Battle of the Ports - Commando (戦場の狼) Show #74 - 60fps
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2015
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Back in the 80's big macho men roaming around in the jungle type movies were all the rage so it comes as no surprise that the games industry wanted to get in on the action. There are many war type action games but none would be as good if it wasn't for Capcom's 1985 release of Commando, known as Senjou No Okami in Japan.
Being such a popular game saw Commando being ported to many systems of the time. Let's check them out.
Time Code
00:32 - Arcade
02:32 - Atari 2600
03:53 - Atari 7800
05:25 - BBC Micro
06:12 - Commodore 16
07:02 - Commodore Plus 4
08:10 - Commodore 64
09:17 - Commodore 64 (Remake)
10:36 - Famicom (NES)
11:55 - MSX
13:31 - Amiga
14:41 - Apple ][
15:57 - Amstrad CPC
17:07 - Atari ST
18:16 - ZX Spectrum
19:32 - Intellivision
20:58 - MS Dos
21:29 - Sega Saturn
Enjoy! - Ігри
Rob Hubbard is such a legend, my gracious. That C64 loop is hype as hell.
right? Love me some Hubbard and Huelsbeck
The most important thing about the C64 remake version (not mentioned in the video) is that the missing five stages are in the game. The original conversion only had levels 1, 2 and 4 present. The remake is now a full conversion of 8 levels!
Mayhemers Good call. I forgot to mention that.
My introduction to Commando was the C64 version, I was 10 or 11, and THAT music combined with the title in big letters on the title screen, I was like "WOW!" That was before the game even started LOL! And it does play a decent game too. But I always think of the music.
I saw the Atari 2600 version a couple of years later and as I owned a 2600 myself at the time, I didn't judge, I just enjoyed it for what it was.
It wasn't until 2007 (I think, it might have been 2009) that I got the Capcom Classic Collection Vol 1 on PS2, and finally played the arcade version that way, it was good, but I'm not going to lie, I nearly burst into laughter when I heard the in game music, guess I was spoiled by the C64 version's epic tune
Interesting fact about the Spectrum version you've shown, its the hacked version. Originally the game only came out for the 48K Spectrum and contained only the sound effects you hear and not the music. Years later someone did a hack and incorporated an AY rendition of the C64's music to give it some extra oomph.
I didn't know that. Great hack.
Actually, looks like one of the best atari 2600 games I ever saw
Here's the thing about Commando - you're supposed to be able to spray the bullets in more than eight directions. This is very important. Some ports like the Spectrum and CPC got this right, while others like the Amiga totally missed it. The NES version is really doing its own thing, but they did not overlook this critical aspect and made it even easier to fan bullets.
The C64 may not be the best port, but I'm sure it has the best music of all versions, including the arcade version. Great game, great video as always.
Lord Alfajor cheers!
Yep, I love the C64 Commando music. Not sure about the "enhanced" music on the remake though. Sounds weak to me.
I remember after I got my NES seeing Commando for rent but something told me not to rent it, even when it's one of my favorite arcade games. Later I got the chance to play the NES version and it just wasn't the same - like how TMNT II wasn't really the arcade game at home. I was thankful when I discovered MAME and when it was released years later in different compilations getting the chance to play it again.
Back in the late 80s and early 90s a lot of Arcade games were changed when ported to the home. Normally because of hardware constraints.
Loved this on my Amstrad back in the day...found the high score screen animations really nifty. Later had it on my ST and should have played it more as is a great version.
A very fascinating and funny comparison. Compliments. The msx version pink color looks like the dev took a magic mushroom. Besides, I did not know there was a intellivision version, in... 1987? incredible!
i really like the battle of the ports series. :)
eazy peazy Thank you, eazy peazy.
I had the C16 version as well, it was my first computer bought for £50 from Dixons about 35 to 40 years ago and Kikstart was my favourite game
Wow, cool. I think my plus 4 came from Commet. Does that place still exist? I don't recall seeing that or dixions when I went home two years ago.
