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Post by Feynman on Feb 7, 2015 16:07:55 GMT -5
I finished the game last night! Very good stuff all around, though the final 1/4 of the game or so started to get a bit frustrating at times. Near the end, you get a lot of segments where you have to swing over large spike pits or instant death holes, where your next bionic arm target is off screen. By the time the target finally does appear you get maybe a tenth of a second to react, which often leads to some annoying trial and error. This isn't entirely the game's fault, as the level design would be fine if the Game Boy's low resolution didn't limit the amount of screen space available (all of these irritating segments would be trivial to complete on the NES). Nevertheless, they should have taken the Game Boy's limitations into account more when designing those parts in the first place.
Another weird thing is the decoder system. In the NES Bionic Commando, you gained new decoders that would allow you to use the communicators in different enemy areas. If you brought the wrong decoder to an area, you couldn't communicate with HQ or spy on the enemy. In the GBC game, you can change communicators at will in the communication room. Not only that, the game won't even let you try to go to areas that you don't have the equipment for yet. If there's no penalty for using the wrong decoder because you can just switch through them all right in the communication room until you find the one that works, and you can't go to areas you lack the decoder for at all, what's the point of making the player choose one in the first place? It doesn't make the game less enoyable or anything, I just wonder why bother to have the decoder system in the first place if it doesn't have any meaning.
Also, how many sniping segments are actually in the game? I only encountered two, and it feels like there should be more than that.
I don't know what else to say. Bionic Commando: Elite Force is more Bionic Commando, and it's good Bionic Commando, but there's not much more to it than that. The differences between the two versions are such that I think the NES game is a bit better, but the GBC game is great.
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Post by Snarboo on Feb 7, 2015 16:16:59 GMT -5
How does Elite Forces compare with the original GB Bionic Commando? Sotenga told me that the first mission's song in EF is a remix of one found in the GB BC.
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Post by zerker on Feb 7, 2015 17:14:15 GMT -5
I ordered a cheapo copy on eBay (more or less the same price as VC). Just waiting for it to arrive.
I used to have a copy, but that one always froze at one part for some reason, so I got rid of it. Never really replaced it until now.
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Post by Feynman on Feb 14, 2015 7:14:52 GMT -5
How does Elite Forces compare with the original GB Bionic Commando? GB Bionic Commando is much better. Elite Forces very much has a B-tier, almost fangame sort of feel to it all the way through. The core mechanics work very well, but the visuals, the music, and the level design all fall a bit short. It's a good game, but not an amazing game. GB Bionic Commando, though? Absolutly top shelf. First and most importantly, the game was designed well within the confines of the GB's screen. Everything is in better proportion to the smaller Game Boy screen, so you don't get that annoying, too-zoomed-in feeling that often happens in Elite Force, and you always have enough time to react during long bionic arm segments. The levels are really great in general and more smartly designed than the GBC game. The music is amazing. The art is damn good too, and shows off just how much detail a good artist can fit into a small space. Everything is clean, easy to see, and extremely detailed... a far cry from Elite Force, where often sprites and images and backgrounds are little more than vague colored blobs. The weird thing about the Game Boy game, of course, is that the game drops any attempt at a more grounded military theme and goes full on anime, from the character designs to the story. Still, everything works and fits together well. Elite Forces is a rough gem, but GB Bionic Commando is so good one could make a strong case for it being even better than the NES version. |
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Post by Joseph Joestar on Feb 15, 2015 16:50:34 GMT -5
How does Elite Forces compare with the original GB Bionic Commando? GB Bionic Commando is much better. Elite Forces very much has a B-tier, almost fangame sort of feel to it all the way through. The core mechanics work very well, but the visuals, the music, and the level design all fall a bit short. It's a good game, but not an amazing game. GB Bionic Commando, though? Absolutly top shelf. First and most importantly, the game was designed well within the confines of the GB's screen. Everything is in better proportion to the smaller Game Boy screen, so you don't get that annoying, too-zoomed-in feeling that often happens in Elite Force, and you always have enough time to react during long bionic arm segments. The levels are really great in general and more smartly designed than the GBC game. The music is amazing. The art is damn good too, and shows off just how much detail a good artist can fit into a small space. Everything is clean, easy to see, and extremely detailed... a far cry from Elite Force, where often sprites and images and backgrounds are little more than vague colored blobs. The weird thing about the Game Boy game, of course, is that the game drops any attempt at a more grounded military theme and goes full on anime, from the character designs to the story. Still, everything works and fits together well. Elite Forces is a rough gem, but GB Bionic Commando is so good one could make a strong case for it being even better than the NES version. I have to agree with everything Feynman's said. I ended up picking up the GB version on eshop as well since I never played it, and it's definitely superior despite being older. The main thing I prefer about Elite Forces is that you can drop down through platforms; would've been nice if they'd have had that feature in Rearmed, personally. |
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Post by lanceboyle94 on Feb 17, 2015 0:39:00 GMT -5
