Bionic Commando has been a game waiting to be remade for the last 20 years with it's debut on NES. Capcom made a good decision by placing it in the hands of Swedish studio, Grin.
There is a great tutorial that will get you into the swing of things, excuse the pun, but it really helps novice players understand the play style. This is NOT Spiderman.
Swinging is fun and requires timing to get the most distance out of it. But the arm does so much more. Kiting enemies and objects, zip line kicks and whip spins (when you unlock Adrenaline).
The user interface is really well animated and helpful too. During load screens you can press buttons on the controller and it will tell you what the button does and tips for usage, in case you've forgotten since your last play.
Graphically, it's of the high quality expected from Capcom licensed games. You'll definitely appreciate the different locales you visit and get to swing around.
The musical score is both nostalgic and uplifting. With different renditions of the Bionic Commando score starting from the main menu and throughout certain parts in the story. They help to both relax you in certain environments and push the importance of your current mission at times. You definitely feel like a Bionic Anti-Hero!
Gameplay is solid and unrelenting. By this, I mean, it's no cake-walk. Sometimes you will die… a lot. This isn't always death from the challenging enemies but also from making a risky swing manoeuvre here and there. But this is why it's so challenging and rewarding. You're always constantly thinking of different ways to tackle the environment, reach that collectible just out of your reach or how you're going to take down your enemy (or enemies) in the most efficient, effortless or flashy way.
Bionic Commando's difficulty reminds me of old-school games, which is a good thing. It doesn't babysit you, it demands your respect, time and tenacity to overcome your obstacles and ultimately triumph. Which is a satisfaction that you'll remember once you've made it through.
Besides, drop a DFA (Death From Above) into a crowd of soldiers from the top of a skyscraper and tell me you don't feel good about yourself!
There are multi-player modes with Capture the Flag being my favourite. As swinging changes the dynamic and pace of the match. Well, worth a try.
Also, you can purchase Bionic Commando: Re-Armed on XBL Marketplace, which is an HD remake of the original. Not only is it nostalgic, but if you unlock a certain room and experimental weapon in the game, it will transfer over to Bionic Commando for you to find and use in-game!
So, if you're a fan, old-school gamer or someone looking for a challenging experience to test your mettle, then you owe yourself to give this one a go!