COMMANDO | Who had the best version? | C64 | AMSTRAD CPC | ZX SPECTRUM | 8-Bit Battle! Ep 06
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- Episode 6 of my 8-Bit Battle series that looks at the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum versions of classic games.
This episode is all about the Elite classic, Commando.
Which version will come out on top and who will ultimately win the 8-Bit Battle between the three main UK home computers in the 80s and early 90s.
Episode 1 : • 8-Bit Battle! Ep 01| B...
Episode 2: • 8-Bit Battle! Ep 02| R...
Episode 3: • 8-Bit Battle! Ep 03| C...
Episode 4: • 8-Bit Battle! Ep 04| W...
Episode 5: • 8-Bit Battle! Ep 05 | ...
00:00 Intro and History
01:28 Arcade Version
02:53 Star Wars?
04:18 Other Versions
05:28 C64 Version
07:52 Amstrad Version
09:22 Speccy Version
11:00 Results
14:30 Standings - Ігри
2:07, never go to the right of the big rock! Either you get hung up on the little rock, or you have to go around it, which both cause you to be unable to shoot the two guards and rescue the prisoner..
The reason the C64 version only has three levels is because the programmers had to fit the entire game into memory at once to please tape users, so that it wasn't a multi-load game.
Yeah that rock 🪨......... that's a new theory on the levels to me, interesting cheers.
@@SebsPlaceYT Commando was programmed by a British developer, and in both Britain and Europe, the most common storage method for C64 software was cassettes.
As you may know, the Commodore Datasette was PAINFULLY slow. Even if a game had a turbo-loader, it would still take 3-4 minutes to load. Multi-load games, which loaded other levels when you got to them, were looked down upon. You get to level two, there's another 3-4 minute load, then you die, have to rewind the tape and wait 3-4 minutes for the first level to load again. If it wasn't using a turbo-loader, the wait could be 5-10 minutes.
While the Commodore 1541 floppy drive wasn't exactly a speed demon, even at its stock speed, it ran rings around the tape drive. Using some of the later disk turbo routines, it could load games in literal seconds. In any case, floppy drives were much more common in the U.S., which is why the majority of larger, disk-based games came from America.
While I can't think of any other specific games that were missing levels, there are a lot of games which I feel could have been done much better if they hadn't tried to fit the entire game in memory at once. When they did, it meant that they not only had to have the code for the whole game, but all the graphics, all the sound effects, any different pieces of music, etc. And when you only have 64K to work with, some things get sacrificed.
The Amiga had kind of a similar situation. In America, many people had hard drives, but in the UK and Europe, people mostly only had floppy drives. so many games only worked off floppy, and some games had to make sacrifices. I recall it being mentioned that Shang Tsung's transformations (or most of them) were cut from The Amiga version of Mortal Kombat, because loading the sprites for the other characters off disk would have required the player to swap disks in the middle of the final fight, multiple times. The Amiga and ST version of Alien Syndrome are both missing two levels. Since other versions of the game (DOS, C64, etc) have all the levels, I think the most likely reason is that that they couldn't fit them all on one disk.
I have others mention the possibility that the game was short because of this reason. It's super interesting. It was just tapes for me on the ZX Spectrum growing up and I hated multi loaders back then. I guess if you want to keep that awesome soundtrack and make the game as arcade like as possible, sacrifices had to be made. Thanks again for the interesting comments, I've pinned them to the top of the chat as I'm sure others will enjoy them. Cheers.
That C64 soundtrack is absolutely fabulous....masterpiece..!
The updated C64 commando version along with the ghosts and goblins version released a couple of years back, fixed the problem with the missing levels and makes the C64 version play even better
Yeah cheers, I have to seek this out!
The G&G upgrade is amazing. Lots of small details added, like missing audio cues etc. It would have been "arcade perfect" back in the days.
I still listen to this day the Hubbard soundtrack and still giving me goosebumps, maybe the best soundtrack on the C64
That score on the C64..played through this endlessly as a kid and the score never got old.
