Commandos: Ammo Pack

Commandos: Ammo Pack is a strategic real-time tactics compilation set in World War II, bundling the acclaimed ‘Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines’ (1998) and its expansion ‘Beyond the Call of Duty’ (1999). Players lead an elite team of specialized Allied commandos — each with unique abilities like sabotage, stealth, and combat — through perilous missions across diverse wartime theaters, including occupied France and North African fronts. The game emphasizes tactical coordination, environmental exploitation, and puzzle-like precision to overcome enemy forces, enhanced by period-accurate briefings and dynamic scenarios.

Commandos: Ammo Pack: Review

Commandos: Ammo Pack, a compilation of the original Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines and its expansion Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty, stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of tactical stealth games. Developed by Pyro Studios and published by Eidos Interactive, this bundle offers a rich, historically inspired experience that has captivated strategy enthusiasts since its release in 1999. This review delves into the game’s development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, world-building, critical reception, and lasting legacy.

Development History & Context

Studio and Creators’ Vision

Pyro Studios, a Spanish developer founded in 1996, envisioned a unique blend of real-time tactics and stealth gameplay. The studio aimed to create a game that emphasized strategic planning and execution, drawing inspiration from World War II ensemble films like The Dirty Dozen. The creators’ vision was to develop a game that would stand out in the crowded strategy genre by focusing on small-unit tactics and environmental interaction.

Technological Constraints and Gaming Landscape

The late 1990s presented both opportunities and challenges for game developers. The technological landscape was rapidly evolving, with advancements in 3D graphics and processing power enabling more immersive and complex games. However, these advancements also raised the bar for what players expected from their gaming experiences. Commandos: Ammo Pack leveraged these technological advancements to deliver a game that was visually impressive for its time, featuring detailed isometric graphics and a multi-view camera system.

The gaming landscape of the late 1990s was dominated by real-time strategy (RTS) games like Command & Conquer and StarCraft. Pyro Studios sought to differentiate Commandos by focusing on stealth and tactical decision-making, rather than large-scale army production and resource management. This approach resonated with players who were looking for a more cerebral and strategic gaming experience.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

Commandos: Ammo Pack is set during World War II, with missions spanning from 1939 to 1945. The game follows a team of six elite Allied commandos, each with unique skills and abilities. The commandos are tasked with executing high-risk missions behind enemy lines, ranging from sabotage and assassination to rescue operations. The narrative is loosely based on historical events, providing a backdrop of authenticity and immersion.

The commandos themselves are a diverse group, each with their own backstory and personality. The Green Beret, for example, is a tough Irishman who excels in close-quarters combat. The Sniper is an educated aristocrat who provides long-range support. The Sapper is a demolitions expert who can handle explosives and sabotage enemy infrastructure. The Driver is a loud American who can handle vehicles and heavy weapons. The Marine is an Australian who can navigate aquatic environments. The Spy is a Frenchman who can use deception and stealth to infiltrate enemy lines.

Dialogue and Themes

The dialogue in Commandos: Ammo Pack is minimal but effective. Each commando has a distinct voice and mannerisms, adding depth to their characters. The game’s themes revolve around heroism, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of warfare. The commandos must navigate treacherous terrain and enemy patrols, often facing impossible odds. The game emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and execution, as well as the value of teamwork and coordination.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

Commandos: Ammo Pack is a real-time tactics game that emphasizes stealth and strategic planning. The game’s core gameplay loop involves studying enemy movements, developing intricate plans, and synchronizing the commandos’ actions to execute swift and effective attacks. The gameplay is divided into missions, each with its own set of objectives and challenges.

The game’s user interface is intuitive and easy to use. Players can issue commands to their commandos using a point-and-click system, with hotkeys for quick actions. The game also features a multi-view camera system, allowing players to monitor multiple angles simultaneously. This system is essential for planning stealth approaches in complex environments.

