Commandos 2: Men of Courage

Commandos 2: Men of Courage
Developer(s)	Pyro Studios Zonic Limited (Mac OS X)
Publisher(s)	Eidos Interactive Feral Interactive (Mac OS X)
Series	Commandos series
Platforms	Windows Macintosh PlayStation 2 Xbox Mac OS X
Release date(s)	Windows PlayStation 2 Xbox
Genre(s)	Real-time tactics
Mode(s)	Single player Multiplayer (Co-op)

Commandos 2: Men of Courage is the sequel to Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines and Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty. The games were developed by Pyro Studios, and published by Eidos Interactive. The Mac OS X version of the game was released in 2005 by Feral Interactive along with Commandos 3: Destination Berlin as part of the Commandos Battle Pack.

The game places the player in command of a squad of commandos and various allies as they sneak behind enemy lines to accomplish their objectives. The action stretches from 1941 to 1945 and takes place on both the Western Front against the Germans and the Pacific theatre against the Japanese.

Gameplay

The Commandos

At the beginning of each mission, you, the player, are the official responsible for a small, but very special, group of characters, known as the Commando Corps, in order to complete the objectives. They are all exceptional and have been thoroughly trained for missions behind enemy lines. Additionally, each one has unique skills and abilities that you will have the chance to exploit when assigning orders during the missions:

• Jerry "Tiny" McHale (The Green Beret. Sometimes known as Jack "the Butcher" O'Hara in previous games): Born in Dublin on 10 October 1909, McHale was the heavy-weight champion of the Army boxing league from 1934 to 1937 consecutively. He was sentenced by a military jury to 14 years hard labor after knocking out an official, superior in rank. He was pardoned when he accepted the offer to join the Commandos group. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant after the battle of Vaagso Island, where after being shot in the arm, isolated from his unit, and without using a single firearm, he sneaked into a bunker and killed the 16 enemy soldiers inside before returning to the Allied front line. Tiny is biggest member of the group and his tremendous strength allows him to fight, knock out, and tie the enemies very quickly. He is able to knock out virtually every door, jump from incredible heights, climb poles, and swing along wires. He is also the second fastest runner of the Commandos and his amazing stamina allows him to withstand flesh wounds and gunshots that would kill any other soldier. His preferred lethal weapons are his knife and his bare hands. He can use both in deadly combinations especially when he uses the element of surprise. His enemies don't stand a chance. His code name is a reference to the green berets worn by the British Commandos in World War II and later adopted by Special Forces of several other countries including the United States.

• Sir Francis T. "Duke" Woolridge (The Sniper): Woolridge was born in Sheffield, England; on 21 March 1909, into one of the more influential families of the British aristocracy. Known among his colleagues as "Duke," he is an excellent sniper. His cool temperament and self-control allowed him to shoot and kill the chief commander of the German army with a single shot, at a distance of over a mile, during the Narvik invasion. "Duke" is cool and self-controlled. At his actions are perfectly calculated. Considered one of the best snipers in the world, he very rarely wastes a bullet. His most common missions involve clearing a path for his colleagues and eliminating concealed enemies. He will stand behind windows, poles, or other objects that offer shelter, while he provides cover for the advancing Commando troops.

• Sid "Tread" Perkins (The Driver): Perkins was born on 4 April 1910, in Brooklyn, US. Little is known of his life, but in 1937, he travelled to the UK and joined the British Army. While co-operating with the Foreign Office, he investigated and tested weapons and vehicles taken from enemy armies. During this time, he met Paddy Maine, who convinced him to join the Commandos group. In 1942, he appeared in all the British newspapers when during the course of the assault on the Tamet aerodrome, he ran out of ammunition and decided to ram is vehicle against the target. The explosion that destroyed the first airplane produced a chain reaction that demolished most of the aerodrome with astonishing results. "Tread" enjoys fighting the enemy and can drive any vehicle, including tanks. His regular tools of choice are gas bombs, smoke bombs, hunting traps, Molotov cocktails, and cable to make traps, to name but a few.

• Thomas "Inferno" Hancock (the Sapper): Born in Liverpool on the 14th of January, 1911, Hancock took a degree in chemistry and at 22 joined the Firefighters, where he specialized as an expert in high risk explosives. In 1939, he joined the army and one year later joined the Commando Corps as a volunteer. His profound knowledge of developing and planting explosives has resulted in a string of successful missions. During the assault on Saint Nazare he was responsible for the controlled explosions that flooded the harbor buildings and killed numerous German soldiers. "Inferno" is an expert in calculating, placing, and developing explosives. The materials he carries in his backpack are sensitive but heavy, forcing him to move slowly and preventing him from entering water. He can operate other weapons, such as grenades, time bombs, bazooka, flamethrowers, and mine detectors. He can detect and deactivate mines for use at a late time. He can form minefields in areas where enemies and their vehicles will pass. He is also the only Commando who can fire the turret of a tank.

