Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Small Soldiers: Squad Commander delivers a straightforward Real Time Tactics experience that stays true to its movie roots. You’ll command either the Commando Elite or the Gorgonites through a series of 20 missions, each reflecting iconic locations from the film. The emphasis is on quick decision-making—position your units, issue attack orders, and monitor health bars all with the mouse.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Mission design offers a respectable variety for a children’s title. Early stages take place in cozy domestic settings like a living room or backyard, while later missions shift to more expansive areas such as a toy store aisle or a school hallway. Objectives range from base defense and escort duties to outright assaults, keeping the gameplay loop fresh throughout your 10-mission runs with each faction.

Squad management is intuitive but not without challenges. Units auto-target nearby foes, but smart use of cover and flanking maneuvers can turn the tide of battle. While the AI occasionally gets stuck behind environmental obstacles, veteran players can exploit choke points and line-of-sight tactics to ensure victory. Difficulty ramps up steadily, making it accessible to younger audiences yet engaging enough for seasoned strategy fans.

Graphics

The game’s visuals capture the whimsical charm of the Small Soldiers universe. Character models faithfully recreate the toy-like proportions and bright color schemes of the Commando Elite and Gorgonites, giving each squad a distinct personality on the battlefield. Animations are cartoonish and exaggerated, which enhances the lighthearted tone.

Environments are rendered with simple geometry and a modest color palette, but they’re packed with movie-inspired details. You’ll spot overturned toy blocks in the living room mission, snack wrappers in the convenience store, and chalk drawings in the schoolyard. These touches help immerse players in a world where everyday spaces become grand combat arenas.

Performance remains stable on modest hardware, with load times kept to a minimum between missions. Effects like muzzle flashes, explosions, and occasional environmental destruction lend visual flair without overwhelming the engine. Though it won’t rival high-end strategy titles of its era, Small Soldiers: Squad Commander strikes a satisfying balance between style and playability.

Story

Small Soldiers: Squad Commander loosely adapts the film’s premise, pitting the militaristic Commando Elite against the pacifist Gorgonites. The overarching narrative is simple: secure resources, disable enemy installations, and ultimately assert control over the battlefield. While there’s no deep character development, brief cutscenes bookend missions with playful dialogue that nods to the movie’s humor.

Each campaign unfolds in a sequence that mirrors the film’s progression, from suburban showdowns to schoolyard standoffs. The lack of branching paths or moral choices keeps the story linear but ensures that younger players can follow along without confusion. Voice clips and text prompts provide enough context to motivate your tactical decisions.

Though the plot won’t win any awards for originality, it serves its purpose as a framework for tactical skirmishes. Fans of the movie will appreciate the familiar beats and casual in-jokes, while newcomers can still enjoy a cohesive storyline that transitions smoothly between objectives.

Overall Experience

Small Soldiers: Squad Commander offers an accessible entry point into Real Time Tactics, especially for younger audiences or fans of the movie franchise. Its balance of simple controls, varied mission settings, and playful visuals create an engaging afternoon diversion. Completing both Commando Elite and Gorgonite campaigns provides roughly 8–10 hours of gameplay.

Some technical hiccups—like occasional pathfinding quirks and a lack of advanced tactics—keep this title from breaking new ground in strategy gaming. However, the well-paced difficulty curve and recognizable universe more than compensate for those shortcomings. The game’s approachable complexity makes it a solid pick for parents seeking a mild tactical challenge for their children.

Overall, Small Soldiers: Squad Commander succeeds as a licensed adaptation that remains faithful to its source material while delivering straightforward tactical action. It’s best suited for younger players, nostalgic fans of the film, or anyone looking for a light-hearted strategy experience without the steep learning curve often associated with the genre.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10