Retro Core Comet and Dixons are both long gone - best buy tried to establish here but failed so it is just PCWorld and online stores now. You can still go into a shop and buy a computer if you want to though 🙂
Spectrum music is pretty good. Of course nothing, not even the arcade, beats Rob's C64 rendition.
Indeed. The C64's rendition is epic.
@Mael Radec I thought that music sounded too good for the 48k and now we know it was the 128k but in any case, for me the best one was the C64, for music at least, even beating the Arcade and the Amiga version.
@Mael Radec Yeah I always loved the way the C64 sounded out of all the 8-bit machines and even to this day, it still sounds great.
22:43 LOL you died but the open door saved you xD
Nice, i liked the the intellivision version, looks so old school. Loved it ♥
Yeah, I was really happy about that too. :)
Wow, Mark. I like your Battle of the Ports video so much.
Thank you very much. I'm happy to hear that.
@@RetroCore Hahaha. Oh, it was my great pleasure.
that is a lucky perfect pixel win 21:41
retrovideogamejunkie It sure was. thought I was dead myself.
interesting fact commando was banned in germany so capcom made a censored version which changed the enemy soldiers to aliens. this version was called space invasion which was a clear reference to the game space invaders. space invasion got some home computer ports as well. the ps1 version of commando is banned in germany so capcom generations only comes on 3 discs in germany instead of 4.
The playability of the Commando Spectrum's is the best. Try it!
Atari Corp had 2 versions of Commando for Atari 7800 and for Atari XL/XE and XEGS. The games were developed by Sculptured Software and were complete in 1989. Only version for Atari 7800 was published. But prototype cartridge with Commando for Atari computers was find after years and it is very good port. It is similar to 7800 version. It also has different weapons and secret areas. It is a pity that it was never released. Here it is : ua-cam.com/video/CoZpjhnC2Q8/v-deo.html
Didn't know there was a version of Commando for the Atari 2600. Also, the NES version has some hidden secrets here and there.
No, I didn't know that. It would have been nice to add the Atari 2600 version.
For some weird reason, Senjou no Ookami tended to crop up more around town than Commando, I don't know why or how... One of those mysteries of life. What more can be said about Commando, it's a classic in my eyes.
RoryDropkick Maybe there were many bootlegs of the Japanese version?
Played the Amstrad version a lot back in the day. To this day, that theme tune gives me nightmares. In terms of difficulty, this is to vertical shooters what Ghosts 'n Ghoblins was to side scrollers i.e. ball bustingly DIFFICULT! Capcom certainly knew how to construct a good game that was fun and had the all important "just one more go" element to the gameplay.
Gotta love the c64 version of the music.
I had both the Spectrum and Amiga versions. The Spectrum was pretty good given the hardware. Btw, the version you show is a later hack of the game. The original did not have the music but I much prefer the hack with the music added,
The Amiga version I think is excellent although in pretty much all other ports, and the original arcade, had the music and sound effects at equal volume whereas on the Amiga the music is very low in volume which for me is its only negative.
Forgot to mention how Commando is one of only 2 officially released 7800 games with the POKEY audio chip included, which is why it sounds much better than other 7800 games, besides Ballblazer, of course.
wow, only 2 games had it. What a waste.
One of the few episodes in which the 8 bit European home computer ports of a Japanese arcade game are quite good, including the Amiga version. Pity that the sequel, Mercs , didn´t have the same fate with the European home computer ports :(
Ocean software Sent a delegation to a hotel in London, to make a presentation to Capcom Japan executives, an agreement was made for them to licencse Commando for the home formats, price was set...
Then Elite slipped in behind them, made a better counter offer and got the license.
Nice😁👍
@@RetroCore that's how Rambo Fist Blood, PIi by Ocean came about
Master System - Secret Commando
One of the games, where the c64 version had a better music than the arcade version! ^^
Bubble Bobble and Arkanoid are too
A few things:
I'll play the Intellivision version every day and twice on Sunday before I play the MSX version. Lord, that was some headache-inducing scrolling.
