Video Game Series Reboots That Failed
Bionic Commando
Not every old video game franchise was meant to endure the test of time, let alone be fleshed out with modern gameplay conventions and attempts at storytelling. Capcom’s Bionic Commando is a shining example of this.
In addition to transitioning the 2D platformer series toward their person action, the 2009 reboot also tried to lend more depth and lore to the series’ universe by giving the game’s protagonist a back story and a new threat to defeat.
While this all may sound fine on paper, it didn’t exactly translate well. The once creative gameplay became generic and indistinguishable among the deluge of other third person action titles on the market.
Likewise, the game’s new story elements whiffed hard, with ideas like the protagonist’s bionic arm containing the soul of his dead wife coming off as ridiculous at best and downright stupid at worst.
Because of this, the game failed to find an audience upon release. Older fans of the series didn’t want it, while potential new fans passed over it for the more fleshed out and coherent games available at the time.
It wasn’t long before Capcom moved on from the series altogether, leaving this title as a maligned take on an otherwise well-regarded series.