Combat and Character Progression

Combat in Commandos: Ammo Pack is not about brute force but rather about precision and timing. The commandos are outnumbered and outgunned, so direct confrontation is often lethal. Instead, players must rely on stealth and deception to achieve their objectives. The game features a variety of weapons and tools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Players must choose the right tool for the job and use it effectively to avoid detection and complete their missions.

Character progression in Commandos: Ammo Pack is limited. Each commando has a fixed set of skills and abilities, and there is no option for recruiting additional personnel during gameplay. This fixed team structure emphasizes strategic planning, as losing any member results in mission failure. Players must learn to utilize the full squad’s capabilities to overcome the game’s challenges.

Innovative and Flawed Systems

One of the game’s innovative systems is its body disposal mechanics. Commandos can hide corpses in barrels, haystacks, or water to prevent enemy alerts, adding depth to the real-time tactics layer. The game also features a variety of distractions and decoys, allowing players to lure enemies away from their objectives.

However, the game is not without its flaws. The difficulty spikes can be abrupt and unfair, with some missions feeling overly linear and frustrating due to trial-and-error elements. The game’s lack of music and sound effects can also be a drawback, with the minimalistic auditory landscape sometimes feeling too quiet.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

Commandos: Ammo Pack is set against the backdrop of World War II, with missions spanning diverse historical environments. The game’s isometric perspective provides a clear overhead tactical overview, allowing players to study enemy movements and plan their strategies accordingly. The game’s detailed environments, from snowy landscapes to stormy nights, enhance immersion and provide a sense of authenticity.

Visual Direction

The game’s visual direction is impressive for its time. The isometric graphics are detailed and sharp, with a high resolution that allows for clear and precise gameplay. The commandos themselves are well-designed, with distinct appearances and mannerisms that add depth to their characters. However, the game’s visuals can feel dated by today’s standards, with some elements looking bland or carbon-copy.

Sound Design

The sound design in Commandos: Ammo Pack prioritizes realistic World War II-era audio. The game features a variety of sound effects, from pistol and submachine gun fire to silent footsteps and alarms. The game’s minimalistic auditory landscape amplifies tension and focuses player attention on subtle cues. However, the game’s lack of background music can be a drawback, with the quiet atmosphere sometimes feeling too sterile.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Commandos: Ammo Pack received critical acclaim upon its release, with reviewers praising its innovative gameplay mechanics and historical setting. The game was lauded for its challenging missions and strategic depth, with critics noting its emphasis on stealth and tactical decision-making. The game’s commercial performance was also strong, with over 1 million units sold worldwide.

However, the game’s reception was not universally positive. Some critics noted the game’s abrupt difficulty spikes and linear mission design, with some missions feeling overly frustrating due to trial-and-error elements. The game’s lack of music and sound effects was also a point of contention, with some reviewers feeling that the minimalistic auditory landscape was too quiet.

Influence on Subsequent Games and the Industry

Commandos: Ammo Pack has had a lasting influence on the strategy genre, with its emphasis on stealth and tactical decision-making. The game’s innovative gameplay mechanics, such as its body disposal system and multi-view camera, have been emulated by subsequent titles in the genre. The game’s historical setting and authentic World War II environments have also set a standard for other strategy games set during the same period.

The game’s legacy can be seen in modern stealth-tactics games like Desperados III and Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, which adopted and refined its core mechanics for contemporary audiences. The game’s enduring appeal is a testament to its innovative design and strategic depth, as well as its ability to capture the tension and heroism of wartime espionage.

Conclusion

Commandos: Ammo Pack is a classic real-time tactics game that emphasizes stealth and strategic planning. The game’s historical setting, detailed environments, and innovative gameplay mechanics make it a standout title in the strategy genre. Despite its flaws, such as abrupt difficulty spikes and a lack of music, the game’s enduring appeal is a testament to its innovative design and strategic depth. Commandos: Ammo Pack is a must-play for fans of strategy games and a classic that continues to influence the genre today. Its place in video game history is secure, and its legacy will continue to inspire future generations of game developers.