Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines


 

Review Summary: Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines (1998)

Overall Reception & Ratings

  • On Steam, the game holds a Very Positive rating, with 89% of over 3,000 user reviews in approval Steam Store+1.

  • Steambase data reinforces this, with a Player Score of 90/100 from nearly 3,800–3,800+ reviews, consistently “Very Positive” over time Steambase+2Steambase+2.

  • On GameSpot, critics awarded it 8.4/10, praising its originality and tactical gameplay GameSpot.

  • Metacritic lacks critic scores, but users rated it 8.7/10, marking it “Generally Favorable” Metacritic.

  • Grouvee users averaged a 3.8/5 from 353 reviews Grouvee.

What Makes It Great

  • Strategic Depth & Design: GameSpot highlights its “genuinely original game of tactics, planning, and precision” and rewards players for clever coordination GameSpot+1.

  • Mission Quality: The campaign features 20 expansive and thoughtfully designed missions, offering room for creative approaches GameSpot.

  • Stealth & Precision: A review notes, “All missions require the use of stealth… unforgiving… Caution is extremely important… very rewarding.” GameSpot

Criticisms & Challenges

  • High Difficulty: Many users warn that the game is punishingly hard—mistakes often mean restarting from scratch, making it less accessible for casual players GameSpotReddit+1.

  • AI Limitations: One GameSpot user pointed out that Commandos show limited autonomy—they can’t defend themselves when idle and often feel like "tools" rather than characters GameSpot.

  • Technical Issues: Some players report difficulty running the Steam version, though the GOG version tends to be more stable Reddit.

Community Voices

From r/patientgamers:

“It is very similar to Shadow Tactics… but the difficulty was just a brick wall for me.”
“I recommend giving it another go… the satisfaction when you get it right is such a great feeling.”
Reddit

One fan shared:

“Commandos is an old-school real-time stealth-puzzle game … It is a tough game but I believe new generations should check it out.”
Reddit

Another reflected on the emotional thrill of planning:

“Loved taking notes, studying enemy patterns… adrenaline rush of executing it. Absolutely recommend this one.”
Reddit

Verdict

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines remains a landmark in the real-time tactics genre. Its strengths lie in intense stealth, cerebral mission design, and a level of satisfaction that comes from executing a carefully crafted plan. However, those expecting a gentle introduction should be prepared for a steep learning curve and potentially fiddly setup if played via Steam.

If you're into games that reward precision, patience, and strategic thinking—and you don’t mind some technical tinkering—it’s a classic that still delivers today.

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