Whether it's related to the 'Prepare Yourself' taunt still appearing on the Capcom USA website or not, the Japanese publisher today confirmed the return of an iconic videogame hero from the 80s.

Released back in 1988 on the NES, Bionic Commando won a legion of fans the first time through with its intense action and the novel prospect of a bionic arm to wield as you needed. Released in Japan a year previously, this version was based around conflict against the Nazis with Adolf Hitler cast as the final boss - somehow we think the next-gen version will follow the sanitised Western version that stripped out all of the

Currently in development for the PlayStation3, Xbox 360 and PC, Bionic Commando remains faithful to the original. Casting players as Nathan Spencer (Ladd's son?), a government operative who is betrayed and imprisoned by the very people he unquestionably serves, Bionic Commando takes place on the day of his supposed execution. On this day, an experimental weapon explodes in Ascension City, unleashing an immensely powerful earthquake coupled with a radiation shockwave that leaves the city in ruins, wiping out its populace. Military intelligence suggests that a large terrorist search force has moved in and taken control of Ascension City, but as yet their motives remain unclear. With the city in ruins and the terrorists in control of the air defenses the FSA has only one option open to them - the reactivation of Nathan Spencer.

Exploiting the bionic arm mechanic that became the defining feature of the original, Capcom promises a game that harnesses the power of next-gen technology to provide plenty of options using swinging, rappeling, climbing and wall-walking techniques to traverse the multiple routes. An expertly trained operative, Spencer is able to target and take out enemies while hanging upside down, climbing a building or even in mid-swing. At close quarters, the bionic arm packs a mean punch, while from a distance, objects such as boulders and cars can be grabbed and launched at enemies.

Intriguingly, Capcom has assembled a diverse team to bring Bionic Commando back to the consoles. Development duties largely fall to GRIN, better known for their work on GRAW 1+2 PC, whilst the project will be overseen by an American Producer living in Japan and a Japanese Creative Advisor.