmed 2 for the PlayStation 3, referencing the requirement that players must sign in to the PlayStation Network before starting the game, a form of digital rights management
. The reviewer from GameTrailers
gave the game a more favorable review. He cited some improvements to the swinging mechanics, yet pointed out some fans may not appreciate the jump mechanic.
Brett Elston of GamesRadar
felt that the game seemed to be "a scaled-back version" of the original Rearmed. He felt the levels were "watered down" levels and cited poor framerate issues. Reviewer Jobert Atienza of 1UP.com
stated that "In many respects, it's exactly what I would expect from a follow-up: more of the same with minor enhancements. At the same time, it is just more of the same with some enhancements, but Fatshark seemed to be aiming to make the best damn sequel they could...just without rocking the boat too much." GameSpot's Tom Mc Shea gave the game a poor review, criticizing unresponsive controls and cheap deaths. Bryan Vore of Game Informer
praised the game's varied environments and the new jump mechanics, but noted that some of the boss battles did not make creative use of the bionic arm's abilities like the original Rearmed.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
video game Bionic Commando Rearmed
Bionic Commando Rearmed
Bionic Commando Rearmed is an enhanced remake of the 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System version of Bionic Commando. It was developed by GRIN and published by Capcom for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade and was released on August 13, 2008...
. It was developed by Fatshark
Fatshark
Fatshark is an independent video game development studio based in Stockholm, Sweden.. The company's current name is a direct translation from Swedish meaning "to understand" or "to get it".-History:...
and published by Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
. It was released February 1, 2011 for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via the PlayStation Network and February 2, 2011 on the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
. It features enhancements to protagonist Nathan Spencer's bionic arm, which he primarily uses to grapple to and swing from objects. New bionic enhancements include abilities such as hacking
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
data terminals, a powerful uppercut, and firing grenades.
The game's plot revolves around a dictator named General Sabio and a missing commander from Spencer's organization, Colonel Brubaker. Spencer and a team of four other bionics are sent to locate Brubaker and his platoon and help them complete their mission of disarming Sabio's missiles. The team's original mission evolves as the bionics, split into three teams, face opposition greater than they have previously faced. Reception from critics was lukewarm, with the game averaging in the 60% range at aggregate websites GameRankings and Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. Some critics praised the new gameplay mechanics, while others felt that it was a step down from its predecessor.
Gameplay
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 features many of the action gameplay elements from the original Rearmed. The game is played from a 2.5D2.5D
2.5D , 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:* 2D graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to fake or appear to be three-dimensional when in fact they are not, or* gameplay in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is...
perspective, with players being able to move horizontally and vertically. The protagonist is equipped with a bionic arm that can be used to grapple onto scenery, allowing the player to ascend or to swing to otherwise unreachable areas. The arm can also be used as a defensive mechanism, allowing the player to grab barrels and enemies and use them as shields, and to repel larger enemies. Rearmed 2 changes traditional mechanics slightly, requiring users to press a button to release the arm from its hold point, allowing players to user their momentum to swing in any desired arc.
Challenge rooms return in Rearmed 2, but have been altered to require the use of specific abilities in certain challenges. Rearmed 2 features 24 challenge rooms, which are unlocked in a progressive order rather than a group at a time as seen in Bionic Commando Rearmed. Veteran players who've become accustomed to the glitchy swing mechanics of prior entries will be relieved, or frustrated, to know they'll need new strategies for completing some of the challenge rooms, most notably making use of the spike pits in order to progress. Local cooperative gameplay also returns, with the second player controlling a version of Spencer that resembles the one on the cover of the NES version of Bionic Commando.
Rearmed 2 also features new gameplay mechanics. Some of these were first introduced in the 3D shooter Bionic Commando. These include the ability to jump and maneuver known as Death From Above in which the player slams into the ground upon landing from a fall, causing a shockwave to affect nearby enemies. Once the game is completed players may opt to activate the game's Retro mode which disables the ability to jump. Players can also climb over small obstacles, or onto slightly higher elevations. Entirely new to the series are Components; items and attributes that can be equipped to enhance the player character. Components include a grenade launcher attachment for the bionic arm and a passive heath regeneration ability. The player can upgrade or change Spencer's abilities in the enhancements screen during gameplay. Also new to the series will be the ability to enter a scanning mode known as Bio Vision. While in this mode players can search for secrets and scan facts about enemies and locales which may help them progress through the game.
Absent from Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 are top-down levels, which in its predecessor symbolized an enemy attack while en route to a location. When the game's producer Rey Jimenez was asked why they are being excluded, Jimenez responded “People liked them because they were in the original, but I don’t remember hearing anyone say that was their favorite part of the game. It doesn’t have the swinging, you know?” Jimenez also revealed that with Rearmed 2 level progression will be linear instead of allowing the player to pick and choose their path. Players will, however, be able to return to previous levels using newly acquired abilities and weaponry to access areas they were previously unable to.
