Commandos Video Game Series

In the main parts of the series during the game we observe the action from an isometric view, which allows us to discern the situation and plan our next actions. After all, the tasks aren’t easy, and during them it is not difficult for our subordinates to die, as the maps are swarming with enemies. Therefore, we have to carefully place our next steps, act quietly and use the particular abilities of each commando in such a way that they complement each other on the battlefield (for instance, a sniper will be useful for something completely different from a sapper or a spy). In Commandos: Strike Force on the other hand, we observe events from a first-person perspective. Despite this change, the title remained faithful to the core of the series, so we get three different characters at our disposal, and the following missions require us not only to have a sharp eye, but also to demonstrate our tactical sense.

In addition to the extensive story campaigns in the games of the Commandos series, we will find multiplayer modes, which allow joint play over the internet or in a local network. As for the visuals - although the release of the last part of the main trilogy took place in 2003, it managed to stand the test of time well. After the introduction of minor polishes, the visual layer of these games can still please the eye, as proven by the remaster of the second installment released in January 2020. Commandos: Strike Force, on the other hand, has aged quite noticeably, especially since already at the time of its release it didn’t stand out above what players were accustomed to by other FPSs of the era.

The first game in the Commandos series, Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, made its launch on personal computers in June 1998. The title was a great artistic and commercial success, so in September 2001 the Pyro Studios team gave players a PC version of its sequel, Commandos 2: Men of Courage, which was to hit PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2002. In October 2003, only on PCs Commandos 3: Destination Berlin was released, while in March 2006 an FPS spin-off of the series arrived on PC and consoles (again, we're talking about PlayStation 2 and Xbox) - Commandos: Strike Force. The latter game didn’t appeal to players not only because of the drastic change in the formula, but also because of the technical problems.

After its release, there was a years-long silence on the topic of brand development, which was only broken in 2018 by Kalypso Media. Announcing the acquisition of the rights from the Pyro Studios team, the publisher announced that the series would get a completely new installment. But first, in January 2020, it received a remastered version of its second installment, Commandos 2: HD Remaster. Compared to the original, it stood out not only due to improved graphics, but also due to .... censorship, including the removal of symbols of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. Furthermore, the whole thing was decided to make it softer, resulting, in the elimination of the burning opponents animation attacked with a flamethrower. To top it all off, the title was truncated from the cooperative multiplayer mode present in the original.