• James "Fins" Blackwood, (The Diver): Blackwood was born in Australia on 3 August 1911. He joined the Navy where his ability to swim and row greatly accelerated his promotion to the rank of captain. Two years later, his aggressive character and repeated disobedience were to blame for his demotion to the rank of private within the Commando Corps. In 1943, he was honored with the Military Cross after his heroic evacuation of 45 men from the beach of Dunkirk after it ad been taken by the enemy. "Fins" is a specialist trained for aquatic-based missions. With his harpoon gun and diving equipment, he is able to spend hours underwater without worrying about oxygen supply or the danger he may encounter at sea. On land he as complete mastery of throwing knives and carries a grappling hook that he uses to silently climb buildings, walls, and trees. He is also the only one who can pilot row boats.

• René "Spooky" Duchamp (The Spy): Born in Lyon, France on 20 November 1911, Duchamp joined the French Secret Service when he was 25 years old. He served as Security Chief at the French Embassy in Berlin, where he learned relevant information about several members of the Hitler Staff. At the start of the war, he joined the French Army and became one of the main active members of the French resistance. He has often been a valuable team member of the Commandos group and on many occasions has been of a vital help when planning covert assault operations. His knowledge of the tactics and personalities of the German military has repeatedly proved its use for the English Secret Service. "Spooky" speaks several languages fluently and has a natural instinct for imitation. These talents are invaluable on his missions as a secret agent. One of his most common assignments is to infiltrate enemy lines wearing a stolen enemy uniform and divert, deceive, or give deceptive orders to enemy soldiers lower in rank (this does not work generals or SS officers). His attack involves silent and cautious movement and he attempts to use minimum force if possible. His preferred weapon is a syringe loaded with a lethal poison that can daze, knock out, or even kill his opponents, completely and silently.

• Natasha "Lips" Nikochevski (The Seductress): Born in Kiev, Ukraine, on 21 April 1912, Nikochevski is the daughter of an aristocrat from the Netherlands and a Russian dame exiled after the 1917 Revolution. According to her political convictions, she joined the Resistance in her father's country in 1943. She combines this activity with occasional missions with the Commandos. Natasha speaks several languages as her alias shows. She is a fascinating woman but extremely deadly. She is always ready to distract the enemy by combining fluent conversation with an appropriate costume and the help of her lipstick, but only when generals or SS are not present. She is not especially aggressive but is perfectly able to assist the Commandos when necessary. She is a remarkably good sniper, as "Duke" will attest. Her name may be a tongue in cheek reference to Natasha Fatale from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

• Paul Toledo, (The Thief) a French operative known as "Lupin". He is the smallest, the sneakiest and fastest, and can climb certain walls and jump through windows. He can also lock-pick boxes and certain doors and knock opponents out with a roundhouse kick, but he can't tie them up. His code name is a reference to the Maurice Leblanc character Arsène Lupin.

Other playable characters

• Whiskey, a bull terrier dog whose owner was a member of the French resistance shot by the Nazis. He can be used to distract enemies and pass items between commandos who use a dog whistle to call him. he can detect mines, and move through minefields without setting them off.
• A Burmese spiritual leader who does not fight but can be used to carry equipment.
• Spike, a mouse given to Paul Toledo by the Burmese Spiritual leader, which can be used to distract enemies.
• Wilson, a former Royal Air Force Pilot who was shot down by the Japanese and helps the commandos by distracting enemies with his trumpet and carrying items.
• Guinness, a British officer who aids the commandos in destroying a railroad bridge.
• Private Smith, an American soldier the commandos have to rescue and keep alive in the face of heavy enemy attacks.
• Some missions also give you control of additional generic troops who can also be moved, armed, used to carry supplies and fight; such characters include allied soldiers, a submarine crew, a squad of Gurkhas, and assorted Prisoners of War.

Missions

The game comprises a total of 21 missions: 2 Training Missions, 10 Main Missions and 9 Bonus missions.

Main Missions:

• 1) Night of the Wolves (May 1941 - La Pallice Base, La Rochelle, France)
• 2) Das Boot, Silent Killers (May 1941 - La Pallice Base, La Rochelle, France)
• 3) White Death (May 1941 - North Sea, Arctic Polar Circle)
• 4) Target: Burma (May 1942 - Burma)
• 5) Bridge Over the River Kwai (June 1942 - Tamarkan Bridge, Thailand)
• 6) The Guns of Savo Island (July 1942 - Savo Island, Solomon Islands)
• 7) The Giant in Haiphong (Spring 1944 - Haiphong, Vietnam)
• 8) Saving Private Smith (June 1944 - Normandy, France)
• 9) Castle Colditz (August 1944 - Colditz, Germany)
• 10) Is Paris Burning? (August 1944 - Paris, France)

Plot

The interface for Commandos 2: Men of Courage. The commandos are displayed in the top left, the game commands and map are in the top right and the actions that can be performed by the selected commando are in the bottom right. This screenshot shows the "Target: Burma" mission, which involves the commandos rescuing a spiritual leader and a unit of Gurkhas.