Synopsis
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 takes place a few years after Bionic Commando Rearmed and prior to 2009's Bionic Commando. In the game, a dictator named General Sabio from the Papagayan Islands threatens to attack the FSA, protagonist Nathan Spencer's organization. The FSA sends Colonel Brubaker to confront the dictator, but Brubaker disappears shortly after arriving. In response, a team of five bionics, including Spencer, are sent to combat the threat and locate Brubaker. The group arrives on the islands via helicopter and divides into three teams, Spencer, being the commander, operates alone while the other teams operate in pairs.En route to Brubaker's last known location Spencer receives a communication from Mag, one of the team leaders, informing him that "something huge" had attacked them, taken her partner McNamara's bionic arm, and forced them to separate. Spencer instructs the team to regroup at Brubaker's last coordinates. Upon arriving Spencer finds the area in shambles with Brubaker's forces dead. Spencer soon discovers that a large mechanized robot designated GORILLA is responsible for the carnage. After disabling the robot, Spencer contacts FSA headquarters to inform them of the situation and the possible demise of Brubaker. Spencer's commanding officer, Joe Gibson (Super Joe) tells him that Brubaker is indeed alive, as his tracking device is still active. He informs Spencer that he may have been taken captive as his signal appears to be moving quickly across the island. Spencer is again tasked with rescuing Brubaker at all costs and completing his mission.
Shortly afterward Spencer finds one of his operatives, Wilcox, dying outside a factory. Wilcox tells him "something huge" took his bionic legs, killed Hauser, and left him for dead. As Spencer begins to signal for help Wilcox dies. Deep in the factory Spencer confronts GORILLA, disabling it again. He is then contacted by McNamara, one of his remaining team, who struggles to tell Spencer that he must find and disable missiles armed by General Sabio. Upon finding Brubaker's signal, Spencer is knocked unconscious by poison gas while contacting Super Joe. He is placed in a high security prison by Sabio's men, which he promptly escapes. Outside he learns from Mag that Brubaker had actually lost his legs and an arm in the FSA's service. Following a hunch he heads to a nearby facility. Inside he finds Brubaker, equipped with the bionic legs and arm from Spencer's teammates Wilcox and McNamara. He tells Spencer that he has orchestrated a war between the FSA and Sabio's army. In exchange for Sabio's help retrieving and installing the bionic parts Brubaker gave Sabio the coordinates and performance data for all of the FSA missile batteries, giving Sabio the upper hand in the coming war. After a confrontation, the GORILLA robot appears. Brubaker orders it to kill Spencer; however, the robot now sees Brubaker as an "extreme bionic" and confronts him instead, thus allowing Spencer to escape.
Spencer makes his way to Sabio's headquarters in order to disarm the missiles. He tries to convince Sabio of Brubaker's treachery, but is unsuccessful. Defeating Sabio, he boards one of the missiles as it takes off. Spencer disarms several missiles while en route to their target but is unable to disarm the last missile in time. Upon waking from final missile's impact, he is astonished to find that he is alive and that the missile did not explode. He encounters McNamara, who struggles to tell him that he was the one who disabled the final missile. Spencer notices McNamara has equipped the bionic arm of his fallen teammate Hauser in place of his lost arm. As each bionic is synchronized for only one user, the merge drives McNamara insane. Spencer reluctantly battles and defeats the crazed McNamara.
In the game's epilogue the player learns that initially the public was grateful for the bionics' service, but soon began to be fearful and distrust the bionics as more details of the conflict were revealed. The bionic program was ordered to be disbanded and all implants removed or disabled. The player also learns that Super Joe placed the weight of the conflict on Spencer, something that would later drive him to his villainous ways in the future.
Development
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 was revealed at CapcomCapcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
's Captivate 2010 event on April 20, 2010. It was developed using the Diesel engine
Diesel (game engine)
The Diesel engine is a game engine developed and used by GRIN. The engine was originally developed for their game Ballistics and has been used, albeit with modifications, in a number of other games since then...
, which was used on both Rearmed and 2009's Bionic Commando. The protagonist, Nathan Spencer, received a visual redesign for the sequel to tie in the years between Rearmed and the 2009 3D game. Spencer is equipped with an updated arm, has changed his hair style, and has grown a mustache.
The title originally started development under GRIN
GRIN (company)
GRIN was a video game developer based in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded by Bo and Ulf Andersson in 1997, GRIN has worked on numerous titles for the PC, consoles and arcade.-History:...
, who had developed the previous title. When the company folded four months into development, Fatshark took over, having worked with GRIN previously on other games. Some key employees worked with Fatshark following the closing of GRIN. Simon Vilkund, Creative Director on the first Rearmed was hired as a Creative Advisor to the Fatshark team. Of his position with Fatshark, Vilkund remarked "They were taking over things mid-project and I worked as a creative advisor during the hand-over to tell them what they were looking at." Vilkund further stated that the original design for the game involved events beyond the existing plot. "I wanted to start off there and end up in a city in the FSA where everyone can see a bionic fighting. [I thought it would be] a nice way to convey that now everyone will see that bionics can't always be controlled." He noted that this would be an event in which the public would notice the dangers of bionics and seek to outlaw them.
