Play Bionic Commando on nes Online

Bionic Commando came out on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, a Capcom title from a time when developers were really pushing what the hardware could do. It stood out from other platformers of the era by removing a fundamental action, which immediately made you approach every situation differently.

You control a commando named Rad Spencer, whose main tool is a bionic grappling arm instead of a jump button. Your goal is to infiltrate enemy territory, rescue a captured agent, and stop a superweapon project called Albatross. The core gameplay revolves around swinging across gaps, latching onto ceilings and platforms, and using the arm to pull enemies closer for a point-blank shot. You explore the world screen by screen, often needing to backtrack with new gear like grenades or rocket launchers to access previously blocked areas. The game is notoriously difficult, with precise timing required for swings and enemy fire coming from all directions. It feels incredibly tense and deliberate, where a single mistimed grapple means a long fall and starting the section over.