Funny you mention preferring the ST music over the Amiga... I could barely HEAR it in this video! Was there a problem with the sound settings when you recorded that? Very crisp sound effects, though.
The 2600 version blows me away, quite frankly. They had friggin' MUSIC in that version, which was so rare on that system!
That Spectrum game, well... I hate to be the ass, but how anyone could play games on that thing astounds me to no end. Though I did get a kick out of how your guy melted when he died here and in the Amstrad CPC version. That's hilarious.
Lastly, the C64. That arranged soundtack can stay away, the original was SO much better... Also, unless my eyes are lying to me, is the newer version... darker than the older?
Still, great show, man! Lemmie just hit the subscribe button.... And done! Definitely going to look at more of your stuff.
Thanks for subscribing man. Yeah, I think the music on the St had an issue when being recorded. A lot of St music seems to be quiet I find.
Loved the C64 version, my mate had a C64 and i was slightly jealous at the time. The music was amazing as well and i even liked the C64 music better than the arcade. A D.J. calling himself Instant Remedy does great remixes of Commando and other C64 themes e.g. Outrun and International Karate plus, which are well worth a listen on you tube.
buen video, te faltan unas versiones japonesas un poco dificiles de conseguir pero existen y están muy prolijas, la de Nec pc88 y la de Fujitsu fm77 Senjo no okami!! saludos
I think OutZone was Toaplan's answer to this game.
Elite gave the ZX Spectrum team 9 weeks to convert Commando, with a penalty of £1000 a DAY if they went over the deadline, team delivered it just over 2 days late, but never incurred the threatened penalties.
A grand a day? Man, elite were dicks.
The Apple II version has geigerteller sounds =)
I like this game but never finished. I'll have to give it a try again.
There's also an unreleased Atari XE version. Like the NES version, the 7800 and XE versions have "bonus sections" you can access by blowing up walls.
crv1985 I never knew that. Such a shame because I would have liked to have added it. Is the ROM easy enough to find?
Retro Core I'll just say Atarimania is probably your best bet for Atari stuff.
thanks!
Now that's what I'm talking about.
MSX version is Commando in Fantasy Zone XD
The reason the music in the Commando remake for the C64 sounds so poor is that they chose to include both sound effects and music at the same time. The C64 only had three sound channels and they devoted one of them to the sound effects, leaving only two for the music. They tried to make a faithful rendition of the arcade music, but with only two channels, it ends up sounding pretty poor. Personally, I wish they had offered a choice between the original music, new music (done with all three voices) or just sound effects.
As for the enemies blending in on the Spectrum port; Of course they do, they wearing camouflage! ;)
The Intellivision port was released in.... 1987????? I didnt even knew Intellivision was still around during that time :O I thought it was discontinued already during that time!!
Maybe it's an independant release?
Retro Core That would make sense...
Some former Mattel Electronics execs bought all of the rights to the Intellivision and continued production and made new games until 1990.
Wow! I never knew there was a Commodore 16 or plus 4!! Did we get those in America? We always had Macs but I didn’t even know of these?
Yeah, they both came out in the states but they didn't sell well due to the crazy price Commodore we're asking. Most were happy to stick with their Vic 20 or pay a little extra for the C64. In some ways the Plus 4 was actually better than the C64 but sucked in many others too.
Great stuff. I know this is old but wanted to mention something about the MSX port: Your colors are messed up somehow, the real thing looks much better. And this is cheating a bit, but If you play in R800 cpu mode on a TurboR it's fast and playable.
I wonder if it has anything to do with me using an NTSC system?
