Engage in a tactical journey through Commandos: Origins, where players experience the daring missions of British commandos in World War II.
Most games about World War II focus on grand battles, tank skirmishes, or bloody confrontations in the streets of Stalingrad and Berlin. However, overshadowed by these epic battles are the unsung heroes who contributed significantly to the victory over Germany — the special forces.
One of the most well-known units during World War II was the British commandos, who made life miserable for the Wehrmacht throughout the conflict. These brave specialists are the focus of the upcoming Commandos: Origins, set to release on April 9, 2025.
This game serves as a prequel to the cult tactical strategy series, designed by new developers. In this article, we'll dive into what surprises and captivates us about Origins, discussing its mechanics, plot, and a few drawbacks that slightly mar the experience.
Commandos, Churchill, and Dunkirk
The game’s narrative kicks off after the Dunkirk operation when Winston Churchill proposed creating a special unit — the commandos. The range of tasks for these special forces was extensive: from blowing up convoys to capturing valuable intelligence and disrupting communication systems, all while deep behind enemy lines away from their home country.
Commandos: Origins is divided into several large missions where players must complete assigned tasks while progressing until the end of World War II. Players can control two out of the six available soldiers during their outings. Historically, there were operations involving just a couple of fighters — for example, the “JV” operation, which involved blowing up a German tanker in a French port in April 1942.
Two in the Field Are Warriors
Missions in Commandos: Origins, while linear, are quite extensive and branching, giving commandos room for tactical maneuvers. Players must proceed slowly to their assigned targets, calculating every step. After all, we are playing as specialized scouts, not superheroes with a Tommy gun in hand. Direct confrontations with superior enemy forces often result in the squad's demise. Thinking on your feet is essential.
Each of the six commandos has a specific specialization. There’s a green beret who can kick down doors, carry more ammunition, and use sound distractions. A sniper provides cover, while a sapper lays mines. There’s plenty of scope for applying familiar classes. The green beret can climb ropes, sneak around enemies from behind, turn off the lights in a room, and toss in a grenade.
The sniper can take out two enemies with one bullet, while the sapper opens new paths for flanking. The mission maps are extensive areas with many interactive objects. Players can lure enemies with a whistle, finish them off with a knife, or drag a flammable barrel to blow up a whole squad with a single shot. The situations in Commandos vary, and sometimes solutions are simple, but one must first think them through.
The combat system isn't turn-based, but if a detailed plan is needed, players can issue commands to soldiers in commander mode and activate actions either all at once or with a slight pause. Once players grasp the mechanics, they can almost recreate scenes from Hollywood movies about special forces. Quick, precise, and stealthy — that’s how commandos operate.
The Germans Are No Fools Either
The artificial intelligence generally performs admirably. There are times when the enemies behave oddly, but we encountered no truly foolish moments. If the Germans hear gunfire, they will surely rush to help their comrades. If they discover a corpse, they’ll begin searching through the bushes for the saboteurs. Upon detection, the alarm goes off, and the entire garrison is on alert. Finding a hiding spot won’t be easy.
A Good Fit for Beginners and Hardcore Gamers
Commandos: Origins features a user-friendly difficulty system. If a gamer is a complete novice, pressing the Tab key displays all enemies and interactive objects. Players can see where the enemy is looking to avoid being spotted.
However, on the highest difficulty setting, the interface becomes minimalist, hints vanish, and enemies grow smarter and more vigilant. Even the developers recommend completing the game at least once before attempting hardcore mode.
In addition to the primary objectives (like stealing intelligence), missions also have optional tasks. But completing these is not compulsory. Should the player rescue captured British soldiers or continue toward the designated point? It’s up to the player — commandos are not here to rescue hostages, but leaving comrades in the hands of the Germans isn’t ideal either.
Players aren’t forced to eliminate all enemies in missions; the key is to complete the main objective. Blowing up communication nodes to prevent Luftwaffe pilots from launching air raids is already a success. Whether to destroy a bomber at an airfield is entirely the player’s choice.
Commandos: Origins also includes collectible retro photographs of various equipment and weapons. Collecting will delight players who love exploring every corner of the game.
Into Battle Together with a Friend
Notably, Commandos: Origins features a cooperative mode. This isn’t just about playing online with a friend — you can also play tactics on the same computer in split-screen mode. However, keep in mind that a gamepad is necessary. One commando plays on the keyboard while the other uses a joystick. This makes the experience more dynamic and fun. It’s easier and more convenient to control one fighter than two, and tactical maneuvers increase.
Not Without Its Flaws
Occasionally, players may encounter bugs in the game. After a quick save, the bodies of fallen enemies might take on strange poses. Secondary British characters sometimes unexpectedly speak German during combat. It could be a quirk to confuse the Wehrmacht infantry, but it feels more like a glitch. Localization issues also arise. In one cutscene, our Russian subtitles disappeared when the commandos engaged in a firefight with the enemy. However, these issues will likely be patched soon.
One thing players will have to accept is the inability to pick up weapons from slain enemies. The game allocates a limited number of bullets for each mission to avoid senseless bloodbaths. Gunfights in Commandos: Origins are risky enough and often lead to fatal outcomes. Still, it feels odd not being able to pick up a Mauser rifle instead of a Colt M1911.
Overall, no serious drawbacks were noticed in Commandos: Origins. The graphics are pleasant, and the system requirements are not overwhelming, making it accessible for those not equipped with high-end hardware.
The slow-paced nature can sometimes feel tedious, and it’s challenging to avoid feeling foolish. However, in Commandos: Origins, each situation resembles solving a mini-puzzle. You feel that the solution is close at hand, and you don’t want to leave the task unfinished. In some scenarios, quick action is necessary to avoid losing the entire squad. This is what makes the game appealing — a blend of meditative tactics with dynamic gameplay.
Commandos: Origins is focused on British commandos. However, Soviet scouts or American OSS would also fit well into the game. It would be fantastic if the developers added campaigns for such teams as DLC.
Score: 8/10
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- What is the core gameplay of Commandos: Origins? Players take control of British commandos, completing various tactical missions during World War II.
- When is Commandos: Origins set to be released? The game is set to release on April 9, 2025.
- Are there cooperative modes available? Yes, Commandos: Origins features both online and local split-screen cooperative modes.
- What special abilities do the commandos have? Each commando has unique skills, such as demolitions, sniping, and stealth maneuvers.
- Is the game suitable for beginners? Absolutely! The game offers difficulty settings that cater to both beginners and hardcore players.
