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Rearmed was an unabashed exercise in nostalgia, and while both the graphics and the original soundtrack were given a contemporary makeover, the overall package was very familiar to anyone who blasted through the source material in the days of Glasnost and chunky grey game carts. The first Rearmed was a remake of the demanding 1988 NES game, Bionic Commando, which in turn was loosely based upon a Capcom arcade title of the same name. Conversely, if you generally prefer modern game design – and the easy-access, hand-holding philosophy that tends to go with it – you may struggle to see the appeal. If you’re the kind of person who misses the good ol’ days of 2D side-scrolling, precision platforming, and levels so large that you can get lost in them, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here.
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Your reaction to Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 will largely depend on your sensibilities as a gamer.
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