Commandos: Strike Force

Last updated

Commandos: Strike Force
Commandos - Strike Force.jpg
Cover art
Developer(s) Pyro Studios
Publisher(s) Eidos Interactive
Producer(s) José Manuel García Franco
Designer(s) Jorge Rosado de Álvaro
Writer(s) Ignacio Pérez Dolset
Jorge Rosado de Álvaro
Series Commandos
Engine RenderWare
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Xbox
Release
  • EU: 17 March 2006
  • NA: 4 April 2006
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Commandos: Strike Force is a first person tactical shooter video game and the fifth installment of the Commandos series. It is developed by Pyro Studios and published by Eidos Interactive.

Contents

Released during the first months of 2006, the game makes a departure from the first four games. Although the missions are set up in a similar fashion (several objectives, some to be achieved through stealth, others through use of force) and in most occasions the player is allowed to change between characters, this is the first game in the series to apply a first-person perspective, like many other World War II-inspired games, in contrast to the overhead view of the earlier games. Hence, the game is far more similar to the Medal of Honor or Call of Duty games than to earlier entries of the series.

Unlike the previous Commandos games, Strike Force is not available on digital stores like Steam or GOG.com, instead only being on Zoom Platform.

Plot

The game is split between three campaigns in France, Norway and the Soviet Union during World War II. The first campaign takes place in occupied France in 1942. The Strike Force commandos consist of the British sniper: Lieutenant William Hawkins, London's Green Beret: Captain Francis O'Brien and the German (But not Nazi) spy and leader: Colonel George Brown. The commandos assist the French resistance to secure a village, but are forced to evacuate when their positions are compromised by a double agent (O'Brien suspecting that it is Brown). Brown aids the resistance in a town by taking out all targets of opportunity and liberating a medical doctor.

The next campaign takes the commandos to occupied Norway, as they find out that the Nazis are attempting to win the race for Nuclear fission, so they fight through a port town and several guard posts in the water, in order for them to move the explosives required to destroy the secret facilities. Under cover of darkness, the commandos launch a surprise attack on the Nazi-occupied town of Shundein, as it was also part of the route the explosives truck must follow. After a long battle, the enemy is repelled from the town.

The last campaign brings the commandos to Stalingrad in order to retrieve a priceless Russian relic which the Nazis have seized. The Commandos are aided by the Soviet Commisar Salenkov and led to a sewer. Once in the sewers, Lieutenant Hawkins finds a platoon heading their way, so Brown has his teammates captured to allow himself to freely explore the garrisoned town and infiltrate the headquarters, where he rescues his teammates and retrieves the relic. During their exfiltration, Brown finds that the double agent and Nazi informer is none other than Salenkov, who had purposefully led them to the sewers as he knew they would be captured that way. Brown kills the traitor and drives the commandos out of the HQ. Hawkins and O'Brien take out various targets in the ruins of the town, then group up with a Red Army squad to repel several waves of Nazi invaders. Their victory ends with Brown reuniting with the commandos and celebrating.

Gameplay

The player is required to complete a number of objectives in each mission. Throughout the missions, the player will make use of either one or two of the three members of the Strike Force. Each Strike Force member has particular weapons, tools and talents suited to their role. The Green Beret can wield Pistols akimbo and heavy weaponry. The Sniper use scoped rifles and throwing knives and is the only one who can swim in freezing water. The Spy can use a silenced pistol and gas grenades (provided with a gas mask) and wear any uniforms acquired to fool lower ranked soldiers.

Development

Pyro Studios was briefly considering a Commandos 4 game, but ultimately decided to introduce their franchise to console systems by creating a first-person shooter. Taking players' frustrations of the previous games into consideration, the company decided to balance the difficulty elements to their new game. They chose not to base the missions and levels on historically accurate events to make the game design flexible, while deriving some elements from the previous games in the series. [1]

Reception

The game received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [2] [3] [4] Fans of the earlier games in the series felt that Strike Force lacked the trademark difficulty of the previous games. Similarly, it was promoted as mixing elements of strategy from the past games with traditional first-person shooter gameplay, but instead only hinted them while being predominantly action oriented. As a result, both critics and fans felt it did little to distance itself from the recent flood of similar games.[ citation needed ] In Japan, where the PlayStation 2 version was ported and published by Spike on 21 September 2006,[ citation needed ] Famitsu gave it a score of two sevens and two sixes for a total of 26 out of 40. [9]

The game sold poorly, [22] but received an award for sales of at least 40,000 units in Spain. [23]

Related Research Articles

Commandos is a stealth-oriented real-time tactics video game series. The five games released between 1998 and 2006 are all set during World War II and follow the adventures of a fictional Allied commando unit. Each mission is loosely based on historical events during World War II to carry the plot. The series was developed by the Spanish developer Pyro Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. The series has sold a total of 3.3 million copies and generated $41 million of revenue at retail.

