Though the player still cannot jump, Elite Forces is different from the rest of the Bionic Commando series; among the changes are a different plot, new moves for the main characters - an unnamed female commando and an unnamed male commando - and the ability to utilize a sniper rifle in some segments of the game.
The game features stages arranged on a map screen akin to Super Mario Bros. 3, with some levels being traditional side scrolling platformers, with others being top-down shooters, or auto-scroller segments. The player receives exposition from "codec" calls, and may also choose specific items or weapons before levels.
There are a few bosses placed in large arenas, and ending slideshow with captions immediately following the final boss.
The peaceful land of Karinia is being terrorized by an evil man named Arturus. He is the leader of an evil army called the Avars, who have terrorized Karinia for years. As the Elite Forces fight the Avars, they receive a fragmented communication from Commander Joe (presumably Super Joe), an ally who had infiltrated their territory. Joe's message revealed that Arturus was planning to launch the Albatross Project. After that, communication with Cmdr. Joe was lost. The Bionic Corps contacted the Elite Forces to help stop the Avars, prevent the fall of Karinia, and rescue Joe.1 It is essentially a repeat of the events of the 1988 Bionic Commando, except with a different twist by the end - rather than the resurrection of a long-dead dictator, it is revealed that the Albatross was originally a wrecked space vessel of unknown origin that can give its owner mutant powers.
The game received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.9
MegaScorcher.com (April 28, 2008). "Good Game Mondays #15: Bionic Commando Elite Forces GBC". YouTube. Alphabet Inc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4U1U3d5ook ↩
"Bionic Commando: Elite Forces for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2018. https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/196763-bionic-commando-elite-forces/index.html ↩
White, Jason. "Bionic Commando: Elite Forces - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114213220/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21170&tab=review ↩
Fitzloff, Jay (March 2000). "Bionic Commando: Elite Forces". Game Informer. No. 83. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on December 10, 2000. Retrieved May 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20001210111700/http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4462 ↩
Gerstmann, Jeff (February 10, 2000). "Bionic Commando [Elite Forces] Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2018. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/bionic-commando-review/1900-2536154/ ↩
Harris, Craig (January 26, 2000). "Bionic Commando [Elite Forces]". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2018. http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/27/bionic-commando-2 ↩
Frear, Dave (November 16, 2014). "Bionic Commando: Elite Forces Review (3DS eShop / GBC)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2018. http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/bionic_commando_elite_forces_gbc ↩
"Bionic Commando: Elite Forces". Nintendo Power. Vol. 129. Nintendo of America. February 2000. /wiki/Nintendo_Power ↩