C64 music still holds up today, people like Rob Hubbard were wizards because they made magic with 3 channels of mono SID processing to play with. It's about time Capcom put the C64 tune into the OG ROM.
100%
Exactly. Feels weird playing Commando on arcade compilations with the original arcade music. It's just...wrong. And inferior. They should do the same with Tim Follin's Ghouls & Ghosts score. Vastly superior to the original.
@@tchall6195
To this day I can't play Commando without the C64 soundtrack.
Though based in Germany, I remember to have had a 'backup copy' of the game for my C64. Games that were put on the index became even more interesting for us kids. 😁
Ha! I bet they did!
C64 all day long. Great graphics for the time , with cracking music too.only downer was the lack of levels. Yes it was improved a few years ago with intro , missing levels added but still loved it back in the day
The Atari 7800 version and the (unreleased) Atari XEGS version are also pretty good - these even have the hidden caves with hostages from the arcade.
Wow, just looked up a video of the 7800 version - looks even better than the C64, IMO. The music is lovely but the C64 tune still aces it, IMO.
The Atari 7800 version also compares very well to the C64 and NES versions. It's one of only 2 7800 carts to have an onboard Pokey chip for superior sound (the other cart being Ballblazer)
So it has pretty good sound then?
Chris Butler joined Elite in October 1985 and had to have the conversion ready for release in November. Then Rob Hubbard wanted 6k for the music so he had to take some of the levels out. The music was worth it though!
Yeah bonkers really, 6k for music....but I agree, totally worth it!
Loved this game and managed to finish it on the C64, then it started over again.
Yep think they all looped sadly
I've only played the Speccy and arcade versions but you've certainly invoked some nostalgia regions for me also with this video 😅
Fantastic video and real history lesson on the ports i knew not much about.
Subbed 😎👍
Thank you Alex 😊 coming to see you and Neil on the 27th with my teenage daughter. Looking forward to it! You have a Commando board don't you?
@@SebsPlaceYT oh fantastic! Yea we have a dedicated commando cabinet. Look forward to seeing you 😎👍
Atari VBXE is worth a look, its almost identical to the Commodore and has a lot of extras from the Arcade version. The original C64 was in my view Brilliant for the day and the speed to get it out. I know some people say developer knowledge but Chris Butler was probably the best C64 developer in the world for doing hard arcade conversions and getting it out in mega quick time. The enhanced Commando for C64, adds more levels and fixes all the flicker issues as people have really mastered sprite multi-plexing with clever tricks. I played most of the versions quoted here, even the speecy but for me the C64, (original) was just too good for the other versions at the time. It's pace, it;s movement, its look and its music. Nothing matched in.
Great comment, thanks ❤️. I totally agree with you, although the spectrum version for what it achieved on that system was a very close 2nd.
The spectrum version had 8 levels, areas 4 and 8 had a sort of fortress - there were 4 enemy soldiers across the top of the walls, you could take them out with grenades. I loved the game so much as a kid I played it through 6 loops (I pulled the plug after around area 50) and broke the score board - it showed a string of hearts and then reset to zero.
Yeah I think I mentioned 6 levels in the video when there are in fact 8. That's super impressive going by you!! I never got anywhere near that!!
Fantastic. The NES bunkers are a neat touch... and the Space Invasion twist was a cool idea!
I liked the Speccy version, and the arcade. Huzzah!
Speccy version is blimmin lovely 😍
A friend had the speccy version and I remember it being bloody hard. The amount of bullets on screen was a nightmare. At some point later, we used a cheat tape or poke for infinity lives. It was quite disappointing to discover it loops with no real ending. You feel cheated.
Yeah it's a shame. I guess they all loop (including the arcade) but would be nice to have a final base or similar before looping!
Great video as always- thank you.
Thank you Tony 😊
The halcyon days of playing the C64 version with the second joystick in port 1 on the floor so I could tap the fire button with the foot to activate the grenades - definitely makes it easier and coreesponds with someone putting their breadbin on the floor. Naturally, the Rob Hubbard soundtrack was the highlight here as the end of level suffered from glitches due to sprite multiplexing and timing.
