Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty is a follow-on from last year's surprise summer hit from new Spanish kids on the block, Pyro. Whether it's a 'mission pack' or a standalone game is up for argument. Although the original game isn't required to run the disc, the eight missions here are basically an extension of the first game. If you haven't played that you're certain to feel overwhelmed, as there is no easing into the action whatsoever. Like the original, the game is set in World War II, with specific missions taking place at historical points of the European conflict. It's the designer's skill in weaving the authenticity and atmosphere to the gameplay and graphics that makes the Commandos game so special. The mission selection here is pretty eclectic: from a bombing mission on the Channel Islands to a rescue mission in Belgrade zoo. There's sabotage in the heart of the Third Reich and a little bit of sexual espionage, as your Dutch female Resistance operative tries to separate a German Officer from his identity papers.
The game engine is practically identical to the first game. Each mission is viewed in plan, with levels of zoom at your control. Your control pointer selects individuals and directs their movement, or selects an item to use from their backpack. Each mission requires the skills of different commandos. Green Berets have a range of general combat skills, including hand-to-hand and knives. The marine is the only commando who can row and carry an inflatable dinghy, or use SCUBA gear. The spy has a wide range of specialist techniques, including lethal injection, impersonate an officer and the new chloroform attack. Explosives experts and snipers - well, self-explanatory, aren't they?
The range of skills has been expanded; you can now throw stones, cigarette packs or use 'lipstick' to distract the enemy. You can also coerce captive guards or handcuff your abductees - useful for the mission devoted to kidnapping a high ranking Wermacht officer. The fact there are now upwards of 30 different functions on offer is another good reason to buy the original game first, where the early missions give you some leeway to experiment with their best use.
Beyond the Call of Duty is just what is describes - more than can be expected of the average soldier. These missions are extremely difficult because of the large level layouts and number of enemy patrols. Commandos works largely on a 'line of sight' principle. Each enemy soldier has a range of vision and will raise the alarm if he spots any of your men - or any dead comrades for that matter. The game allows you to view any one soldier's range in real-time, and you progress by avoiding it and taking them out from behind. Going in guns blazing means certain death and a quick restart.
The complexity of these 'line of sight' patterns is much greater in the mission pack than the original, even from the first mission. It may be that Pyro have made the game just too hard to be appreciated by the general gamer, and Beyond the Call of Duty will only be truly enjoyed by Commandos diehards who will put in the time to painstakingly work out their mission plan.
