Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Name: Commandos: Collection
Item: Commandos: Collection
Author: Retro Replay

Commandos: Collection gathers the first four entries in the classic squad-based strategy franchise, each offering unique mission designs and distinctive unit abilities. In Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, you’ll coordinate a tight team of specialists—demolition experts, snipers, medics and more—to infiltrate heavily guarded enemy bases. Beyond the Call of Duty expands on that formula with six fresh missions, presenting new tactical puzzles that demand careful planning and precise timing.

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Commandos 2: Men of Courage refines the core mechanics with enhanced pathfinding, a wider cast of operatives, and more dynamic level objectives spanning Arctic, Russian and Berlin locations. Its controls feel more responsive, letting you switch between characters and execute simultaneous orders with greater ease. Commandos 3: Destination Berlin pushes the series into the 3D era, introducing free‐rotating cameras and even larger maps that test your ability to juggle multiple squads in real time.

Across all four titles, the gameplay stays true to the series’ roots: stealth and strategy over brute force. Each mission is a carefully crafted puzzle, where one wrong move can compromise your entire plan. Although the learning curve is steep—enemies have sharp AI vision cones, and guards respond quickly to any disturbances—the sense of accomplishment when you execute a flawless raid is immensely rewarding.

Graphics

The first two Commandos games feature detailed 2D isometric visuals that, while dated by today’s standards, still hold a nostalgic charm. Buildings, interiors and guard uniforms are clearly drawn, and unit icons remain distinct even on large displays. On modern monitors you may notice slight pixelation, but the overall art direction preserves the atmosphere of WWII covert operations.

With Commandos 2, the leap to pre‐rendered 3D environments brings richer textures, dynamic lighting effects, and more fluid unit animations. Shadows cast by searchlights and flickering torches heighten the tension during night missions. Commandos 3’s fully 3D engine allows camera rotation and zooming, showcasing more complex environments—bombed cities, snowy fortresses and sprawling bunkers—with greater environmental detail.

That said, the entire collection remains anchored in early-2000s technology. You won’t find high-resolution character models or ultra-realistic particle effects, but the graphical style fits the gameplay perfectly. The inclusion of PDF manuals with original concept art and unit diagrams further enhances the visual nostalgia and provides context for the designs you see in-game.

Story

Storytelling in Commandos: Collection is mission-driven rather than narrative-focused. Behind Enemy Lines sets the stage with a loose rescue plot and briefings that explain your objectives. Beyond the Call of Duty deepens the wartime scenarios, sending your team to occupy hidden coastal bases and disrupt enemy supply lines on remote islands.

Men of Courage expands the scope with varied theaters of war—rescuing scientists in Siberia, sabotaging airfields in the Franco-German border region and rescuing VIPs in Berlin’s ruins. Cutscenes and in-game briefings inject personality into each commando unit, highlighting their backgrounds and specialties. Destination Berlin shifts the cast slightly but still delivers high-stakes missions—stealing documents in Prague or defusing bombs in the heart of the Reich.

While there’s no deep character drama or branching narrative, the strong mission contexts and historical nods keep you engaged. The original manuals, now in PDF form, provide extra lore and unit profiles, making it easier to invest in each operative’s role and the broader stakes of every mission.

Overall Experience

As a physical collector’s item, Commandos: Collection impresses with eight discs housed in four sturdy keep cases, all neatly held together by a cardboard slipcase. The inclusion of PDF manuals recreates the feel of unwrapping a boxed set from the late ’90s, complete with original artwork, strategy tips and background information. For fans of tactical strategy and WWII history, this tactile presentation greatly enhances the purchase.

Installation is straightforward, with disc-based setup managers guiding you through each game. On modern operating systems you may need to enable compatibility modes, but once up and running, all four titles perform reliably. The compilation delivers dozens of hours of varied missions, from tight single-building infiltrations to sprawling multi-objective campaigns.

Commandos: Collection stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of meticulous, puzzle-like stealth strategy. It offers excellent value by bundling four complete games plus manuals into one package. Whether you’re revisiting a beloved classic or diving in for the first time, this collection provides a challenging yet highly rewarding tactical experience.