Commandos 2: Men of Courage (2001)

by Nish
written by Nish 7 minutes read

Summary

Commandos 2: Men of Courage (2001)

Commandos 2: Men of Courage is a real-time tactics video game developed by Pyro Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released for Microsoft Windows in September 2001, and was later ported to the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.

The game is set during World War II and follows the exploits of a squad of elite Allied commandos as they carry out various missions behind enemy lines. The player takes control of each commando individually, using their unique skills to complete objectives and avoid detection.

Commandos 2 features a variety of missions, from stealthy infiltrations to all-out assaults. The player must carefully plan their approach to each mission, taking into account the enemy’s patrols, defenses, and weaponry. The game also features a number of environmental puzzles, which must be solved in order to progress.

The game’s graphics were praised for their detail and realism, and the gameplay was lauded for its challenge and depth. Commandos 2 was a critical and commercial success, selling over 2 million copies worldwide.

Gameplay

Commandos 2 is a real-time tactics game in which the player controls a squad of up to six commandos. Each commando has their own unique skills and abilities, which must be used to complete missions.

The game is played from a top-down perspective, and the player can zoom in and out to get a better view of the battlefield. The player can also rotate the camera to get a different perspective.

The player must carefully plan their approach to each mission, taking into account the enemy’s patrols, defenses, and weaponry. The game features a variety of environmental puzzles, which must be solved in order to progress.

The game’s controls are simple and easy to learn, but the gameplay is challenging and requires careful planning and execution.

Characters

The player controls a squad of six commandos, each with their own unique skills and abilities:

  • Jack “Butcher” O’Hara: The leader of the squad, Jack is a tough and experienced soldier. He is proficient with all weapons and can use his fists to take down enemies silently.
  • James “Duke” Doyle: A skilled sniper, Duke can take down enemies from a distance. He can also use his camouflage skills to blend in with the environment.
  • George “Shadow” Wilson: A stealthy operative, Shadow can move silently and pick locks. He is also an expert at sabotage.
  • Franklin “Fireman” Rosario: A demolitions expert, Fireman can use explosives to destroy enemy equipment and structures. He can also repair vehicles.
  • Rene “Tin Can” Dubois: A heavy weapons specialist, Tin Can can lay down suppressing fire with his machine gun. He can also use his rocket launcher to take down enemy vehicles and fortifications.
  • Natasha “Viper” Ivanova: A skilled spy, Viper can disguise herself as enemy soldiers and use her seduction skills to gather information. She can also use her poison darts to take down enemies silently.

Missions

The game features a total of 20 missions, set in a variety of locations around the world. The missions are varied and challenging, and require the player to use all of their skills and abilities to succeed.

Some of the missions include:

  • Operation Husky: The commandos must infiltrate a Sicilian village and sabotage a German fuel depot.
  • Operation Overlord: The commandos must land on Omaha Beach and fight their way inland to capture a German radar station.
  • Operation Market Garden: The commandos must parachute into the Netherlands and capture a key bridge.
  • Operation Varsity: The commandos must cross the Rhine River and capture a German airfield.
  • Operation Plunder: The commandos must cross the Elbe River and capture a German city.

Reception

Commandos 2 was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its realistic graphics, challenging gameplay, and diverse cast of characters. It was also praised for its attention to detail and historical accuracy.

The game won a number of awards, including Game of the Year awards from IGN and GameSpot. It was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Strategy Game.

Commandos 2 has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and is considered to be one of the best real-time tactics games ever made.

Legacy

Commandos 2 has had a lasting impact on the real-time tactics genre. The game’s realistic graphics, challenging gameplay, and diverse cast of characters have set a new standard for the genre.

The game has also inspired a number of sequels and spin-offs, including Commandos 3: Destination Berlin (2003) and Commandos: Strike Force (2006).

Commandos 2 is still considered to be one of the best real-time tactics games ever made, and it continues to be enjoyed by gamers around the world.

Review Score

9/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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