Nostalgia is a funny thing. Look back at those trends, the good ‘ole days, and it all forms into a sunshiny ill conceived notion of an era long since past. Old remnants exist better when they are kept as memory, locked away and reminisced about as a golden pipedream of pop culture trends and timely ideals. But dig back and shine a new light on the old and, often, the rosy guise of nostalgia gives way to an all too awkward reality.

Rearming the proverbial Bionic Commando, twenty years after its original inception, is both a strange pang from the past but also a fine attempt at bringing the swinging hero to a new era of gaming. Through fighting only half the battle, Grin, the developer of Bionic Commando Rearmed, has crafted a game that looks like an evolution and sounds like one too. But take a spin with this retro hero and it soon dawns that this is the same old, now rickety, commando with a striking new look.

And oh how Rearmed sheds the pixelated blasé of the NES original, giving way for a stunning visual reworking. Though you’ll still play on a 2D field, Rearmed’s visuals bask in full 3D glory. The environments are a beguiling mix of harsh militaristic locales that pop with a bold neon palette. The look is appropriately crisp and modern, but admirably true to its classic 8-bit roots. There is a happy unanimity here. And yes, Hitler’s head explodes in revamped and gory grandeur.

Also greeted with a retooling is the soundtrack. The rough and simple tunes of the NES classic are kept as the heart of this contemporary transfiguring. It’s a mesmerizing harmony of electronica and driving beats; a mix that reaches back, takes its inspiration and then boldly transforms it for a new era.

But the same can’t be said of the core of this Bionic remake. The aesthetics are liberally twisted in new and stunning ways, but when it comes time to go all out, Grin timidly backs away.

Take a typical situation in Rearmed. You’re on a high platform, a spotlight is towards your front and you grab it diagonally with your bionic arm (the only angle you have the option to swing with). You rush forward with brisk momentum, and let go as your arm shoots out once again to catch the next platform. But the timing is wrong, mere milliseconds off, and you fall to your death, repeatedly. Now, what would remedy these unforgiving and pointlessly restrictive controls? Why, the wonders of 360 degree aiming of course. But, in a Bionic screw up, you’re left with a commando who only knows of four directions: left, right, up and diagonal.

The platforming can indeed be fun, but the mechanics are obtuse, always instilling in you with a sense of utter dumb-founded frustration. The steep learning curve can be learnt, quickly even, but that isn’t the problem here. It’s that with the fantastic look and the extraordinary sounds Rearmed presents itself as a contemporary game, but really it’s only halfway there. One foot is too thoroughly sunk in the past, making you struggle with twenty year old controls while a twenty first century controller is firmly in hand, capable of delivering a proper experience.

The most trying example of this are the many top down shooting sections. Both functions, aiming and navigating the environment, are crowded to a single joystick. And aiming often consists of spinning around in dizzying directions to get a proper shot off. Two control sticks exist for a reason.

Bionic Commando Rearmed still manages to be enjoyable, for an ancient game. But that isn’t the criteria by which to look at it. Parts of it daringly morph the past into something modern; a contemporary experience that retains its intrinsic nostalgic value. But the gameplay is at odds with the aesthetic demeanour, fearfully tiptoeing any notion of altering its ancient and cracked controls. Little has changed, and if you’re not burdened by happy Bionic Commando memories, you’ll see that this one is just half-baked. Though, thankfully, that single half is done to near perfection.