Commandos Pro Simulator

Commandos Pro Simulator is a first-person action shooter developed by indiegames3000, utilizing Unreal Engine 4 for immersive combat scenarios. While drawing inspiration from the WWII-themed Commandos series, the game shifts perspectives to deliver fast-paced direct-control gameplay, focusing on intense shooter mechanics rather than the original franchise’s tactical stealth roots. Released in 2021 for Windows, it offers a modernized take on wartime action.

Commandos Pro Simulator: Review

Introduction

The Commandos series, born in 1998 with Pyro Studios’ Behind Enemy Lines, established itself as a foundational pillar of the stealth-oriented real-time tactics (RTT) genre. Celebrated for punishing difficulty, intricate team-based puzzle-solving, and a gripping WWII espionage atmosphere, its legacy is one of innovation and refinement. When Commandos Pro Simulator launched on Steam in 2021 at a budget-friendly $1.99, expectations were ambiguous—could this independent offshoot honor its namesake? The answer is a resounding no. By abandoning the series’ tactical DNA in favor of a janky, FPS-driven arcade shooter, Commandos Pro Simulator stands as a jarring misfire—a cautionary tale of franchise dilution and unrealized potential.

Development History & Context

Developed and published by the nebulous studio “indiegames3000,” Commandos Pro Simulator emerged during a resurgence of interest in the Commandos IP, fueled by Kalypso Media’s HD remasters of Commandos 2 (2020) and Commandos 3 (2022). Unlike Pyro Studios’ original titles or even the divisive Strike Force (2006)—a first-person experiment that retained thematic ties to WWII infiltration—Pro Simulator lacks any connection to the series’ creators or narrative continuity. Built on Unreal Engine 4, its low-budget production values reflect the modern “asset flip” trend on Steam—a far cry from the meticulous design of classics like Men of Courage.

The timing is notable: 2021–2025 saw Kalypso investing in Commandos: Origins (2025), a canonical prequel crafted by Claymore Game Studios. Pro Simulator, by contrast, feels like opportunistic exploitation of the IP’s lingering recognition, offering no meaningful homage to its forebears.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Where mainline Commandos games wove cinematic WWII vignettes—sabotaging U-boats, liberating Burma, or infiltrating Nazi strongholds—Pro Simulator eliminates narrative entirely. There are no briefings from Colonel Smith, no character-specific roles, no historical context. Players merely select between generic “commandos” or “terrorists” in sterile arenas, reducing the series’ rich ensemble (Green Berets, Spies, Thieves, and Whiskey the dog) to anonymous soldier models.

Thematically, Commandos explored sacrifice, ingenuity, and the moral ambiguities of wartime special ops. Pro Simulator replaces this with mindless PvP and bot-stuffed slaughterfests, stripping away the tension and moral weight that defined the series. It’s a heartbreaking dissolution of identity—less a tribute than a thematic betrayal.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Commandos thrived on methodical planning: coordinating silenced pistol shots, disguises, and environmental traps across isometric battlefields. Pro Simulator dumbs this down to a barebones shooter, with:
– Uninspired Combat: Clunky gunplay plagued by erratic hit detection, feeble AI (“enemies” often sprint into walls), and a laughable “sniper scope” that zooms marginally.
– Broken Multiplayer: Advertised modes like “Conquest” and “Kill Confirmed” suffer from desync and empty lobbies, rendering Lan/Steam integration useless.
– Half-Baked Features: The first/third-person toggle adds nothing strategic, while “bullet hell” and “hero shooter” tags (per Steam descriptors) feel like algorithm-chasing lies.

The result is a shallow, bug-riddled experience—Call of Duty’s discarded parts fused with Unity store assets. Unlike Strike Force, which at least attempted hybrid tactical-FPS design, Pro Simulator lacks even basic polish.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Original Commandos games transported players to evocative WWII theaters via painterly 2D art, dynamic weather, and Mateo Pascual’s haunting scores. Pro Simulator’s “world” consists of boxy, Unreal Engine-default maps (empty warehouses, flat deserts) devoid of atmosphere or detail. Textures blur under flat lighting, and character models resemble plastic action figures.

Sound design is equally abysmal: generic gunfire, absent voice lines, and a looping electronic track that clashes with the setting. The absence of David García-Morales’ iconic motifs—or any audio identity—underscores the game’s creative bankruptcy.

Reception & Legacy

Commandos Pro Simulator debuted to withering scorn:

• Steam Reviews: “Mostly Negative” (33% positive), citing “broken controls,” “non-existent AI,” and “a scam trading on the Commandos name” (Steambase, 2025).
• Cultural Impact: Ignored by critics—Metacritic lists no reviews—and omitted from Kalypso’s official franchise canon.

Its legacy is one of ignominy: a Steam curio remembered only as a footnote in the Commandos saga. Unlike Strike Force, which polarized fans but catalyzed reflection on genre shifts, Pro Simulator simply evaporates from memory—a warning against IP exploitation without passion or craft.

Conclusion

Commandos Pro Simulator is not merely bad—it is anti-Commandos. Where Pyro Studios demanded patience and intellect, this imitation peddles chaos and indifference. Its existence speaks to the perils of detached franchise stewardship, where legacy is reduced to a keyword for profit. For historians, it’s a stark lesson: reverence matters. Avoid this simulacrum; replay HD Remaster instead. 1/10—a dishonorable discharge from video game history.