@@RetroCore Hmm, should've worked unless maybe it was a ntsc running on a pal tv or vice-versa I guess. (I tested with ntsc system & tv via jp21 rgb out and it looks good)
I loved Commando on the 7800. It's the only version with a knife powerup, AFAIK. I think it plays better than the NES/FC version, too. Play it again and try to blow holes in the walls with your grenades. A hole may open up, and you may proceed inside to explore. There are more POWs in these dungeons, chained to the walls, for you to rescue. It's great! I haven't seen that in the arcade version.
stevethefishdotnet Great stuff. I trully was impressed with how good the 7800 version was. I really wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was.
Retro Core Commando on the 7800 is truly fantastic. Xenophobe on the 7800 is clearly superior to the NES version as well. Ballblazer on the 7800 blew away the Famicom version with its super-fast 3D scrolling and even had a special sound chip for some fantastic music. It choked on Double Dragon a bit, but for older arcade games (especially Atari games), it was pretty good.
stevethefishdotnet
I'm going to have to check out some of the titles.
***** I was hoping that several other Atari games of the late-'80s era would have made it to the 7800, such as Blasteroids, Vindicators, and Cyberball. Cyberball and Xybots made it to the Lynx, at least.
Missing ports in this video:
1. Atari 8-bit line of computers
2. NEC PC-8801
3. Fujitsu FM-7
4. Java-based mobile phones
5. Android
6. Acorn Electron
Can't say that this game caught my eye. It reminds me of Gun.Smoke, though.
Funny you should say that as Gun Smoke is kind of related to this game.
Retro Core Well, that was kinda obvious - both games have the same concept and made by the same developer.
***** yep, that is true.
Not that it's an issue for most gamers, but the Saturn tate (vertical) mode is very squished unlike the PS version. This is unfortunately true for all the Saturn Capcom Generation games supporting tate.
I loved Famicom(NES) version!
Commando certainly holds up better than SNK's Ikari Warriors, that's for sure.
***** Too right. Ikia Warriors is well.... a little crappy these days.
yeah
Atari was so powerful they managed to destroy the video game industry in America for 2 years by making terrible games, and then they kept making games for the same video game system the terrible games were on once the NES was released and became massively successful.
omg,the MSX version looks like one of those games in made in QBasic.
Well MSX Basic looks a lot like GW-Basic, and that is even older. Commando on the MSX was bad, compare it with 'Who dares wins II' which isn't exactly high standard, but played a whole lot better.
gobsmaked by 7800... i had no idea that could be achieved?
That little (or massive) black box could do quite a bit.
The Amiga version looks FANTASTIC, moreover considering all the crappy ports from arcade games for this computer. Who or what team or company made such awesome port?
Not sure who made the port but they did a far better job than most of the jokers who made games for the system.
I remember playing the 7800 version, and thinking that it was really a step above the standard bland offerings on the system. I actually prefer it, to more well known ports like the NES.
Andrew Vrba It was pretty good compared to other systems.
Retro Core I guess even a dud system like the 7800 can produce its share of gems.
Sure can. I think the worst console ever for my is by Atari. The Jaguar.
Retro Core Yeah, I couldn't find a single title for the Jaguar that I flat out loved. Everything was either a port of a game that played better on another system, or a derivative clone of something better. AvP was...okay. But it was so outdated.
Rayman was great and jaguar based (not port)
great vid as always mate. loved this game but prefered mercs
Speedkingfox0007 You'll be very happy with next weeks show, then ;)
Retro Core I was hoping you would say that😉
Interestingly, Mercs is the sequel to Commando and I believe in Japan it is known as Senjou No Okami 2?
Yeth both Yes, that's right. I'll be covering Mercs in the next show ;)
Gameplay -> Arcade, easily. Soundtrack -> Rob Hubbard's awesome theme on C64!
You prefer the ST music over in the Amiga on this version?
I haven't heard it live, but here, it sounds awful and scratchy... As usually the ST ones sound.
Actually the ST sound chip is the same as the ZX spectrum 128k - so no surprise.
Hard Wired I like the chip sound more than sampled audio. That's just me though.
