Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
- July 31, 1998
- Pyro Studios
- 19h median play time
"Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines" is a real-time tactical warfare stealth game set in WWII, where you command a squad of 6 elite commandos with unique skills on dangerous missions. The game offers stunning graphics with accurate 3D models of 350+ WWII structures, vehicles, and weapons, and features an interesting plot and stellar gameplay, though it is known to be quite buggy. It allows for 2-player multi-player, co-op, and single-player modes.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is a classic real-time tactics game that has stood the test of time, offering challenging gameplay that requires strategic thinking and planning.
- The game features a variety of unique commandos, each with their own abilities, allowing for multiple approaches to completing missions, which keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Many players appreciate the nostalgia and memories associated with the game, as it was a beloved title during their childhood, providing hours of entertainment.
- The game suffers from technical issues on modern systems, such as running too fast and problems with saving/loading, which can frustrate players.
- Some players find the controls clunky and outdated, making it difficult to execute precise actions, which can lead to repeated failures and a steep learning curve.
- The lack of Spanish language support in a game developed by a Spanish studio has disappointed many fans, leading to feelings of disrespect towards the original product.
- story229 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a squad of elite soldiers executing various stealth missions during World War II, each designed as a unique puzzle that requires strategic planning and the use of each character's special abilities. While the narrative is minimal, focusing primarily on mission objectives, players appreciate the historical context and the challenge of completing 20 diverse missions that demand careful execution and tactical thinking. The gameplay is often described as rewarding yet frustrating, with a steep difficulty curve that enhances the sense of accomplishment upon mission completion.
“The story line, game features, things we have to do... everything is so perfect for that era!”
“Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is a very complex game that relies on stealth and a great amount of thought because each one of your soldiers is very unique in its own way with different weapons and abilities. You will need to plan each mission accordingly with a large amount of time being trial and error as you cycle your way through various scenarios.”
“Each mission feels unique as the level design of this game is very well done, both the mission objectives and the enemy placement.”
“All twenty maps are more or less based on real WWII events, but they don’t have much story other than a historical introduction piece and a short mission briefing.”
“The mission preview, where your commanding officer walks you through the mission, does not work, so you don't know what to do.”
“The weakest aspects of the game are in the low use of some of the characters to be very limited by their roles, being used on a mission only in a particular action, but having to take in all the action while avoiding being killed.”
- graphics71 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 1990s origins, but many players appreciate their nostalgic charm and the game's overall artistic style. While the visuals may not meet modern standards, they are often described as functional and still enjoyable, especially for those who prioritize gameplay over graphics. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a minor drawback in an otherwise engaging and rewarding experience.
“For a 1990s game, the graphics have aged well, and the style/design is really cool and nicely detailed.”
“The graphics and mechanics in the game were advanced for their time and still offer an enjoyable experience today.”
“The art style is great; it feels raw and real, which complements the WWII setting excellently.”
“However, even for its time, the visuals were not the game's strong suit.”
“Unfortunately, the graphics and controls simply do not hold up ~15 years later.”
“The graphics are more brutal than the game itself.”
- gameplay60 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Commandos is highly praised for its tactical depth and strategic mechanics, offering a rewarding experience despite its steep learning curve and occasional frustrations. Players appreciate the variety of approaches to mission objectives and the satisfaction of executing complex strategies, although some find the graphics and controls dated. Overall, the game remains engaging and challenging, appealing to fans of the genre while showcasing innovative mechanics for its time.
“Moving on to the gameplay, this is where Commandos really shines.”
“The gameplay is still a very fun stealth RTS, which there are very few of (such as Shadow Tactics).”
“Great tactical and strategic gameplay, perfectly! One of the greatest game series.”
“The difficulty curve can be quite steep, and some missions can feel frustratingly difficult, especially if you're not familiar with the game's mechanics.”
“So many annoying bugs and gameplay issues that would be called out if the game were released today.”
“It demands an extremely high level of precision and timing, but the mechanics and controls are simply not up to the challenge.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its quality and epic feel, although some prefer to play their own music instead. However, there are notable issues, such as the absence of in-game music during missions and instances of players experiencing a black screen with only background music audible. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated, its implementation has left some players wanting more.
