Bionic Commando: Rearmed, PSN Features: Revealed

What’s crackin’ PlayStation players? This is John D from Capcom and I’ve got some info to share. Bionic Commando Rearmed is just around the corner and Ben Judd, our resident producer/rock star, wants to reach out to all you Sony fans by giving you weekly updates on this highly anticipated title. Expect exclusive news, videos and artwork from now thru launch. Ben has some really exciting details regarding the PSN version of Bionic Commando Rearmed, so hopefully you all will recognize that Capcom is giving love to all the Sony gamers out there.

Here’s Ben’s first transmission:

Welcome to the first installment of our weekly Bionic Commando: Rearmed column. The folks here at the PlayStation.Blog have been kind enough to give us some space to strut our Bionic stuff. Don’t worry, I promise there will not be an excess of swinger jokes.

To kick off this edition, we’d like to mention some of the “PSN specific” content that you can expect for Rearmed. There will be Dualshock 3 support, because we all know that games that vibrate are better and besides… there really is no reason not to implement a feature that has become the industry standard. Also, Rearmed is one of the only PSN games to feature Remote Play support. This one wasn’t as easy to add and, matter of fact, there is one point where we had to “creatively” reprogram the controls to give players the illusion of using 2 sticks (you’ll know when you see it). The classic 2D side-scrolling graphics really fit with the PSP and just make the PSN version all the more cooler.

Of course there is one more VERY cool surprise for those of you who purchase the PSN version… but that is another story for another time.

So if Rearmed looks like it might be up your alley, come visit the “Top Secret” crew over at www.bioniccommando.com, where you can read the weekly serial comic, listen to one of the most ill-advised Japanese-publisher podcasts – Top Secret: The Bionic Commando Podcast, and, of course, listen to music from popular video game rockers, the BCR soundtrack, and the original 8-bit Bionic Commando music, all on the Bionic Commando Music Player.

In the meantime, check this space again in about a week for update number 2!

Ben

Haley

Haley is the FSA’s finest helicopter pilot, who transports Nathan “Rad” Spencer through dangerous Imperial territory. From a safe altitude, Spencer is then parachuted into enemy encampments.

Due to her unique piloting style and willingness to put both her chopper and her body on the line, Haley has been labeled as “reckless” and is considered a liability by some in the FSA Armed Forces. However, her many medals and commendations for exceptional behavior in combat situations speak for themselves. She holds the record for the quickest drop-offs and pick-ups in enemy territory in the history of the FSA and, despite her feminine looks, she is fond of claiming to have “more stones than any other pilot in the force”.　

Something of a weapons nut, Haley is also a useful source of advice on the latest hardware and other items Spencer encounters in the field.

Medals

The FSA awards Medals to only the bravest soldiers for outstanding service above and beyond the call of duty. There are 12 medals to collect in total, with something to suit every type of soldier, from brawlers to thinkers.

Anyone can pick up a spare Vector Cannon and blast their way through an Imperial army. After all, you have a Bionic Arm – who’s likely to stop you?! But for the swinger who has skills as well as a soul, the Pacifist Pride medal will be awarded. The conditions for obtaining it are deceptively simple – simply clear any Area without firing your gun. Can you survive on swinging skill and some quick grenade tossing alone?

Weapons: Hagle Breaker

The 13-gauge “Hagle Breaker” Assault Shotgun is a short-range firearm with staggering power, but it is completely ineffective in long-range combat. Most useful against standard Imperial human enemies, the shotgun pellets are ineffective against the machines and shields used by the Imperial army. The Hagle Breaker’s most useful feature is the ability to use its immense recoil to kick-start a swing when your momentum is lost.
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John D. again. Cool update, huh? Anyway, Ben wanted to give you all this opportunity to ask him any questions you have about the game. Post your questions in the comments section below and he’ll answer most of them with his next update. Also, this is a big month for you PSN gamers as 1942: Joint Strike, the next installation of the classic 194X shooter series, finally arrives on the PLAYSTATION Network on July 31, 2008 July 24, 2008. Spread the word! See you soon!