Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Arnie Savage: Combat Commando delivers a high-octane isometric action experience that demands quick reflexes and strategic planning. Players navigate four distinct territories—ranging from a chemical plant full of explosive valves to a jungle POW camp teeming with hostiles—using a mix of firearms, grenades, and environmental tactics to survive. The level design cleverly forces you to juggle precision shooting with grenade throws, encouraging you to find the optimal angle against foxholes that endlessly spawn cannon-fodder enemies.

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The combat loop centers on clearing stages populated by infantry armed with rifles, mortars, and rocket launchers, as well as hardened positions like MG teams, missile batteries, and armored tanks. Defeating these foes often rewards you with superior weapons or health pickups, making every skirmish a chance to power up for the next gauntlet. Smart players learn to prioritize targets: taking out missile teams before they lock on, using grenades to collapse enemy nests, and scavenging first-aid kits to stretch their survival.

Replayability is baked in through the quest for extra lives hidden in destructible crates and dropped by fallen enemies. Attempting to clear all four zones in a single run becomes a satisfying challenge as you grow more familiar with spawn points and patrol patterns. Though lives are limited, the game’s checkpoint placement ensures that even if you stumble in the harbor infiltration or the airfield standoff, you can quickly regroup and dive back into the fray.

Graphics

The isometric viewpoint of Arnie Savage: Combat Commando sets it apart from its platform-based predecessor, with crisp, colorful sprites that pop against varied backdrops. Each environment—from the rusty pipes of the chemical plant to the dense foliage of the jungle—features detailed textures and animated elements like flickering control panels or swinging cargo nets. The result is a visually engaging world that stays readable even when the screen fills with explosions.

Character and enemy sprites are well-animated, sporting smooth walk cycles and distinctive weapon-recoil effects that enhance the sense of weight behind every shot. Tanks and helicopters loom large in the playfield, their scale communicated through multiple sprite layers and subtle shadowing. Even secondary details, such as smoke rising from destroyed barrels or muzzle flashes, give each firefight a dynamic feel without overwhelming the eye.

While the palette sometimes leans toward the darker side—particularly in the jungle and harbor levels—careful color contrasts ensure you can spot both friend and foe at a glance. Despite a few occasional sprite-clipping quirks in tight corridors, the overall graphical fidelity stands up well to other mid-’90s isometric titles, offering both clarity and atmosphere in equal measure.

Story

Arnie Savage: Combat Commando doesn’t hinge on a complex narrative, but it weaves a straightforward setup that keeps the adrenaline pumping. You step into the boots of a musclebound operative tasked with shutting down enemy strongholds, each stage presenting a clear objective—whether you’re blowing pipeline valves in the chemical plant or freeing prisoners from a jungle camp. The simplicity of the plot lets you focus on the action without wading through extensive cutscenes.

Despite its minimal storytelling, the game gives enough context between missions to maintain momentum. Brief mission briefings outline your next target with just enough flavor text—scorched factories, besieged airstrips, or hostile harbors—so you know exactly what’s at stake. This lean approach works in the game’s favor, ensuring that players spend most of their time in the cockpit of combat rather than reading exposition.

For players craving more lore, the subtle nods to the original Arnie platformer add a layer of continuity, suggesting that your commando has faced similar challenges before. Though it never directly references blockbuster films, the allusion to a Hollywood action hero provides just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek swagger, reinforcing the game’s identity as a gritty yet lighthearted shooter.

Overall Experience

As a sequel developed in-house by Zeppelin, Arnie Savage: Combat Commando marks a confident evolution from its Amiga and C64 roots. The shift to isometric action breathes new life into the series, marrying frenetic gunplay with strategic level design. Fans of classic run-and-gun shooters will appreciate the balance between immediate combat thrills and thoughtful resource management, especially when grenades and health kits become scarce.

Difficulty ramps up steadily, making for a rewarding learning curve that keeps you hooked but rarely frustrated. The four distinct territories offer enough variety that each new mission feels fresh, while hidden items and alternate routes entice you to revisit cleared zones. Though the lack of a deep narrative may disappoint story-focused players, the game’s tight mechanics and robust enemy variety more than compensate.

In the end, Arnie Savage: Combat Commando stands out as a polished example of mid-’90s isometric action. It may not be based on any blockbuster movie license, but its relentless pace, solid visuals, and straightforward premise deliver an addictive experience ideal for pick-up-and-play sessions. If you’re craving a tough yet fair shooter that rewards skill and persistence, this muscle-bound adventure is well worth enlisting for.

Retro Replay Score

5.6/10