GB Bionic Commando is much better. Elite Forces very much has a B-tier, almost fangame sort of feel to it all the way through. The core mechanics work very well, but the visuals, the music, and the level design all fall a bit short. It's a good game, but not an amazing game. GB Bionic Commando, though? Absolutly top shelf. First and most importantly, the game was designed well within the confines of the GB's screen. Everything is in better proportion to the smaller Game Boy screen, so you don't get that annoying, too-zoomed-in feeling that often happens in Elite Force, and you always have enough time to react during long bionic arm segments. The levels are really great in general and more smartly designed than the GBC game. The music is amazing. The art is damn good too, and shows off just how much detail a good artist can fit into a small space. Everything is clean, easy to see, and extremely detailed... a far cry from Elite Force, where often sprites and images and backgrounds are little more than vague colored blobs. The weird thing about the Game Boy game, of course, is that the game drops any attempt at a more grounded military theme and goes full on anime, from the character designs to the story. Still, everything works and fits together well. Elite Forces is a rough gem, but GB Bionic Commando is so good one could make a strong case for it being even better than the NES version. I have to agree with everything Feynman's said. I ended up picking up the GB version on eshop as well since I never played it, and it's definitely superior despite being older. The main thing I prefer about Elite Forces is that you can drop down through platforms; would've been nice if they'd have had that feature in Rearmed, personally. I too was thinking the latter when playing Rearmed earlier today. I started Elite Forces some days ago, left it halfway through area 5, I think. I agree, while it isn't a terrible game, it does seem to lack a bit of polish in places. Like Feynman said, the art looks bleh, looks like a cheap licensed title than something by an actual studio. The missiles and resulting fire of its impact look hilariously crap, and some of the level tiles don't look good. I've had fun with it thus far, though. |
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Post by Joseph Joestar on Feb 17, 2015 7:05:53 GMT -5
I have to agree with everything Feynman's said. I ended up picking up the GB version on eshop as well since I never played it, and it's definitely superior despite being older. The main thing I prefer about Elite Forces is that you can drop down through platforms; would've been nice if they'd have had that feature in Rearmed, personally. I too was thinking the latter when playing Rearmed earlier today. I started Elite Forces some days ago, left it halfway through area 5, I think. I agree, while it isn't a terrible game, it does seem to lack a bit of polish in places. Like Feynman said, the art looks bleh, looks like a cheap licensed title than something by an actual studio. The missiles and resulting fire of its impact look hilariously crap, and some of the level tiles don't look good. I've had fun with it thus far, though. Sounds like we're in agreement  . The proportions on the characters is kind of disturbing, it's like a Peter Chung cartoon but with different body types. |
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Post by Snarboo on Feb 18, 2015 3:31:58 GMT -5
For those playing along, here's a quick tip: you can grind up lives on the supply trucks that move along the western half of the map! There's always a jeep at the end of the overhead missions that drops a life when you destroy it.
Also worth noting that the male and female commandos have access to different missions! I'm not sure how many of them vary, but area 6 is different depending on who you are.
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Post by Bobinator on Feb 18, 2015 3:51:06 GMT -5
Y'know what the character design and general art style of this game reminds me of more than anything? Stuff like this:   And any other CGI cartoon from the 2000's. I dunno, that's what I'm reminded of, more than anything. Also, I played a bit of the Game Boy BC game, just for comparison. I liked it, but it's a little hard to get used to, if you've played a lot of Elite Forces. For one thing, you can't drop through platforms, and the hitboxes seem somewhat bigger than your character sprite, something I never felt like was an issue in EF. I'd say that the GB game definitely has the better soundtrack, but I'd say EF is a little more fun due to all the little enhancements it made, like saving. Saving is really nice. |
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Post by lanceboyle94 on Feb 18, 2015 15:30:25 GMT -5
Also, I played a bit of the Game Boy BC game, just for comparison. I liked it, but it's a little hard to get used to, if you've played a lot of Elite Forces. For one thing, you can't drop through platforms, and the hitboxes seem somewhat bigger than your character sprite, something I never felt like was an issue in EF. I'd say that the GB game definitely has the better soundtrack, but I'd say EF is a little more fun due to all the little enhancements it made, like saving. Saving is really nice. Elite Forces also feels a bit smoother/faster in comparison. To me, at least. |
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Post by Snarboo on Feb 20, 2015 5:36:06 GMT -5
Does anyone know what to do in Area 10 as the female agent? I can't get past a platforming sequence after entering the communications room because there's doesn't seem to be an obvious grapple point. I tried clearing out Area 11 instead, but the boss just murders me.
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Post by Feynman on Feb 20, 2015 6:56:13 GMT -5
After you leave the communications room, you go up a bit and go to the left across a power wire using the lights attached to it. At the end of that sequence, stop going left because that's a dead end. when standing on the top platform you should just barely be able to see some dark bricks at the top of the screen. They kind of blend in to the background, so it's easy to miss. Launch your bionic arm straight up to grab them, and from there you should be able to swing to the left and find the way up.
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Post by Snarboo on Feb 23, 2015 1:05:55 GMT -5
Thanks, managed to get through area 10 with that hint. :) Also a couple tips and hints: - There's a hidden communications room in area 11! It requires the yellow decoder, which you won't get until you clear area 12. Haven't backtracked yet to see what the deal with it is, but it's in a spot that requires some tricky swinging to reach.
- Area 11's boss was super easy once I discovered you can still hit him when he's off screen. His missiles can still hit you, but they're easier to dodge than his machine gun.
Edit:The secret communications room in area 11 unlocks area 17, and also gives you a cookie recipe. |
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Post by Feynman on Feb 23, 2015 8:04:43 GMT -5
There's another secret area you can unlock in area 4, which requires the green decoder. Once you reach the giant waterfall at the end of the stage, stay on the very bottom level and keep going right until the only way to advance further is to swing across a large pit using the rock ceiling above you. You'll find the communication room hidden there.
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Post by Snarboo on Mar 2, 2015 3:09:14 GMT -5
So as a closing question for February's theme, if you had to revive a beloved Japanese franchise for an expat sequel, which game would it be?
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. The proportions on the characters is kind of disturbing, it's like a Peter Chung cartoon but with different body types. 