You do wish more levels had been put in (something addressed in the Commando Arcade C64 reboot) - and for me the Spectrum version gets elevated slightly there and I can appreciate why it gets the placing it does, and it's an excellent conversion for the Spectrum too.
Enjoying this series thoroughly, and nice you took a look at the other 8-bit versions to see how they played.
Haha - had a few say they did the joystick trick on the floor, brilliant. Thank you for the comment, much appreciated!
As a C64 owner from 1985, the Spectrum version WAS better, but the C64 Arcade SE released by Nostalgia in 2015 is now the best version. I say this because I can play the C64 version into infinity if I set my mind to it, and when there's no challenge, the fun soon wears off. The Nostalgia version, however, is excellent in every way (except for the alternative soundtrack - good thing you can stick with the original, because who on Earth wouldn't?).
Yeah I guess if you get proficient at it, the novelty wears off. This was the main criticism that zzap64 had. I'm definitely going to check out the updated version. Cheers.
I always rapid fired the trigger to shoot, and held the button for grenades. It was intended by the designers. I suppose if you were someone who automatically held the button to shoot (makes sense), it would feel wrong.
Another fine video Sir. 😊
Thank you 😊 holding down for grenade was always better in games imo.
Great game on the C64. Used to play this a lot along with Revs, Uridium and Stunt Car Racer
Cracking video and the end order I feel spot on. Sometimes it's the whole package that wins the day I.e. remove that music and yep the spectrum nabs it just lol. The flicker is a shame and is down to coder knowledge and hardware limitation I.e. 8 sprites on the screen max and if you coded past that limitation by clever raster interrupt routines and flicker occurs but they can code round that now just likecu can code round colour clash on the spectrum. Great stuff. My friends because it was easy to get the flicker to work for you and so walk through bullets held competitions by saying you had to kill the biker onvthe bridge or the 3 levels didn't count and you had to start again lol. Great memories. Excelsior
Proper interesting, cheers Del! Its an unusual one as all three games are so different in all lot of ways, but all are still very good.
Love the new format without the scoring system, flows a lot better imo. Your choice is spot on as well, though the C64 version does have it's issues with flickering it's definitely the best version.
I believe the programmer Chris Butler had to take some levels out to fit in Rob Hubbards soundtrack as well as rush the game out for a deadline having no chance to fix issues like the flickering. Shame as he fixed up Space Harrier for it's American release and looked and played a lot better adding a few features missing in the Elite release like the checkered floor
Loved the arcade introduction and gameplay between the original Commando and Space invasion. I love stuff like this, different versions for different regions.
I'm also sure Space Invasion was released on the 64 on a compilation in the UK bypassing an earlier solo release.
Great video again mate, great stuff 👍
Ah interesting, makes sense if there was a deadline and squeezing the music in. Thanks for the comment mate, thought I'd mix it up and try a new format. I'm glad you and Del liked it. Was waiting for your comments 😍
Takes me back. I had this on C64
Loved this on the c64
I'm a Yank and have a C64 but I'd love to own a Spectrum, BBC Micro, CPC, etc. They would make great souvenirs if I can ever visit. The video game history of the UK is richer and more interesting than ours IMO.
Love this ❤️ hope you do one day!
Nice video :) although it did make me want to play Ikari Warriors now
Love Ikari Warriors. Took it to the next level eh! Those mini tanks were so much fun, mowing everything down!
Cool video. I learned something about Commando I didn't know; could have guessed there is a German version but I didn't.
There's been an arcade release of Commando on the C64 and I think that's implemented an alternative way of throwing granades by holding the fire button longer. Not sure if that's better, but it's the one I play.
100% better I would say. Cheers.
