After years of silence from the Commandos franchise, Commandos: Origins arrives as both a reboot and a prequel to the acclaimed series, aiming to reintroduce it to a new generation while offering veterans a nostalgic look at the origins of its elite World War II squad with a fresh coat of paint. Developed by Claymore Game Studios and published by Kalypso Media, the game explores how Jack O’Hara (also known as the Green Beret) and his five companions first came together, setting the stage for the high-stakes sabotage and infiltration missions the series is known for. The story structure provides light context for the missions rather than a deeply cinematic narrative, but the historical setting and character interplay give it just enough identity to tie the campaign together.
True to its roots, Commandos: Origins is a real-time tactics game that thrives on meticulous planning and coordinated action rather than brute force or quick reactions. Each of the six characters has distinct yet familiar skills – from the Sniper’s precision to the Sapper’s demolitions – and players must carefully orchestrate how they combine their abilities to overcome heavily guarded compounds. Returning fans will feel right at home, and the inclusion of a new “Command Mode” that lets you queue synchronized actions adds a welcome modern touch. That said, the core formula is very familiar, and while it’s faithful to the series, it doesn’t break much new ground mechanically.
Where the gameplay really shines is in its mission variety and (dynamic) level design. Across over a dozen missions, players are sent to a wide range of historically inspired locations – from the cold Arctic to the warmth of the North African deserts – with levels offering multiple viable routes to success and changes that can occur mid-level. You can sneak past guards, swim through waterways, disable vehicles, or create distractions using environment-specific interactions. Optional objectives encourage replayability and experimentation, and stealth purists will appreciate how often the game lets you avoid unnecessary conflict if you plan well.
On PlayStation 5, the controls hold up better than expected for a genre traditionally more at home on PC, but they’re not perfect. The game’s radial menu system and command wheel are intuitive enough to make issuing orders to individual units relatively smooth with a controller. Coordinating simultaneous takedowns or item use requires some patience though, especially in tense situations, but the learning curve isn’t as steep as in older entries. However, players who have access to a keyboard and mouse setup on PC might still prefer that setup for precision’s sake when making quick selections.
Co-op play is a standout addition, allowing two players to take on missions together either online or via split-screen. Sharing command of the team adds new layers of strategy and coordination, as players can cover different areas of a map or distract enemies for one another. Unfortunately, the cooperative experience doesn’t come without issues – including occasional desyncs and small glitches that can interrupt the flow. Solo players may also notice moments where the AI behaves erratically or gets caught on the environment, which briefly breaks the immersion – as do moments where you think “shouldn’t they notice something is off by now?”, like when three enemies in a row die from an ‘accident’.
Visually, Commandos: Origins delivers detailed environments with well-crafted terrain and era-appropriate structures in full 3D, and while its graphical fidelity isn’t particularly cutting-edge it’s a huge step forward for the franchise. Character animations can be a bit stiff, and lighting effects are modest, though the overall art direction fits the gritty tone of the game. The soundtrack strikes a balance between tension and atmosphere, while the sound effects – from footsteps on gravel to distant gunfire – effectively sell the covert warzone setting through subtle details. Voice work is present but rather minimal, which makes enough sense against the backdrop of trying to be covert.
Despite some rough edges, Commandos: Origins is a solid return for a franchise that helped define the real-time tactics genre. It may not revolutionize the formula, but it respects its legacy and delivers a challenging, rewarding experience for fans of stealth-based strategy. With more polish – especially around AI and visuals – it would rank among the very best in the genre, but even as it stands, it’s a welcome revival. Long-time fans will likely appreciate its fidelity to the original games, while newcomers can use it as an accessible starting point into the series’ tense, tactical world. As Commandos fans, it’s the game we were hoping for ever since Kalypso secured the rights to the franchise.
Score: 8.0/10
Press Play Media 