“Even the music is epic!”
“Soundtrack etc still brilliant!”
“Simple intuitive interface, tough but solvable missions and the best part is the aura - the voice overs, the uniforms, the music everything makes it seem so authentic.”
“The bug I am most pissed about is that I cannot hear any background music.”
“The game goes to the loading screen showing the commandos logo and from there on nothing but a black screen with the music and effects in the background.”
“There is no in-game music during the missions (that's not a bug).”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally criticized, with users reporting various glitches, such as enemies getting stuck and issues with graphics and sound. While some players find enjoyment in navigating these bugs, others describe the game as unplayable and frustrating, particularly due to its lack of save features and frequent crashes. Overall, the game's age contributes to its instability, leading to mixed experiences among players.
“After the update, the game runs great on Windows 8, thanks guys!”
“The stability of the game has improved significantly, making for a smoother experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs since the last patch, which is a huge relief!”
“Unless you don't mind a buggy game that won't save or quicksave, and will punish you for the smallest mistake, forcing you to replay the mission all over.”
“I had fun with this growing up, but it's still terribly buggy.”
“This game just doesn’t work, even after a lot of troubleshooting.”
- humor7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of comedic glitches and frustrating gameplay, leading to a "comedy of mistakes" that can be amusing initially but may become tedious over time. Players recall funny moments, such as exploiting AI behavior, and while some find the humor enduring, others feel it can be overshadowed by the game's challenges. Overall, the humor is a blend of nostalgia and slapstick moments, appealing to some while frustrating others.
“There is a hilarious glitch where if you use the driver's machine gun on a squad of Nazis who are looking at the Green Beret's radio decoy, they will not move, and you can mow them all down (if you try knifing them or using the harpoon gun, the others are immediately alerted).”
“Funny story, I played this when I was a kid, and I couldn't even complete the first mission! XD”
“Even though its AI gets outdated, this game is still funny enough to play.”
“Not funny.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is inconsistent; while some users report smooth performance on Windows 10, others experience significant lag, crashes, and issues with the mouse cursor. Additionally, there are complaints about stuttering during the logo and intro videos, indicating poor optimization for modern hardware. Overall, the game's performance varies widely among players.
“It's an old game but it runs smoothly and without issue on my Windows 10.”
“Despite not working well on Windows 10 (it crashes if you try to play in a window), and the fact that the mouse cursor doesn't run smoothly, it is still as good as it was back then.”
“You can see the logo and intro videos stuttering at 1fps; after that, the monitor goes blank, showing a 'no signal' error on the display port channel.”
“Doesn't work at all; super fast, poorly optimized for modern machines.”
“If you want an RTS feel but more polished and better optimized, go for Shadow Tactics.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers reasonable replay value, particularly for fans of the RTS genre, though many players note that the straightforward puzzles diminish the challenge and replayability once solved. While the visuals may feel dated, they remain playable for those who appreciate the style.
“Still has some good replay value.”
“If you've never played it and enjoy RTS, this is well worth the money; limited replayability but fun.”
“The puzzles are pretty straightforward, so once you know how to solve them, there is not much challenge or replayability.”
“Reasonable replay value.”
“Visuals are from the 90s, but they are playable if you don't mind a bit fewer pixels.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its immersive qualities and revolutionary mechanics, creating a compelling experience that engages players deeply. Reviewers express a desire for modern updates in controls and graphics while maintaining the same level of difficulty and atmospheric depth. The isometric action style is highlighted as particularly effective in drawing players into the experience.
“The atmosphere is still great, with revolutionary mechanics that are hard to accomplish.”
“I hope they make more games with modern controls and graphics, but maintain the same difficulty and atmosphere.”
“The experience is very immersive and atmospheric, showcasing how these isometric action games engage players similarly to isometric RPGs.”
“Hope they make more with modern controls and graphics but keep the same difficulty and atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its strong design, with each character serving a distinct purpose, while also embodying stereotypical commando traits that resonate well with players.
“The character design is impressive, with each character having a distinct purpose that adds depth to the gameplay.”
“I appreciate how the characters are designed; they embody the classic commando archetype, which I find appealing.”
“Each character feels unique and well-developed, contributing to a rich narrative experience.”