My first own games ever was the 6 Pak Hit Pak collection for the C64 that contained a game called "DUET" that was also published as "Commando 86". I mostly remember it for it's catchy soundtrack based on the Exorcist. While the game first look like Commando it's actually a gauntlet clone that had some sprites replaced by spaceships instead of human enemies..
Hi - yeah I came across this as it confused me a bit! All very odd. Cheers.
That Hubbard story is classic! I misread the Amstrad review a bit there and for a moment thought they called out the game for being "Sexist drivel" ?! 😲 But turns out they reviewed Sam Fox strip poker besides Commando. Also kind of a classic (?) Nice music, honest!
Side note: Tokuro Fujiwara designed both Commando and Ghosts 'n Goblins, Chris Butler converted both to the C64 and now both games have updated versions by Nostalgia crew that add the bits that were left on the cutting room floor as well as possible on the breadbin, as you mention. Nice of them. Elite must've insisted on no multi-loading at the time, hence the cuts.
😁😁 did make me smile thanks. Love that the same people were involved in both games. Brilliant.
Putting a breadbin on the floor to throw a grenade? Pah. I just used a second joystick in port one (triggering it with my toe), since the fire button mapped to the Space key. :D
🤣🤣 child genius! Love it!
This was quite a popular game back in the day, I also scraped some money to buy this for my CPCand I occasionally play it to this day on my 8-bits, including CPC. Overall very well done port for humble home micros. Though, the arcade platform also has quite modest specs and Commando doesn’t throw any huge sprites, sprite efrects or parallax scrolling on the screen, so there was a good basis for making a quality and faithful port.
Although I liked Commando, and still do, I think Who Dares Wins II is a better game, although it is flip screen on CPC. There is just much more variance in the stages and thus it doesn’t get as repetitive as soon as Commando does.
Nice video, by the way!
Thank you 😊 I agree. it's almost the perfect game for home ports, which is why it was available for everything! It lead me onto better games in a similar genre too. I loved Ikari Warriors more than Commando. The little tanks were awesome😍😍
If you plug in a second joystick and put in the floor you can use your toe to press fire and release grenades
Haha - Had a few mention this trick!!
You forgot to include Ikari Warriors possibly the best spin off from commando. Great especially with the rotary joy stick. I seem to remember links to twin eagle with regards to Joe.
I'm saving Ikari Warriors for something in the future as that was one of my favourites 😍
Got given a c64 breadbin and all the gear as well as the 5 1/4" floppy drive last year along with an Amiga a500. Had both back in the day and loved them. Sadly no software with either of them though. Used to love Commando on the 64
Check out my video about buying my first c64 to play wizball. I bought a device that allows me to play games off an SD card. So useful!
I have nostalgia for the Atari VCS version. Though we didn't have the original cart, I did get to play it on a compilation for PS2. The amazing part about that was the fact that the VCS version was developed by Activision, who had to reacquire the license from Capcom to publish the game!
You don't really see video game compilations include games owned by other companies like that very often, the only other I can think of off the top of my head was the inclusion of Moon Patrol by Irem and BurgerTime by Data East for Midway's Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2. Only that one was more of a stretch because Midway wasn't involved with the development of either game, they only handled the US distribution!
I do find the distribution or licensed to thing all very odd sometimes, like how did they get to that arrangement? Cheers for the comment.
Great video!! C64 all the way. Thanks for ending with the c64 high score - best c64 music ever!
Glad you liked it!
If you collected more than 128 grenades of you ended up having -127 grenades and had to really work to come back to a positive number again before you could use them (on my c64 version at least)!
😁😁 that's funny.
I found playing this as a kid on the C64 if you stay all the way to the right on the screen it’s easy to beat the game
Gonna have to try this now!
Nice video, subscribed. I like your choice of best. For me, it was the NES version.
Thank you very kind! Agree, the NES version is very good!
That C16 version reminds me of the Commando knock-off Who Dares Wins 2 which I had on the Speccy
Made me smile when I realised the screens were static. Moved pretty quick!
Rob Hubbard. Some of his work is out of this world.
100%
On the C64 you can use a second joystick its fire button for throwing your grenades.
