Heres the rub: as Bionic Commando was rocking arcades in 1987 and became a fan favourite on the creaky NES a year later, the people most likely to get a rise from this slick update are probably losing their hair, working in middle management, or juggling the pressures of raising a family with their passion for videogames. But while the quick thrills offered by Nintendos Wii are the perfect complement to a hectic lifestyle, its unlikely hoarier gamers will have the patience to get to grips with Bionic Commandos challenging controls.
Granted, once youve spent time mastering the heros lanky robotic arm and can use it to elegantly swing through city streets, hurl cars at your enemies and pummel rivals with a flurry of mechanical punches, Bionic Commando is tremendous fun and inherits the flexibility in movement and combat that made the original such a blast. But for anyone whose gaming sessions are limited by lifes crushing responsibilities, its unlikely youll see the best this ambitious remake has to offer before frustration drives you elsewhere.