No, notBionicCommando, orCommandos,orCaptainCommandoorNinjaCommando— just plain oldCommandofor the arcade and NES, amongst other systems.
While easily classified as a “shooter,” a “top-down shooter,” or an “arcade top-down shooter,”Commandodoesn’t really play like most of the games which make up those genres. There are no powerups, no bosses, and no real level variety — and yet despite all this, it’s still one of the more intense and enjoyable shooter/arcade/shmup/whatevers of its time.
WhatSunset Riderswas toContraandMetal Slug,Commandois to, let’s say,1941andRobotron.Hit the jump to find out what the hell I’m talking about.
Story:
Er, almost. Basically, you’re a military commando who is sent behind enemy lines to kill bad guys and save prisoners of war.
Why you’re probably not playing it:
As I’ve said a few times already, much aboutCommandoseems to defy the conventions of whatever genre we’d like to shoehorn the game into. For a shmup, it’s got no powerups; for an arcade shooter, it’s got no boss fights; for an enjoyable game, it’s got no level variety.
Still, that doesn’t meanCommandois one hell of a tense, exciting experience. Since you’re literally forced to play through the game with nothing but your original weapons and the knowledge that a single stray bullet will kill you, the entire thing is much more nerve-wracking than it really has any right to be.
So, should you try it out? Undoubtedly. Will you necessarilyenjoyit? Maybe, maybe not — depends on how much unconventioniality* you’re willing to accept from an older shooter. Like all NES games, it’s insanely easy to NOT emulate, and it’s on Gametap as well. Give it a shot.
*A real word