C64 hands down. Better scrolling, better music, better action
I vote for C64 version because of the legendary music.
Played the shit out of this back in the day on the C64.
Speccy Commando was the first non educational game my parents bought me, so it holds a place close to my heart. Don't think I got off the first level though.
Love it. ❤️
As for 8-bit versions I've only played the zx spectrum version, but I have played the 16 bit version as well on the Amiga, and the Amiga has a superb conversion
Yeah some 16 bit ports look decent but it's kinda perfect for those systems. Not too taxing
ZX rules them all!! Plus C64 music.
The best 8-bit version of Commando, hands down, is the Atari 7800 version.
As a c64 owner back in the day, i had commando. But, i must admit, i felt the Speccy version was closer to the arcade and played better.
Yep it's a good shout, very close between them!
@@SebsPlaceYT I can see why you gave it to the C64 though, it is probably the best overall package. Great video as always
There was an interesting "retro remake" for MS-DOS, Commando Enhanced, with some interesting new features. You could use a flamethrower there!
Like the sound of that!!
So in West Germany it was okay to shoot the "Storm Troopers" - I bet George Lucas wasn't too pleased...
😁😁
@@SebsPlaceYT In Command and Conquer on PC for example the "red blood" was replaced by green "cooling oil" of robots in Germany.
I'm reading and hearing about so many differences in German releases. How did I not know about it! 🙈
Nes version the best looking and with added bunkers is great..c64 music rocks
I loved Commando on C64
I only ever played it on the C64, but my high score from those days was 1,212,500 and I only stopped playing because I got bored. Yes, I know the score resets after 999,999 points, but I just kept counting :D
Flippin eck! How long would that sort of score take?
@@SebsPlaceYT I did it 37 years ago so I have no idea how many hours I spent on it :D
I like the Music by Rob Hubbard on the c64.
Great vid! nicely put together :) Not the biggest fan of Commando, always preferred the sequel, Mercs.. Theres a ULAplus hack of Commando on the speccy that uses it's extended palette, did you see that one?
I didn't see it. Do you have a link? Cheers for the kind words 😊
@@SebsPlaceYT Sorry, i took a look but i couldn't find it (just vids)
Yep - music on C64 was just perfect. I am not entirely sure why you like Specy color palette better. It hurts my eyes.
Haha I know what you mean... it just works though and is better than the BBC Micro colours!!!!
Although I loved Commando on the C64, I reckon Who Dares Wins 2 is a far superior game
Commando one of my favorite C64 games and the newer version even better to me its even better than the arcade and that's says alot of about this computer but then again what docu want from the greatest computer of all time and the famous sid chip
Is a great version 😍
I did enjoy the BBC version, only because it was all we had at the time and eventually moved to the C64 but don't remember having commado
You are the only one so far 😁
I loved the Acorn Electron and BBC versions of this game. Probably as it was all we had. I know it runs terrible but it was a proper decent arcade game on the BBC \ Elk. Has a fond place in my heart.
Love this ❤️
Yeah, actually the colours of the C64 were always a bit too pastel after coming from a Speccy. :)
Yeah, Speccy much brighter I think!
Commando has been remade with all the levels...
Yeah, I'm yet to play it!
Never had an Amstrad. But the other two I did. I would of given Commando to the C64
I like your thinking 👍
Would your opinion of the speccy have improved if you'd heard the 128 hacked version with AY music?
If there was a proper release with a better soundtrack and maybe a fortress at the end (even if it meant fewer levels), then yeah would have tipped it. Speccy version is flippin' lovely though. I spent hours on it as a kid. It's so playable. But... so is the C64 version with all its glorious sound.. It's a tough call 🙂
I am missing the Atari XE Version, the great Atari 7800 Version and the realy nice Intellivision Version. But no Version can beat the C64 Version. I prever the amazing C64 music in compare to the original arcade music. All in one the C64 Version is a real masterwork.