In May 1941, commandos Paul Toledo and Natasha Nikochevski capture an Enigma machine and its codebook in a German submarine base at La Pallice in La Rochelle, France. While Natasha leaves the base, Toledo is ordered to stay behind with the Enigma to assist the other commandos (Jack O'Hara, Thomas Hancock, James Blackwood & René Duchamp) when they arrive at daybreak to rescue the crew of a Royal Navy submarine, the E-423, sheltered and under heavy guard in a submarine pen. They destroy the base's anti-aircraft guns and torpedo warehouse before escaping in the submarine.

While in the North Sea, the Royal Navy submarine is caught and forced to surface in the frigid waters after being depth charged by a German destroyer. The enigma machine is confiscated and the entire crew captured with the exception of Blackwood and Hancock, both of whom evaded capture. After rescuing the crew, the commandos proceed to recover the Enigma and disable the destroyer's main guns and boiler room. Under orders that the Enigma be hastily brought to England, O'Hara and Duchamp takeoff in a Fieseler Fi 156, while the rest escape in the submarine.

A year passes and the commandos are deployed to the Pacific Theatre. In Burma, they rescue a spiritual leader and assassinate a Japanese tyrant with the help of Gurkhas. On 17 June 1942, the commandos are sent to northern Thailand, where they rescue a Colonel Guinness, who in turn helps them destroy the bridge over the River Kwai by revealing its structural weakness. The bridge is blown up just as a train of the Imperial Japanese Army high command crosses it, plummeting into the river.

In July 1942, the commandos land on the strongly fortified Savo Island to disable the large artillery guns, before Operation Watchtower can commence. While on the island, they are assisted by a castaway named Wilson. After destroying the artillery and rescuing a downed American pilot, he returns the favour by piloting a Kawanishi H8K to help them escape the island, but not before telling them of a gold monkey statue which is symbolic to the Japanese. O'Hara steals it as a souvenir.

In Spring of 1944, the commandos are sent to Haiphong, Indochina, destroying the port's fuel depots and infiltrating the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano. While out at sea, the commandos sabotage the rudder of every A6M Zero and report the carrier's position before escaping in two intact Zeroes. The Shinano is then bombed by American Vought F4U Corsairs.

Following their tour of duty in the Pacific, the commandos are recalled to the Western Front for the Normandy invasion. During the battle of Cherbourg, they rescue a wounded Private Smith, and with the help of American soldiers, successfully defend the town from waves of German infantry and Panzer III tanks. A few months later, Toledo is captured and taken to Colditz Castle where he is to be executed. The commandos save him and they help the prisoners of war housed there escape by disguising them in German uniform. While the prisoners escape, the commandos acquire top secret documents from three high-ranking German officers, revealing plans to devastate Paris with planted explosives before it is liberated.

In August 1944, the entire commando corps arrive in Paris and thwart plans to destroy much of the city, before leaving in an airship from top of the Eiffel Tower.

Cultural references

• The mission "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is based on the movie of the same name. The character of Guinness is based on Alec Guinness, the star of the movie.
• The mission "Guns of Savo Island" involves the infiltration and destruction of the giant guns on the island. Because the name and the plot are very similar, this mission may also be based on the film The Guns of Navarone. In the same mission, the player is assisted by a "hero" character named Wilson (referencing Castaway) who is based on Robinson Crusoe's character.
• Saving Private Smith is loosely based on the film Saving Private Ryan.
• The mission "Das Boot, Silent Killers" is a reference to the movie Das Boot.
• The mission "Castle Colditz" (actually based on the Nazi POW prison Oflag IV-C) involves the rescue of Allied soldiers in Germany; it is loosely based on the films The Great Escape and The Colditz Story, also incorporating elements from Hogan's Heroes.
• The mission "Is Paris Burning?" is related to film Is Paris Burning?.

Mod

A mod of this game called Commandos 2: Destination Paris (a reference to the title of Commandos 3: Destination Berlin) was created for PC in 2004, making the existing missions of Commandos 2 far more difficult to complete. In the mod, the player faces more dangerous enemies, redesigned levels and a shortage of items and ammunition. Created by Commandos 2 fans, the mod offers new challenges to seasoned players while still being accessible to newcomers.

Reception

The PC version of Commandos 2 was well received with a score of 87 out of 100 at Metacritic. The game was praised for the AI which was advanced for the time but criticized for the steep learning curve. The PS2 version was not so well received with a score of 67 out of 100 at Metacritic. Many reviewers found that the controls were much less intuitive and easy to use than the PC controls and that they made the game more difficult as a result. Most reviewers recommended the PC version instead.

External links

• Commandos 2 - Information and downloads
• Commandos Battle Pack at Feral Interactive