A revolutionary action-platformer where jumping is impossible. The grappling hook is everything. Brilliant mechanic, inspired level design. One of the most inventive NES games, still perfectly playable.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player7+
Description
Secret action run-and-gun against a neo-Nazi threat. Published by Capcom, released in Japan in 1988. Agent in side-scrolling view battling neo-Nazi forces. Japanese version of Capcom's Bionic Commando on Famicom.
Hitler no Fukkatsu - Top Secret review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Giving up jumping to advance solely with the grappling arm upends every reflex and grounds a platformer of total originality. Swinging from platform to platform, once the move is mastered, delivers a heady satisfaction. Demanding to get the hang of, this classic retains a unique mechanic and a clever level design that have no equal.
The Famicom version of Capcom's Bionic Commando is a major collecting subject because of its explicit neo-Nazi framing and Hitler as the final boss, both stripped from the West. The controversial content blocked any reissue, complete cartridges reach steep highs, and the contrast with the censored NES port makes it a study piece prized by game historians as much as by Capcom collectors.
Is Hitler no Fukkatsu - Top Secret still worth playing in 2026?
Bionic Commando is a revolutionary Capcom action platformer where the jump is replaced by a grappling hook. The entire grammar of the game builds on that single radical choice, and the result is an experience of rare intelligence for 1988. Inspired level design, non-linear stages, a surprising story with its famously shocking ending and a memorable soundtrack make it one of the most creative NES titles ever made. Still perfectly playable today once you accept the learning curve. A must for ambitious 2D action fans.