It is indeed. The video is just a comparison between the Speccy, C64 and CPC. I just included a few other examples as a comparison.
I had the speccy version. Great game.
It really is 🥰
If you think the BBC version is slow, you should see the Electron version. That really is slow, although it makes it easier to finish than the BBC version.
Ha- yeah, I did watch a video on the Electron version. Looks super bad!!!!
C64-version for me, especially the music. Regarding the 2000s C64 re-make with missing levels added - is it me or is this re-make even harder to play?
I agree, C,64 version is the best. the sound is incredible
A complete version of Commando for the C64 was released not many years ago: ua-cam.com/video/C9XKClATRNo/v-deo.html
Yeah so I have seen. I want to play it for sure!
Another excellent video. Did you ever play or see the games Who Dares Wins I & Who Dares Wins 2 by Alligator Software? Both games were in the same style as Commando and were very good... you could even argue that they were better than Commando.
Thank you! Yes, it's really similar eh!! Quite a few people have told me it is better too!
@@SebsPlaceYT A little known fact is that Who Dares Wins 2 was released before Who Dares Wins 1...due to licensing issues.
😳
And Rambo
WROOOOOONG.
through gritted teeth I will agree that the commodore version had a cool soundtrack but the speccy version was far better to play.
Did you notice the menu section at the start was exactly the same as chuckie egg?
Haha, Hi Dave - yeah it's really similar to Chuckie Egg eh!!! Good shout. Speccy version is blimmin good. I reckon if it had a bit more in the sound and maybe a proper ending, it would've topped it. Very close. Cheers mate.
That soundtrack man on the C64
Rob Hubbard 🥰🥰🥰
lmfao I also used to put my 64 on the floor and use my foot.
😁😁
The speccy version for me, the gameplay was just so smooth and had all the levels too, but yes I've got the C64 version as well, that music is still amazing to this day 👍
Hi Stew, yeah it's proper smooth. The grenades are more satisfying too, you can take put a whole bunker with one grenade. C64 one is very smooth too though and has that awesome soundtrack 🥰🥰
Frantisek Fuka did a stunning AY conversion of Rob Hubbard's music which was later integrated into an unofficial 128K version of the game and plays continuously throughout. It's very impressive, with really punchy bass sounds. It's one of the most SID-like Spectrum tunes I've heard. It wouldn't have counted for this competition, of course, as it was released years after the official game. But it's well worth tracking down.
It is officially "distribution denied" as is the original release, but there are copies floating around if you look. Or there are recordings of the gameplay here on UA-cam.
It looks like dog poo though.
Thanks will defo check it out @kevreillyuk
@michaelperry9261 I disagree mate 😜
Speccy version was great - and there were 8 levels and not 6.
I played the C64 version on my mates breadbin - finished it on my 3rd go as there were only 3 levels.
Good spot 👌
The C=64 version wins for the music alone. I have covers of the high score music on my phone.
So good 🥰
Nice one again seb. Excellent comparisons. I only had access to a spectrum in the 80s but found the game a blast. Better than ikari warriors too albeit 1 player.
Space invasion FFS what a joke of a name copying this classic...
Ha cheers, yeah I guess they went with Space Invasion so it's clearly not a war game and gets past the German censors 😁
Even C64 games like "Blue Max" were not allowed in Germany.
It makes perfect sense, but I had never thought of it!
Even worse, the first game the BPjS considered unsuitable for minors and practically banned from sales (by forbidding to advertise it or even place it visibly on store shelves, and only allowing sales to adults, i.e. persons 18 and older) was Activision's River Raid. The very same game nowadays has an USK 0 rating.
River raid? Madness!
No Atari 800XL version?
Its a series looking at the versions of games between the C64, Spectrum and Amstrad (The big 3 back in the day).
