Commandos 2 Preview
We get a hands-on demonstration of Pyro's anticipated sequel to the original Commandos.
One of the most impressive games to be shown at the 2000 E3 was Pyro Studios' Commandos 2, the sequel to the Spanish developer's first real-time strategy game, which was originally released in 1998. Commandos put you in control of six elite commando units, each with his own specialized combat skill, in Europe and North Africa during World War II. The game heavily stressed the importance of proper planning and careful execution of each mission by making it nearly impossible to succeed without coordinating the use of all your commandos and making the most of each of their strengths. Commandos was certainly difficult, but its unique twist on standard real-time strategy games fell into favor with fans of the genre, and soon after the game's release, Pyro Studios started work on an expansion pack entitled Beyond the Call of Duty. Since the add-on's release in March of 1999, Commandos fans have been eagerly awaiting the inevitable sequel, and in the early months of 2000, Pyro and publisher Eidos kicked the hype machine into high gear by releasing a handful of impressive screenshots and by showing a playable albeit early version of the sequel at E3. Since then, however, both companies have kept relatively quiet about Commandos 2 - to let anticipation within the gaming press run high - by keeping new shots and preview builds of the game close to their chest. Recently we were invited to the Eidos offices to meet with the creator of the Commandos series and the project lead on Commandos 2, Gonzo Suarez. Pyro's Jon Beltran, the lead programmer on the sequel, was also on hand to walk us through the latest build of Commandos 2.
The first thing you'll notice in Commandos 2 is the game's greatly improved graphics. That statement shouldn't be taken as judgment of the first game's visuals, however, as the imagery in the original Commandos was beautiful and displayed some of the most accurate depictions of war-torn Europe at the time. However, in designing the sequel, the developers at Pyro completely scrapped the graphics engine of the original game in favor of a brand-new one. The results are truly outstanding. The resolution has been upped from Commandos' meager 640x480 to a more acceptable 1024x768, which makes it possible to view a wider area of the game's breathtaking vistas and expansive cities. And while the game is still played from a locked isometric camera angle, all of the terrain and buildings are actually rendered in 3D polygons. To better appreciate the game's beauty, you have the option of constantly adjusting your perspective 90 degrees for a total of four different angles. Were it not for this feature, the benefits of rendering the levels in Commands 2 using 3D technology, as opposed to prerendering an entire image onto a two-dimensional canvas, would be lost on the game.
But Commandos 2 does indeed have a new feature that takes full advantage of 3D acceleration. Whenever you take your commando indoors, the level will change from a static environment to a fully rotatable cutaway of that interior area. These indoor areas will undoubtedly prove to be even more challenging than the outdoor levels, as each is composed of tight corridors and narrow hallways, making combat all the more difficult. Thankfully, you will be able to rotate the camera 360 degrees to give yourself the optimal angle for surprising enemies. And since each level is intricately detailed, there are a number of areas where you can hide - like underneath a bed or behind a dresser - when situations get a little hairy.
Commandos 2: Men of Courage Quick Links
Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Downloads | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum
- Eidos Interactive
- Pyro Studios
- Real-Time Strategy
- Release: Sep 20, 2001 »
- ESRB: Teen
Games you may like…
-
Commandos 3
(PC) -
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
(PC) -
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
(PC) -
Platoon
(PC) -
Commandos Strike Force
(PC)
Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.
See More Similar Games
1 Comments