@@RetroCore In any case, the Amiga version should always sound better then the ST version but I didn't think much of the music on the Amiga version compared to say the C64 version which for me was the best one even beating out the Arcade version.
Waiting for the HD to appear :-P
***** Should be up now in 60fps.
Retro Core yes it was ok after half an hour. Glad to see you mention the C64 re-release.
*****
Actually, someone on one of the forums pointed that out to me so a big thanks to them ;)
Retro Core hehe, if I knew that before I was gonna said that to you, I was surprised with this :-D
I didn't know there was a Commodore 16.
The Intellivision version sucks because of the control, the music is pretty much spot on and sound effects are fairly close to the arcade but the annoying takes for ever to turn around of the controls makes already hard game even harder.
And yet another awesome game that never came to America for the Saturn.
Oh yes, the Commodore Plus 4 was my first ever computer. It's kind of like a beefed up C16.
FYI, the 1980s is a plural noun, as in "the eighties", not a possessive as in "the eighty's."
"The '80s" or "the eighties" refers to the multiple years between 1980 and 1989.
"The eighty's" would mean something that belongs to the year 1980.
Tempora158 Yes, I know this but I didn't type the text in this show. It was done via VoiceBase, which is a audio to text converter. I didn't have time to type everything up this week then read it out so I just did the voice over on the fly then used VoiceBase to convert it to text. Much quicker than dictating myself. The downside are the errors.
Retro Core I'm assuming you use VoiceBase in every video, because the text scrolls are always riddled with typos.
Tempora158
Not always but they are written at 1 to 3 am in the morning which is why they are full of errors.
Retro Core Have you considered typing up your script in Google Doc or some other word processor with a spell check and grammar check to at least prevent basic errors?
Tempora158
I actually use Microsoft Word but that is rubbish for checking grammar. Also, don't forget I'm British so maybe some words you think are wrong could be correct where I'm from. the main problem as I've mentioned countless times is that these videos take a long time to do so I have to put them together in the early hours of the morning. As you can imagine fatigue sets in by then.
Atari 7800 is my favorite version
It's a reasonable port for sure.
You've never played Commando Plus/4 during your Plus/4 days because that version has been converted and recoded from C64 in 1992 :)
About Commando C16: according to the author himself, Richard Ikin, it has been written in one week without any reference about C16.
1 week with no reference? No wonder it was so crappy.
Need to ask... Is the Music from the ZX Spectrum from the 128k version?
Cornervizion yep. it should be as the emulation was set to a 128k machine.
Retro Core Wish I read this sooner. The mobile version I use of UA-cam dosent update. Thanks for clearing that up :)
the nec pc88 port of commando is not mentioned in video? well is a horrible the nec pc88 port of commando.
I probay had issues finding a copy or getting it to run. That's normally the case with Japanese home computers.
Atari 800 version is missing.
Also I love how the poster art borrows from Flash Gordon *lol*
RoryDropkick Yep! Well spotted. Flash in Vietnam gear :p Japanese games did that an awfuil lot back thenm.
Atari 7800😍
This kind begs for a remake as a twin stick shooter no?
They did try that on Xbox Live Arcade and it was crap. Then again, Capcom let some western start up handle it.
wait a minute....
so you refused to put the ps2 enhanced Hardcore version of Dead or Alive 2 which is far superior than the original Japanese ps2 version and the dreamcast version combined because something about don't want to bring the updated version in the comparison of your dead or alive 2 battle of the ports video, but on this video you did added commodore 64 original and enhanced version.....
It's all about availability and actually having the game to hand. Making these videos takes a long time. I have a deadline to stick to so it's not always possible to please everyone by covering every version of a game.
Retro Core
oh, ok then.
The Amiga version is a good example of HOW a Amiga arcade port should be done.
This game needs some tasty BURGAS.
MSX-version is fuckin DISASTER!
WTF? was my first taught when I saw it!
If you think this is bad you should check out double dragon!
C64 then ST - the other are errr crap