<i>BloodRayne</i> (video game) 2002 video game

BloodRayne is an action-adventure hack and slash video game developed by Terminal Reality and released on October 31, 2002. The game has since spawned a franchise with the addition of sequels, films, and self-contained comic books.

<i>BloodRayne 2</i> 2004 action game

BloodRayne 2 is an action hack and slash video game developed by Terminal Reality for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows. It does not follow on directly from where BloodRayne finished; instead, it takes place 60 and 70 years later in a contemporary 2000s setting.

<i>Madden NFL 2003</i> 2002 video game

Madden NFL 2003 is an American football simulation video game based on the NFL that was developed by EA Tiburon and Budcat Creations and published by EA Sports. The 14th installment of the Madden NFL series, the game features former St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk on the cover. This edition of Madden was the first to have EA Trax, the Mini Camp mode, and to feature Al Michaels as play-by-play announcer, who took over for Pat Summerall. Although it featured the expansion Houston Texans and the relocation of the Seattle Seahawks to the NFC, it was actually the second to do so. The game was released on August 12, 2002 for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The PlayStation version also includes the Sega Genesis version of John Madden Football 93.

<i>Madden NFL 2002</i> 2001 video game

Madden NFL 2002 is an American football video game. It features former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper on the cover. Pat Summerall and John Madden are the commentators. The Madden NFL 2002 commercial first aired during Super Bowl XXXVI, three days after Madden NFL 2002 started selling in Japan. Notably, it does not feature the Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, who is included on later editions of the game as a roster update. It is also the first game to be developed by Budcat Creations.

<i>Vietcong</i> (video game) 2003 video game

Vietcong is a 2003 tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Pterodon in cooperation with Illusion Softworks and published by Gathering for Microsoft Windows. It is set during the Vietnam War in 1967.

<i>Battle Engine Aquila</i> 2003 video game

Battle Engine Aquila is a 2003 video game for PlayStation 2 and Xbox developed by Lost Toys and published by Infogrames Europe. In the game the player pilots the Battle Engine for the Forseti military in their wars against the Muspell to decide who will rule what's left of the world. Battle Engine Aquila received little attention from the public despite overall good reviews from critics. It was listed as #86 in the Top 100 Games for PlayStation 2 by IGN. A later Microsoft Windows port was published by Encore Software.

<i>Test Drive Unlimited</i> 2006 video game

Test Drive Unlimited is a 2006 racing video game developed by Eden Games and published by Atari for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Atari Melbourne House developed the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions. Being the eighteenth entry in the Test Drive series, Unlimited serves as a reboot of the franchise, discarding the continuity of the previous games. The game features over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles and the terrain is modeled after the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu that features over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of roads and highways.

<i>Commandos 2: Men of Courage</i> 2001 video game

Commandos 2: Men of Courage is a real-time tactics video game, developed by Pyro Studios, published by Eidos Interactive, and released on September 20, 2001. It is a sequel to Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines and the second installment of the Commandos series, and is the only strategy game of the series to be designed not only for Microsoft Windows, but also for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game sees players taking control of a squad of commandos, along with various allied units, as they sneak behind enemy lines to accomplish various missions in World War II, between 1941 and 1944, that will help them to thwart the war efforts of the Germans and the Japanese. The game features several improvements to the gameplay from its predecessor, including the ability to use enemy weapons and explore interior locations, the inclusion of three new commandos, a number of new skills for the original six members along with their other abilities, and new pieces of equipment to help overcome the enemy.

<i>Torino 2006</i> (video game) 2006 video game

Torino 2006 is the official video game of the XX Olympic Winter Games, hosted by Torino, Italy in 2006. Developed by German studio 49Games and published by 2K, it was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. It is the first licensed Olympic video game to be released on a Microsoft home console, since a planned Xbox version of the prior installment, Salt Lake 2002, was cancelled.

<i>Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown</i> 2003 video game

Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Cinemaware and published by Capcom. It is loosely based on the legend of Robin Hood and remake of Cinemaware's previous game Defender of the Crown, released for PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox, and mobile phones.

<i>Stacked with Daniel Negreanu</i> 2006 video game

Stacked with Daniel Negreanu, known as simply Stacked, is a poker video game by American studio 5000 ft, released in 2006, featuring the titular professional championship player, Daniel Negreanu. Other pros also make an appearance, including Evelyn Ng, Juan Carlos Mortensen, and Erick Lindgren. The game's style of poker is Texas hold'em.

