Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
- October 13, 2003
- Pyro Studios
- 2h median play time
The motley crew from the first two Commandos games are back, and this time they aren't stopping until they get to Berlin. The third installment of this action/puzzle game again puts you in charge of a mismatched yet highly trained team of Allied soldiers who must go behind enemy lines on the most da
"Commandos 3: Destination Berlin" is the third installment in the Commandos series, known for its tactical strategy gameplay. The game boasts good mechanics, pretty visuals, and both single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op for 2 players. Overall, it's a challenging and engaging warfare strategy game that builds upon the legendary reputation of its predecessors, despite some lingering bugs. The game's own description highlights its status as a strategic saga from Pyro Studios.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the Commandos series, with challenging gameplay that requires strategic thinking.
- Despite its flaws, the game has some interesting missions and improved graphics compared to its predecessors.
- Many players appreciate the complexity and tactical elements of the game, making it rewarding for those who enjoy stealth and strategy.
- The controls are clunky and unintuitive, making gameplay frustrating, especially for newcomers to the series.
- The game is criticized for being too short and linear, with many missions feeling rushed and lacking the depth of previous titles.
- Numerous bugs and technical issues, particularly on modern systems, hinder the overall experience and make the game nearly unplayable for some users.
- story96 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in the game is criticized for being short, linear, and lacking depth, with missions that often prioritize aggressive tactics over stealth, which detracts from the strategic gameplay of previous installments. Players note that the missions feel disjointed and fail to deliver a compelling narrative, with many expressing frustration over the time constraints imposed on missions that limit exploration and tactical planning. While some missions are praised for their design and atmosphere, the overall storytelling experience is seen as a downgrade from earlier titles in the series.
“Each mission has its unique mood, but the chilling sniper duel in Stalingrad and the train chase through occupied France have made me replay the game over and over again.”
“Awesome story, unique characters, unforgettable places, and epic gameplay.”
“The story is short but with huge maps as in Commandos 2.”
“The whole campaign story of Central Europe is a mess.”
“The missions and three campaigns are very short, and all seem very linear. Gone is the stealth option choice; instead, the missions want you to eliminate all enemies.”
“A lot of content got cut out; the game is very short and linear, and many missions depend on time, forcing you to play aggressively even if you prefer the stealth approach.”
- graphics45 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting that they are dated and suffer from various bugs, while others appreciate the unique art style and improvements made since previous iterations. Many users express frustration over low resolution and lack of graphical options, but a few highlight that the visuals are still commendable for a game from the 2000s. Overall, while some find the graphics to be a highlight, others consider them a significant drawback.
“Perfect and unique graphics, effects and animation for its time.”
“Some action missions are very well designed, the graphics are the best of the series, the music is excellent.”
“It supplies a nice few hours of challenges and has a nice story and not to mention amazing graphics for its time.”
“The graphics are poor, stealth gameplay is gone.”
“The graphics are just uglier in this game, especially the avatars for the playable characters.”
“Graphically, the game looks a mess.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fun and challenging tactical strategy elements, while others criticize the clunky controls and camera issues that detract from the experience. Notable changes from previous titles have led to a departure from the unique squad mechanics that defined earlier games, resulting in a gameplay style that feels both familiar and different. Overall, while there are improvements in certain mechanics and graphics, many players feel nostalgic for the more dynamic and engaging gameplay of earlier installments.
“I loved that game; it combines strategic and stealth to create perfect gameplay.”
“The gameplay is fun and challenging for those who are into tactical strategy.”
“Awesome story, unique characters, unforgettable places, and epic gameplay.”
“The graphics did get a minor upgrade, otherwise the controls, cameras, and gameplay all remain the same, even the clunkiness.”
“Horrible gameplay and controls compared to the first Commandos.”
“I know I played the game on a laptop with no mouse which did not help, but still an irritating major flaw in 3 as it often interfered with gameplay was that you had to change camera angle very often as you switched character, or moved in and out of buildings.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and a clunky interface that significantly detracts from the overall experience. Players have noted issues such as graphical glitches, unresponsive controls, and a buggy tutorial, making the game nearly unplayable, especially on newer machines. While some long-time fans appreciate the game despite its flaws, the consensus is that it is in a very unstable state.
“First up, there seem to be a fair amount of bugs and glitches.”
“The game, however, is in a really buggy state.”
“Don't buy if you have a new computer; there are many graphic glitches, such as half of the screen missing, as well as an inability to use the sniper.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its quality while others feel it doesn't quite match the previous installment. Notably, the music enhances the atmosphere during action missions and adapts to various environments, contributing to a more immersive experience. Additionally, players have the option to adjust the music volume and toggle it on or off.
“Some action missions are very well designed, the graphics are the best of the series, the music is excellent.”
“The levels were just bigger and more exciting in 2; you could explore everywhere, and the music changed as well, making the underwater scenes and everything feel a bit more alive.”
“I think the music in this game isn't appreciated enough.”
“The levels were just bigger and more exciting in 2; you could explore everywhere. There would sometimes be wild animals moving around in the environment, and the weather and levels were varied in appearance, ranging from snow to the tropics. The music changed as well, and the underwater scenes and everything felt a bit more alive.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly for its performance on Windows 10, with users noting that it may have never run smoothly on this operating system. In contrast, some users mention better graphic performance on Windows 8, suggesting inconsistencies across different platforms.
“Serious graphic performance in this game on Windows.”
“Wow... let's stop that train of thought; I was reviewing the third game, not the series, in terms of performance on Windows 8!”
“Serious graphic performance issues in this game on Windows.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its absurdities and glitches, such as nonsensical plot points and comical gameplay mechanics, like invulnerable vehicles and unexpected combat successes. While some players find these elements amusing, they also highlight a lack of coherence in the story and controls, leading to a mix of frustration and laughter. Overall, the humor is often unintentional, stemming from the game's technical flaws and illogical scenarios.
“Played it as a kid, still funny.”
“There are a lot of funny glitches and non-functional objects on the maps.”
“Running wildly across open spaces into many armed enemies and stabbing them one after the other worked better sometimes than any tactically executed plan, which was quite amusing.”
Critic Reviews
Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
The motley crew from the first two Commandos games are back, and this time they aren't stopping until they get to Berlin. The third installment of this action/puzzle game again puts you in charge of a mismatched yet highly trained team of Allied soldiers who must go behind enemy lines on the most da
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