They say you can never go back, and that, in many ways, is the problem with Capcom’s 3D re-launch of its platforming classic Bionic Commando. At heart, it may just be a little too retro for its own good. Make no mistake, the return of Nathan ‘Radd’ Spencer as he swings and battles terrorist force BioReign with his bionic limb over a nuclear devastated Ascension City looks very current, with a plethora of weapons, enemies and interesting bionic powers to use on them. And, once you’ve mastered it, there’s a decent thrill to its high-swinging action. But players more accustomed to the recent trend of ‘go anywhere’ open worlds will find it frustratingly deceptive.

The huge cityscapes look like you should be able to swing through them with abandon, but developer Grin has crafted an exceedingly linear game, keeping you in check with confining radioactive death zones and water – thanks to the weight of your bionics – that instantly kills you.

In the past these sorts of constraints were due to technical limitations, but here they’re a conscious design choice that you’ll either love or hate. We found Bionic Commando fairly enjoyable, and were engaged zipping through its constructed paths with an eventually intuitive swing mechanic. But after a spell, the constraining level design got boring.

Fans of 3D-precision platforming might like this one, but given it’s been out for some time on console, most are bound to have already satisfied their bionic swinging urges.