<i>Strike Force Bowling</i> 2004 video game

Strike Force Bowling is a video game of the sports genre released in 2004 by LAB Rats. A previous game, Fast Lanes Bowling, was published by Enlight Software for Microsoft Windows. The two games are similar as they share the same physics engine and graphics, although Strike Force featured more locations as well as left-handed, and reverse-hook bowlers. LAB Rats assisted in the development of Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling so the game has the same physics engine, but has a more fantasy-oriented theme. Strike Force features 14 places to Bowl and 8 Playable characters. There are only 7 locations, but each has its own "nighttime" variant which is unlocked as a secret stage. It also features Golf Mode, Challenge Mode, Skins, and Tournaments. There are also 14 different bowling balls to use, such as the Lightning, and level specific ones like the Bone Crasher and Pharaoh's Magic.

<i>Colin McRae Rally 2005</i> 2004 video game

Colin McRae Rally 2005 is a racing video game developed and published by Codemasters.

<i>TD Overdrive: The Brotherhood of Speed</i> 2002 video game

TD Overdrive: The Brotherhood of Speed is a racing video game developed by Pitbull Syndicate and published by Infogrames for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows.

<i>UEFA Euro 2008</i> (video game) 2008 video game

UEFA Euro 2008 is the official video game of the Euro 2008 football tournament, published by EA Sports. It was developed collaboratively by EA Canada and HB Studios and was released in Europe and North America on 18 April 2008 and 19 May 2008 respectively. The commentary was provided by Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend.

<i>Rogue Trooper</i> (video game) 2006 video game

Rogue Trooper is a third-person shooter video game developed by Rebellion Developments and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2006. The Wii version, entitled Rogue Trooper: Quartz Zone Massacre, was released in 2009.

<i>High Heat Major League Baseball 2004</i> 2003 sports video game

High Heat Major League Baseball 2004, also known as High Heat Baseball 2004 or High Heat 2004, is a video game released in 2003, and is the sixth and final game in the High Heat Major League Baseball video game series published by The 3DO Company, before it filed for bankruptcy in May 2003. The game was released on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows. Versions of the game were also intended to launch on Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and GameCube consoles but were scrapped following 3DO's 2003 bankruptcy. Then-Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Curt Schilling is featured on the cover.

<i>IndyCar Series</i> (video game) 2003 video game

IndyCar Series is a racing simulator developed by Brain in a Jar and published by Codemasters. The game was released in 2003 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows. The game is based on the 2002 Indy Racing League. A sequel to the game, IndyCar Series 2005, was released in 2004 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows based on the 2003 IndyCar Series.

<i>Wakeboarding Unleashed Featuring Shaun Murray</i> 2003 video game

Wakeboarding Unleashed Featuring Shaun Murray is an extreme sports video game developed by Shaba Games, Small Rockets and Beenox, and published by Activision under the Activision O2 label and Aspyr for Game Boy Advance, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox and mobile phones in 2003. It features wakeboarder Shaun Murray.

References

  1. ↑ "QA Commandoes: Strike Force". Official Xbox Magazine . No. 40. Future Publishing. March 2005. pp.  30–31.
  2. 1 2 "Commandos Strike Force for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Commandos Strike Force for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Commandos Strike Force for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Commandos Strike Force". Computer Games Magazine . No. 188. theGlobe.com. July 2006. p. 57.
  6. ↑ Gladstone, Darren (July 2006). "Commandos Strike Force" (PDF). Computer Gaming World . No. 264. Ziff Davis. p. 82. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 EGM staff (May 2006). "Commandos Strike Force (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 203. Ziff Davis. p. 98.
  8. ↑ Rossignol, Jim (27 March 2006). "Commandos: Strike Force (PC)". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  9. 1 2 "This week's Japanese game mag news (Page 6)". NeoGAF . NeoGaf LLC. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 Helgeson, Matt (June 2006). "Commandos Strike Force". Game Informer . No. 158. GameStop. p. 112. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 Kasavin, Greg (14 April 2006). "Commandos Strike Force Review". GameSpot . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  12. ↑ Chapman, David (28 April 2006). "GameSpy: Commandos: Strike Force (PS2)". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  13. ↑ Chapman, David (28 April 2006). "GameSpy: Commandos: Strike Force (Xbox)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 "Commandos: Strike Force Review". GameTrailers . Viacom. 13 April 2006. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  15. ↑ Grabowski, Dakota (2 May 2006). "Commandos Strike Force - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  16. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (16 April 2006). "Commandos Strike Force - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 McNamara, Tom (6 April 2006). "Commandos Strike Force". IGN . Ziff Davis. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  18. ↑ "Commandos Strike Force". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . Ziff Davis. May 2006. p. 80.
  19. ↑ "Commandos Strike Force". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. May 2006. p. 83.
  20. ↑ "Commandos Strike Force". PC Gamer . Vol. 13, no. 6. Future US. June 2006. p. 52.
  21. 1 2 3 Fish, Eliot (22 April 2006). "Commandos Strike Force". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "La odisea de crear un juego en España". www.pcactual.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "Inicio". Archived from the original on 5 April 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.