Joystiq [Xbox]

GameTrailers has posted a three part developer walkthrough of Bionic Commando, giving would be commandos a better idea of what to expect from the game. Perhaps the largest revelation is that Bionic Commando will feature skill based swing mechanics. In other words, you can't simply hold down the swing button and expect your mighty commando to do the aiming for you. Nope, a special reticle for the bionic arm has to be aimed at whatever handily protruding piece of scenery you wish to grapple. The devs feel that the manual aimingsystem is ultimately more satisfying, though they admit that there is some leeway in how accurate players have to be.

Looking decidedly less satisfying at this point is the combat. The demonstrators showed off one weapon (a pretty boring pistol) and some of the ways players can use the claw in combat. Sure, launching your foe in the air and filling him with bullets is great, but its tactical value is a bit suspect, especially considering your completely open to attacks from other enemies as you do so. That said, it's an early build and Capcom promises more weapons and more varied environments to keep things interesting. Let's hope so. Check out the remaining two videos after the break.