Commando: Behind Enemy Lines

• Price: £14.99
• Players : 1-online

System Requirements :

• Windows 95/98
• Pentium PC 100 Mhz
• 16Mb RAM
• 4-speed CD-ROM Drive

Commandos: Behind Enemy Linesis one for all the fans of Command and Conquer.

It’s late 1940 – dictators are about to be toppled, Ryan’s privates are soon tobe saved and you, as Lt. Col. Dudley Clark, get to control a squad of troopersmade up of green berets, snipers, marines and more dropped behind enemy linesplaying in 26 separate, hazardous missions, with the aim of defeating the badguys and coming home alive.

Walk or crawl about, keep out of the enemies’ view otherwise you’re likelyto be shot on sight, then fight back with knives, guns and explosivecharges that come with remote detonators.

The AI system allows control of over 40 different enemy vehicles and troopsand the baddies will react depending on what the see, hear and even feel.Internet gaming is also an option with multi-player action via a modem orLocal Area Network.

As you’d expect from the name of the game I compared this with, you viewthe area from an isometric 3D point of view. The ground and surroundingsare well-detailed and you can zoom in or out of the playing field, buteverything does look rather on the small side as a result.

The game has some background music which tries to create some atmospherebut is fairly generic stuff. Add to this spot-effects of gunfire andcrawling about, plus a rotation of sayings as you point where you manshould go and he replies with a succession of “Okey dokey”, “Coming…” and“Just leave it to me”, plus a hail of shouting from the enemy when theyspot you and it’s nothing to tax your soundcard.

The gameplay has a serious problem though. While it’s easy to point-and-click tomove your man and select a weapon, your squad are not made of bullet-proofmaterial and in the time it takes to click on the various icons to move aman and select a weapon, then point and shoot… you’re dead! Oh dear.

Overall, this kind of game has been done several times, but here there’s anarmy bent to it. If you’re screaming for more then it’s worth a look, especiallyat a budget price, but it’s not one for the casual gamer as it ends up waytoo frustrating.

Command and Conquer. You may be far from perfect, but your crown is safe.

Overall: 2/5

This review was on Freeloader.com before it closed.