Spectrum fan and a great port, but a Rob Hubbard soundtrack wins every time
100% agree
Totally disagree. A great soundtrack can make difference, but can not fix a bad game. A bad game is a bad game no matter how great the sound
I originally had the Spectrum then C64 version, so was taken aback when the game ended so quickly. It certainly is a tough choice between the two. I reckon though, if the Spectrum had music, it would have won. :)
Yeah probably right 👍
I dont care what he says, the Spectrum version is the best. I was the same, Spectrum first then C64. The C64 has more colour and music, but much less game! It does not move as fast which is a shock, it always felt a bit sluggish to me, and the lack of definition in the sprites, they are lego bricks, very blocky, but with more colour which was typical of the C64 at the time. So many games were like this on the C64 vs the Spectrum. Bruce Lee, Enduro Racer, Robin of the Wood etc all had more colour, but less detail on the faces of characters etc. Enduro Racer is another great conversion that is utterly brilliant on the Spectrum, with all the graphics and levels of the arcade and lots of detail in them, despite the lack of colour. The C64 is just blobs galore. Its a weird set of problems and one of the joys of the era, that the C64 had some stunning original games like Wizball, The Last Ninja and Spy vs Spy Island caper which were just joys on the machine and did not translate will to others. And the same with the Spectrum. Stuff like Firelord, Robin of the Wood, Roller Coaster, Nodes / Arc of Yesod and StarQuake, Saboteur and Thanatos....utter classics that were the best that machine could produce...
I love robin of the wood, especially the 128 version, and I was playing roller coaster just recently. A fantastic game when you really think about the limitations. One video that I saw on another channel that really summed up all these systems of the era. When you play to the strengths of each machine, they are great machines, it's when you expect the C64 to replicate the Nes graphics or, expect the spectrum to have the colour of the 64 then they fall over. but they are all great machines when programmed well. I've always prefered the pixel size on the spectrum, the C64 didn't seem to use the high resolution often, i guess because of the reduce colour per pixel or whatever :D
@@Simon-xc5oy
It's what makes comparing them so much fun. It can often come down to playability over better graphics. I always thought that about Bruce Lee. Possibly not as nice graphically on the speccy vs tbe c64 but plays so much better, to the point it becomes a better game. I think you are too harsh on the C64 version of Commando though. Never felt sluggish at all. Just as smooth as the arcade imo.
Yes that is exactly it. When they made games for the Spectrum, just for that machine, it was incredible what they could do. Some amazing long gone software houses as well. Anything by Hewson or Palace Software and Odin...all great. Games like Dynamite Dan, so colourful and musical despite it being a spectrum. The Death Wish 3 game, a film tie in that was a riot to play. Pyjamarama which managed to improve on Jet Set Willy and its ideas. Lotus Turbo Esprit, which had sprawling cities to zoom around in and blokes to knock off ladders. The two Star Strike Games that were more or less Star Wars arcade conversions and then early 3d like Ant Attack...all utter classics and still remembered for it years later as they were so unique. The reason I ended up going to the C64 is I could see the writing was on the wall for the Spectrum. After the Amstrad buyout and the the years it had been the go to cheap games machine with a massive software base, it was starting to be clear to me it would not last much longer. I moved to the C64, and not long after the Crash magazine started to get smaller in size as there was less to review, it dwindled to nothing much in the end. I used the C64 as a springboard to the Amiga in the end. But I bought one to play Last Ninja, and Wizball. Those were what sold me the system in the end.
Wait, did you say you almost gave the Spectrum version the top spot ? After how many pints ? 😄
As per usual with the Speccy the graphics are horrible, and the 48K sounds are like mosquito farts.
It does look zippy, but come on : the C64 is BY FAR the winner, thanks to the unforgettable soundtrack and great playability.
The CPC is an obvious number 2, it does a very decent job of preserving the soundtrack and its sense of urgency and suffering and it has better controls as you mentioned. It's very playable too (I've spent many dozens of hours on it as a kid, which can't be said of all Amstrad games).
