Bionic Commando: Elite Forces

{{More citations needed|date=January 2025}}{{Infobox video game

|title=Bionic Commando: Elite Forces

|image=Bionic-commando-ef-gbc.jpg

|developer=Nintendo Software Technology

|publisher=Nintendo

|director = Josh Atkins

|designer = Akila Redmer

|programmer = Samir Abou-Samra

|artist = Raymond Yan

|composer = Lawrence Schwedler

|series = Bionic Commando

|engine=

|released={{vgrelease|NA|January 24, 2000{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=2001-01-27 |title=Best Pocket Action Game of 2000: Readers' Votes |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/27/best-pocket-action-game-of-2000-readers-votes |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114174617/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/27/best-pocket-action-game-of-2000-readers-votes |url-status=live }}|AUS|January 2000}}

|genre=Platform game, Metroidvania{{cite web | url = http://www.racketboy.com/retro/best-undiscovered-gameboy-game-boy-color-games | title = The Best Undisocvered Game Boy & Game Boy Color Games | website = Racketboy | date = November 8, 2009 | accessdate = July 13, 2016 | quote = With Bionic Commando, you start with a short life meter, but it gradually grow as you kill enemies. Also after each stage, a weapon or item is added to your arsenal. These elements give you a bit of an RPG experience similar to games like Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. And much like many Metroidvania games, you often explore the expansive levels by traveling in a variety of directions. | archive-date = July 14, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160714150526/http://www.racketboy.com/retro/best-undiscovered-gameboy-game-boy-color-games | url-status = live }}

|modes=Single-player

|platforms=Game Boy Color

}}

Bionic Commando: Elite Forces is a 2000 platform video game developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. It is an installment of Capcom's Bionic Commando series developed under license by Nintendo, and was the first title to be developed by its Redmond-based first-party studio Nintendo Software Technology. It is the sequel to the Game Boy version of Bionic Commando. It was not released in Europe until November 2014 when it was released for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in Europe.

Gameplay

Though the player still cannot jump, Elite Forces is different from the rest of the Bionic Commando series; among the changes are a different plot, new moves for the main characters - an unnamed female commando and an unnamed male commando - and the ability to utilize a sniper rifle in some segments of the game.

The game features stages arranged on a map screen akin to Super Mario Bros. 3, with some levels being traditional side scrolling platformers, with others being top-down shooters, or auto-scroller segments. The player receives exposition from "codec" calls, and may also choose specific items or weapons before levels.

There are a few bosses placed in large arenas, and ending slideshow with captions immediately following the final boss.

Plot

The peaceful land of Karinia is being terrorized by an evil man named Arturus. He is the leader of an evil army called the Avars, who have terrorized Karinia for years. As the Elite Forces fight the Avars, they receive a fragmented communication from Commander Joe (presumably Super Joe), an ally who had infiltrated their territory. Joe's message revealed that Arturus was planning to launch the Albatross Project. After that, communication with Cmdr. Joe was lost. The Bionic Corps contacted the Elite Forces to help stop the Avars, prevent the fall of Karinia, and rescue Joe.{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4U1U3d5ook | title = Good Game Mondays #15: Bionic Commando Elite Forces GBC | author = MegaScorcher.com | website = YouTube | publisher = Alphabet Inc. | date = April 28, 2008}} It is essentially a repeat of the events of the 1988 Bionic Commando, except with a different twist by the end - rather than the resurrection of a long-dead dictator, it is revealed that the Albatross was originally a wrecked space vessel of unknown origin that can give its owner mutant powers.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 84%{{cite web | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/196763-bionic-commando-elite-forces/index.html | title = Bionic Commando: Elite Forces for Game Boy Color | website = GameRankings | publisher = CBS Interactive | accessdate = May 12, 2018 | archive-date = May 4, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190504122300/https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/196763-bionic-commando-elite-forces/index.html | url-status = live }}

| Allgame = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web | url = http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21170&tab=review | title = Bionic Commando: Elite Forces - Review | last = White | first = Jason | website = AllGame | publisher = All Media Network | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20141114213220/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21170&tab=review | archivedate = November 14, 2014 | url-status = dead | accessdate = May 12, 2018}}

| GI = 8.25/10{{cite magazine | url = https://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4462 | title = Bionic Commando: Elite Forces | last = Fitzloff | first = Jay | magazine = Game Informer | publisher = FuncoLand | issue = 83 | date = March 2000 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20001210111700/http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4462 | archive-date = December 10, 2000 | url-status = dead | access-date = May 12, 2018}}

| GSpot = 9/10{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/bionic-commando-review/1900-2536154/ | title = Bionic Commando [Elite Forces] Review | last = Gerstmann | first = Jeff | website = GameSpot | publisher = CBS Interactive | date = February 10, 2000 | accessdate = May 12, 2018 | archive-date = May 12, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210512042744/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/bionic-commando-review/1900-2536154/ | url-status = live }}

| IGN = 8/10{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/27/bionic-commando-2 | title = Bionic Commando [Elite Forces] | last = Harris | first = Craig | website = IGN | publisher = Ziff Davis | date = January 26, 2000 | accessdate = May 12, 2018 | archive-date = May 4, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190504122302/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/27/bionic-commando-2 | url-status = live }}

| NLife = {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite web | url = http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/bionic_commando_elite_forces_gbc | title = Bionic Commando: Elite Forces Review (3DS eShop / GBC) | last = Frear | first = Dave | website = Nintendo Life | publisher = Gamer Network | date = November 16, 2014 | accessdate = May 12, 2018 | archive-date = September 26, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170926141252/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/bionic_commando_elite_forces_gbc | url-status = live }}

| NP = 8.3/10{{cite magazine | title = Bionic Commando: Elite Forces | magazine = Nintendo Power | publisher = Nintendo of America | volume = 129 | date = February 2000}}

}}

The game received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.