San Francisco — “Bionic Commando: Rearmed,” a re-make of the original “Bionic Commando,” is coming to a PSP near you — but isn’t going to be released on PSP.
Say what?
Capcom producer Ben Judd told me last week that the PS3 version of “Bionic Commando: Rearmed” for the console’s PlayStation Network will be playable on PSPs using the PS3’s Remote Play feature.
Remote Play allows a PSP user to access content on their PS3 theoretically from any location where they can get a WiFi signal. The feature was implemented in limited fashion for last fall’s PS3 dragon-combat game “Lair” and then delivered in full for the PSN game “PixelJunk Monsters.”
If Capcom gets Remote Play to work properly, the game may well be one of the first to use the service well and among the first, if not the first, third-party game to use it.
The end result: “Bionic Commando: Rearmed” playable on PSPs, even without the game being released on PSP.
Like I said.
The Xbox 360 and PC versions of “Rearmed” won’t support this, obviously. Could this added feature be the differentiator between other upcoming XBLA/PSN cross-platform releases?
I spoke with Judd about some other “BC” matters, including why it’s taken so long for a sequel. Look for a full interview at the end of the day right here at the Multiplayer blog.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
That’s fantastic. I was planning on getting the PC version, but now I may hold out and just wait until I get a PS3 so I can use the Remote Play option.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Achievements vs. quasi-portability… which will I choose?
February 25th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
High Stakes on the Vegas Strip says “Hi!” as it’s had full Remote Play for quite some time… long before PixelJunk Monsters did. Both work well via Remote Play too. Also note that all PSOne games work via Remote Play with varying levels of success depending on their input requirements (mapping complicated control schemes can potentially be an issue for some games as the PSP has fewer buttons and sticks that the DualShock controller did).
February 25th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
@ Rothbart
The importance of PSP Remote play in Bionic Commando Rearmed is that it is the first “Third Party” game to do so.
Lair was the first game to use Remote play, then HSOP, and then PixelJunk Monsters, all of which are First Party Games
March 6th, 2008 at 12:14 am
More important than this being the first 3rd-party game to do this, is that it is by Capcom. Mainly due to the fact that if they offer this feature with Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, epic fangasms will be heard across the planet.