Playability goes a long way. All three versions have strengths and weaknesses for sure. Cheers for the comment. The debate is what it's all about 😍
8-bit Atari XL/XE computers didn't get their own version of Commando in the eighties. But version of that game was in development in late eghties. The game had been completed and was about to ready to be released. It was going to be released in 1989 on cartridges compatible wit Atari XL/XE computers and Atari XEGS. But in 1989 Atari decided to end support for 8-bit computers and game has never been officially released. The prototype cartridge with that game was found and revealed to the public in year 2002. It is a pity that it wasn't released back then as It was in my opinion great version of the game. I think it was even better than C64 version as it has all 8 levels. At least we can play it now. Here you can see how it looks ua-cam.com/video/4nIU45RvB6s/v-deo.html
Interesting thanks. Looks very similar to the C64. Looks to play slower, those bullets are moving at half speed lol. Lo e it, cheers for sharing.
@@SebsPlaceYT Yeah it plays slower than C64, bullets speed depends on selected difficulty, and change slightly when you choose harder difficulty. Levels also have some hidden secret areas, but to reveal entrance to it you must throw grenade in place where the entrance is hidden.
What about the 7800 version?
Heard a lot of love for the 7800 version. I only gave a few examples before concentrating on the big 3 uk home computers 👍
Atari 7800 version is the best version of Commando for 8bit home consoles.
Have heard a lot of love for it. This series of 8bit battles compares the Speccy, C64 and Amstrad versions. I think the C64 was the rightful winner 🏆
I have the Intellivision version, myself.
Similar to the 2600 or not?
The Acorn Electron port is worse than the BBC attempt.
Well we all have opinions, i had an amstrad and my mate had a speccy, we both got commando i think it came out around xmas 85.
We both agreed the amstrad was much better, great sprite work and great colour, the slow down actually helped when there was a lot on screen and it gave you a chance to win.
I would have had the cpc in first as the speccy is a banana coloured mess and the c64 is just the usual bland brown and only 3 levels, c64 only gets second for the music.
Yeah because the C64 does not have greens blues greys 🙄 In all honesty the Amstrad looks basic and is a bit too jerky.
The sound and graphics of the Spectrum version really puts me off. On the other hand I loved Donkey Kong game and watch, but that one looked and sounded better than Commando on the Spectrum
@@jssonstevens59There are limitations to all the 80-bits. This on looks decent on the C64 although 3 levels is really not much
Opinions are great eh! Thanks for sharing yours, loved reading them 🥰 you are completely wrong, but I respect your defense 😁😁 joking aside, all 3 versions are blimmin awesome. It was close between all of them tbh.
I always thought the arcade version would have been awesome as a twin stick shooter like robotron or smash tv.
100% agree
If you mention C64 homebrew versions/re-release, then the 128K Spectrum "hack" had a fantastic background music added, straight from the C64 version ( extended version, along with the original SFX unlike some other version ), more levels to begin with, smooth gameplay and scrolling, detailed sprites and even ULA+ loader that changes the yellow background to a brown one, just as it should be, making it a serious contender for the best 8-bit version, I miss having a real ending though😉ua-cam.com/video/yH5GBUfD1c4/v-deo.htmlsi=KkiRVr5DMD0NDNJb
Thanks for this. 100% agree although it has to be bright yellow for me 😁
Why not have the Atari 8-bit version in the comparison?
Its a series looking at the versions of games between the C64, Spectrum and Amstrad (The big 3 back in the day in the UK).
here is spectrum version with music.... ua-cam.com/video/0XfLLgThYl8/v-deo.html
Love it 😀
Atari XL 1989.
Its a series looking at the versions of games between the C64, Spectrum and Amstrad (The big 3 back in the day in the UK).
I dont see it being close at all. C64 is far ahead of ZX in graphics and sound, and CPC is slow and colour pallete looks wrong.
They all play so well. The Speccy and Amstrad ones are just as fun to play and the bright colours of the speccy version really work well. Cheers for your comment.
It takes literally only few minutes to complete C64 version, so there is not much of a game. If remix/remake versions are included, then GS version for ZX Spectrum wins in sound/music department easily as there are proper gun shots and death screams + music.