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Commando (Capcom)

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You are a highly trained solder whose mission is to annihilate the enemy and rescue important captives. To do this you must destroy the enemy base, which is said to be impregnable. Your weapons consist of a machine gun with unlimited shots and a limited supply of hand grenades that may be repleni...

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Developer
Capcom

Released on
1985

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

You are a highly trained solder whose mission is to annihilate the enemy and rescue important captives. To do this you must destroy the enemy base, which is said to be impregnable. Your weapons consist of a machine gun with unlimited shots and a limited supply of hand grenades that may be replenished by stealing from the enemy.

Commando is a vertically scrolling shooter staring an elite soldier named Super Joe. The object is to help Super Joe blast through enemy lines, destroying compounds and rescuing hostages along the way, over the course of 16 stages. Armed with a machine gun and supply of grenades, you must carefully avoid near continuous gunfire from rival troops, tanks, and jeeps. Trees, bunkers, and similar barriers can serve as a temporary reprieve from the onslaught of bullets, and extra lives can be earned by achieving specific point milestones. While Super Joe has an unlimited amount of ammunition, he must periodically replenish his grenade supply by finding crates left behind by enemies.

Commando (Capcom)

Overview & History

Released by Capcom in May 1985 and designed by Tokuro Fujiwara, *Commando* (known as *Senjo no Ookami* or *Wolf of the Battlefield* in Japan) stands as a seminal arcade release that practically birthed the run-and-gun vertical scrolling shooter genre. Paving the way for legendary titles like *Ikari Warriors*, this military-themed coin-op drops players straight into intense, relentless jungle warfare. Controlling a stoic, helmeted lone-wolf soldier named Super Joe—who would later make guest appearances in other Capcom classics like *Bionic Commando*—players must single-handedly infiltrate heavily fortified enemy territory to rescue captured Allied prisoners of war and annihilate opposing forces. The game's atmospheric hardware capabilities, combined with an unforgettable, driving chiptune soundtrack composed by Tamayo Kawamoto, created an intensely immersive arcade experience that devoured quarters across the globe and spawned numerous console ports.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard side-scrollers, *Commando* utilizes a locked, upward-scrolling perspective where Super Joe constantly pushes forward through hostile mud trenches, enemy barracks, and fortified red-brick walls. Gameplay is frantic and unforgiving; players must dodge an endless barrage of bullets, grenades, and bayonet-charging infantry while strategically dispatching waves of enemy soldiers pouring out from enemy encampments. Super Joe is armed with a standard-issue submachine gun with infinite ammunition, firing straight ahead in the direction he faces, and a limited supply of hand grenades capable of destroying enemy bunkers and clearing clusters of foes. Along the perilous path, players can rescue captive POWs guarded by sentries for bonus points and collect hidden weapon upgrades. Boss encounters at the end of stages demand precise positioning, timing, and relentless firepower to overcome the heavy fortifications guarding the exit gates.