Cooperative gameplay is again included in the game, though limited to local multiplayer. Producer Ray Jimenez stated that the reason for this was that the developers "wanted to concentrate on the actual game itself rather than adding new features to it." The splitscreen gameplay was removed from cooperative gameplay. According to Fatshark's Robert Bäckström the developers found that "gameplay became more fun if you played it on the same screen." Bäckström further stated that coop will feature modified gameplay, requiring players to work together to defeat level bosses. Developers added the ability to jump in the game, along with several other abilities from the 2009 3D game Bionic Commando. The developers provided the ability to complete the entire game without ever jumping, which also results in an achievement or trophy. In an interview with Gamereactor
Gamereactor
Gamereactor is one of Northern Europe's biggest game magazine and Gaming sites that covers video- and computer games as well as mobile phone-games and indie-titles. It started in Denmark in 1998 by Morten Reichel and Claus Reichel - first years under the name Gamez.dk. The Magazine and Online...
, Robert Bäckström stated that although he did not know a definite release date, the developers had completed the game as of December 2010. It was later released February 1, 2011 for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via the PlayStation Network and February 2, 2011 on the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
via Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
.
Simon Viklund returns as the game's composer for the sequel. The arrangements were created in Buzz, a freeware virtual studio program. Vilkund cited games on the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
as influences for Rearmed 2s music, including the Mega Man series
Mega Man (series)
Mega Man is a video game franchise from Capcom, starring the eponymous character Mega Man, or one of his many counterparts. The series is well-known and comprises well over fifty releases, easily making it Capcom's most prolific franchise. As of December 31, 2010, the series has sold approximately...
, DuckTales
DuckTales (video game)
DuckTales is a video game based on the Disney animated TV series of the same name. It was first released in the United States for the Nintendo Entertainment System by Capcom in 1989. In this game, Scrooge McDuck travels around the world collecting treasures to become the world's richest duck. The...
, and Gun.Smoke
Gun.Smoke
Gun.Smoke is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game created by Capcom in 1985 . The game, which has a Western theme, centers around a character named Billy Bob, a bounty hunter who is after vicious criminals of the Wild West.Despite its name and theme, it has no connection to the western TV...
. When asked about the possibility of a commercial release to the game's soundtrack, Vilkund states "I do encourage those who ask me if there will be a BCR2 soundtrack to contact Capcom. Really, it's up to them." A contest was held from July 16, 2010 to August 11, 2010 allowing fans to remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
an 8-bit
Chiptune
A chiptune, also known as chip music, is synthesized electronic music often produced with the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles, as well as with other methods such as emulation. In the early 1980s, personal computers became cheaper and more accessible than they had previously...
Bionic Commando track for inclusion in the game. On September 14, 2010 two winners were chosen. Their remixes were included in the music for Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Regarding the winners' arrangements, Vilkund stated "What I had to say about the winning submissions was that I think it's a cliché at this point to bring in the electric guitars on interpretations of old NES songs, and yet it’s always nice to hear that (or any) cliché actually done well. Those two guys both did it really well."
Reception
Reviews for Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 have been mixed, ranging from average to slightly positive, with most reviews citing it as inferior to its predecessor. Scores range from a 50% approval rating from Tom Mc Shea of GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
to an 85% approval rating from Jobert Atienza of 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
GameRankings reports an aggregate score of 63.19% for the PlayStation 3 version and 64.02% for the Xbox 360 version. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reports similar scores, with 63/100 for the PlayStation 3 and 62/100 for the Xbox 360.
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Daemon Hatfield gave the game a mediocre score and stated it doesn't feel as special as the original Rearmed. He noted that the ability to jump just makes the game "just another platformer." He also warned potential buyers of Rearmed 2 for the PlayStation 3, referencing the requirement that players must sign in to the PlayStation Network before starting the game, a form of digital rights management
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
. The reviewer from GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
gave the game a more favorable review. He cited some improvements to the swinging mechanics, yet pointed out some fans may not appreciate the jump mechanic.
Brett Elston of GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
felt that the game seemed to be "a scaled-back version" of the original Rearmed. He felt the levels were "watered down" levels and cited poor framerate issues. Reviewer Jobert Atienza of 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
stated that "In many respects, it's exactly what I would expect from a follow-up: more of the same with minor enhancements. At the same time, it is just more of the same with some enhancements, but Fatshark seemed to be aiming to make the best damn sequel they could...just without rocking the boat too much." GameSpot's Tom Mc Shea gave the game a poor review, criticizing unresponsive controls and cheap deaths. Bryan Vore of Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
praised the game's varied environments and the new jump mechanics, but noted that some of the boss battles did not make creative use of the bionic arm's abilities like the original Rearmed.