Becoming a commando requires years of training, superhuman reserves of strength and the ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube in the dark with one hand tied behind your back.
Okay, so that last one might not be strictly true, but you get the point - earning the right to call yourself a commando is ruddy hard.
Fortunately, it’s now possible to experience the elite soldier’s life without having to push your physical endurance to the limit thanks to this mobile interpretation of the classic PC
Commandos franchise.
Set against the backdrop of WWII, the game sees you assume control of a crack team of allied commandos as they attempt to bring down the Nazi war machine via a combination of brute force and stealth tactics.
Your squad comprises several different soldiers, each with his own unique items and weaponry. For example, the Green Beret can dig holes to hide in and also lay down bait to distract enemy units, while the Sapper is an expert in the art of blowing things up.
Using the skills of each unit is vital if you wish to survive each death-defying mission and often you’ll have to ensure your troops work together to solve each level, as getting to the end will more often than not require the expertise of several different soldiers.
It’s all very exciting, but sadly there are some rather disappointing issues which tarnish the experience. The diabolical English translation is the most obvious, with grammatical clangers being dropped almost as often as tyrannical Nazi antagonists.
Also, using the binoculars tool to scope out the level and spot potential pitfalls is a very hit-and-miss affair. The binocular view always snaps back to the point at which you left it - even if your character has long since moved further up the map.
Such niggles prevent
Commandos from becoming a truly thrilling wartime caper, which is a shame because the game is largely faithful to the spirit of the PC original. Fans of that version might extract some enjoyment, but everyone else is urged to tread with caution.
