Granny Vinnie Reviews


7800 Rank: 3rd

Genre Rank: (Action/ Adventure) 3rd

Awards: 10th Best Gameplay, 8th Best Value
Run Away! Run Away! Pros: Several levels of action/ POW locales included
Cons: Characters are small
Time Out! Something's in my Eye!


Overview: According to several classic video game enthusiasts and addicts, Commando is heralded as one of the best games on the system. In fact, it is the highest rated cart over at Jose Q's Emuviews, where Jose' uses votes from visitors to come up with his review scores. Many people concur that
the best made games for the system are either this one, or another Rambo-style cart entitled Ikari Warriors. In Commando, you control a lone solider as he infiltrates various enemy camps for the sole purpose of rescuing hostages and casing casualties. It's very popular. So, with all of these people ripping their shirts off, revealing their sports bra when they think about this game, how does Granny Vinnie feel about the Commando Craze? Well, tell my knees to look out, because I don't wear a sports bra and my blouse is coming off!

Graphics: Commando looks very good compared to its arcade daddy. The color schemes are similar, and so is the terrain. The only big difference is the size of the characters. The 7800's combatants are smaller and not as detailed as the arcade version's, but they are not bad. The different levels and backgrounds are impressive, as you may encounter air strips, mud huts, secret caverns, pill boxes, jungles, houses, deserts, rivers, bridges, and strongholds. Even the shot of the Commando eating grub, shaving or smoking a cigarette after he defeated the level is a nice touch. The only real weakness in the visual department is the lack of explosions when you blow up a motorcycle, jeep, or truck. The vanquished enemy vehicle just disappears...which really is lack luster, especially in a game where so much was done well.

Sound: This cart is one of the few titles on the system that uses the very nice Pokey audio chip from the 5200 line of games. So with the best sounding cart on the system (Ballblazer) being a Pokey chip game, Commando should have superior sound as well, right? Well, yes and no. The main audio loop of the game is a decent and somewhat catchy military style ditty. Although one of the better loops on the system, it is not nearly as good as Ballblazer's nifty tune. Most sound effects are good, but some of the weak ones would include the wimpy explosion, the wimpy gunfire, and the wimpy noise of a fallen foe. These are not horrible, but they could have sounded a little more macho. The worst effects on the game are probably the opening helicopter's chopper blades. This is almost identical to what Cousin Vinnie's half drunk uncle does when he's trying to talk like Donald Duck.

Hot foot! Gameplay: The game basically features your character against the world, and surprisingly, this is not as hard as one might think. For most of the difficulty levels, the enemy army's gunfire is slow and has terrible range. The enemy army must have also recruited their troops from the Texas School for the Blind. These meandering foes look more like they are on an Easter egg hunt than they are involved in a firefight. So this kinda makes the game feel like Food Fight...just a bunch of "shucking and jiving." The Commando has a gun with unlimited ammo, which is nice, and this set up can be upgraded to a machine gun on every level. Also, you can pick up a knife that can be automatically used to kill enemies that touch the hero. He also has a limited supply of grenades, which are very effective to cars, motors, snipers and people behind barricades, in fox holes, or in water. They can also be used to open secret passageways in bridges and houses that horde POWs. This is a great feature in the game, as trying to find all of the secret prisons make the game playable time and time again. Each level ends with a big battle at a stronghold, which sounds more intimidating than it actually is. These fools run out like chickens with their heads cut off, and they are easily expendable. Long live Rambo. The only weakness in the gameplay department is the slow down that occurs when tons of action is going on. This is a rare occurrence, but it does suck when it happens.

Interpretation: This game stretches the 7800 to the limits and it does the Commando name proud. The secret prisons being in the game is a nice surprise, and the only big difference in the game are the character models, and that can be easily overlooked.

Value: The game is amazingly fun because of a few nice touches: 1) The game is incredibly easy to pick up and play. 2) The levels in the game are deep and varied. 3) The secret prisons are challenging to find. The game is great, and it is fun to play even by today's standards. The different levels seem endless, and finding all POW locales may be impossible. Though there is no last level, or "Final boss", the game is simply addictive because it is so fun. A dual two player mode could have made this game more fun, but then it would be stepping on Ikari Warrior's shoes at that point.

Overall: Commando is a commie wasting blast. The Atari 7800 had a good library of scrolling fighters, but this may be the best. The game's only weaknesses may be the cartoonish graphics and a few lame sound effects...but other than that this game is nearly flawless. The only question about this is which game you prefer between Commando and Ikari Warriors. Even then you are in a win-win situation.



Other Reviews:
CV's Atari 7800 Panoramic Froo-Froo: 4.5 out of 5.0 (Excellent)
The Atari Times: 9 out of 10
Video Game Critic: B+
Jose Q's Emuviews: 8.3 out of 10


Additional Info: I would like to take this time to thank Mitch Orman, owner of The Atari 7800 Page for allowing the use of his screenshots for this review.


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