A classic franchise is reborn anew (I'm excluding BC: Rearmed) today, with the release of Bionic Commando for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. After 20 years (again, excluding Rearmed), Capcom is taking its side-scrolling action adventure to new heights, and adding another dimension in this first true sequel to the classic 1988 NES original (not to be confused with the arcade title released a year before, to which the NES game was a sequel).

Bionic Commando follows the story of Nathan “R.A.D.” Spencer, an expertly trained operative and “shining example of the technological advances made by the Federal Bionic Armaments Development Division”. Five years after defeating the Imperials, Spencer has been betrayed by his own government, imprisoned for crimes he didn't commit and sentenced to death. On the day of Spencer's execution, however, terrorists detonate a massive experimental weapon in Ascension City, unleashing an intense earthquake that has turned the city into rubble and wiped out its population. With the terrain in ruins and the city's air defense grid now in the control of a massive terrorist force whose goal remains unclear, the FSA have only one option left – a behind-the-lines assault – and they call Spencer back into action.

With his bionically-enhanced arm, Spencer is able to get to places most other forms of transportation wouldn't allow. Aside from the ability to scale the ruins of Ascension City with relative ease, his bionically-enhanced arm also allows Spencer to target and eliminate enemies while hanging upside down, climbing a building, or even while in mid-swing. It can also be used as a weapon when in close combat situations, or help Spencer hurl large objects, like boulders or cars, out of his way, or at enemies.

The terrain in Bionic Commando is also absolutely massive. Capcom took full advantage of the power of the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 to create a truly engaging environment with towering buildings, suspended roadways and monorails, deep canyons, sheer rock faces and other elements that will allow players to explore Ascension City in various ways, taking multiple routes by swinging, rappelling, climbing or wall-running. And that's just in the single player mode.

You'll also be able to take your swinging skills online and challenge up to seven friends in a “fierce” multiplayer game that will be available to play over Xbox Live and the Playstation Network. Bionic Command is available for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for $59.99 USD/$69.99 CAD and is rated M for Mature. The PC version is scheduled to release this July.