Captain Commando

Captain Commando

Overview & History

Released by Capcom in 1991 for the CP System arcade hardware, Captain Commando stands as a definitive pinnacle of the golden era of cooperative beat-'em-up games. Set in the futuristic, crime-plagued metropolis of Metro City (or alternatively, a sci-fi Earth) in the year 2026, the storyline follows the titular superhero, Captain Commando, and his elite Commando Team as they track down the nefarious intergalactic criminal Scumocide across diverse stages ranging from futuristic cityscapes and ninja houses to alien museums and the villain's orbital space station. Conceived by Capcom as a spiritual successor to their earlier arcade hits, the game refined side-scrolling brawler mechanics with vibrant comic-book aesthetics, allowing up to four players simultaneously to dole out futuristic vigilante justice against an army of bizarre cyborgs and mutants.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Captain Commando distinguishes itself through a diverse roster of four playable heroes with vastly different playstyles: Captain Commando utilizes his proprietary "Captain Corridor" electrical discharge and heavy punches; Mack the Knife (or Superspy Jenet) wields twin daggers and spinning acrobatics; Baby Head (Hoover) pilots a formidable, high-damage homemade powered exoskeleton; and Ginzu the Ninja slices through enemies with a hyper-lethal blade. Beyond standard punching and jumping, the game introduces the signature simultaneous attack (pressing Attack and Jump together) which clears surrounding crowds at the cost of a sliver of health, and a dynamic dash-attack system. Players can mount and pilot giant bipedal mechs scattered throughout the stages, wielding flamethrowers and rocket launchers to decimate enemy waves. The game also features iconic item-interaction mechanics, allowing players to pick up dropped weapons, submachine guns, and even barrel-mounted foods to restore health, culminating in chaotic, high-octane spectacle fighter action.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause