Lost In Translation/Commando

This page is a stub for arcade games that are part of the Lost In Translation series using information based on MAME (version 0.113u2).
For an example of preferred content and layout please refer to Out Run or The Ninja Warriors.

Commando
Manufacturer	Capcom
Released	1985
Control Method	8-way Joystick 2 Button(s)
Main CPU	Z80 (@ 4.000 MHz) Z80 (@ 3.000 MHz)
Sound CPU	Mono (2x) YM2203 (@ 1.500 MHz)
Video Details	Raster (Vertical) 256 x 224 pixels 60.00 Hz 256 Palette colours
Screens	1
ROM Info	22 ROMs 280,064 bytes (273.50 KiB)
MAME ID	commando · commandj · commandu · sinvasn · sinvasnb

About The Game

Commando is a vertically scrolling, arcade video game shoot-em-up in which the player takes on the role of a highly trained commando soldier. The mission is to rescue captives and destroy enemy bases and strongholds, killing as many enemy soldiers as possible in the process. The commando carries only 2 weapons : a limited-range machine gun with unlimited shots, and a limited supply of hand grenades. Extra grenades can be picked up as the player progresses through the levels.

Trivia

Released in May 1985.

Licensed to Data East for US manufacture and distribution (July 1985). Commando was the first (and the only) game that Capcom licensed to Data East.

This game is known in Japan as "Senjou no Ookami" (translates as 'Battlefield of the Wolf') and is known as "Space Invasion" for the West German marketplace.

The main character is Super Joe from "Bionic Commando" and "The Speed Rumbler".

Tim Balderramos holds the official record for this game with 10,051,200 points on July 5, 1986.

Bandai released a boardgame based on this video game (same name) : A simple roll-and-move type game, with symbols on the board indicating what happens when you land on that spot. There are multiple choices on which direction to go, but not too much in the way of required thinking. There are many different boards that you progress through, each 'board' representing one 'stage' of the game.

Alfa Records released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Capcom Game Music - 28XA-94) on 25/08/1986.

Tips and tricks

• The arch bridge is a dangerous spot so watch for grenade attacks from above. Be careful of trucks and jeeps that may try to run over you. Do not fall into rivers or ponds. Trees, walls and other obstacles may be used for cover.
• Here's a good way to kill enemy soldiers without going anywhere near them : at the end of each area, when the enemy soldiers are pouring out of the gate from their compound, move your commando to the bottom of the screen and shoot down. Your shots will come down from the top of the screen, killing the soldiers as they come out of the gate.
• This tip will let you rack up big points and all the extra men you can : on the first stage, there is a cliff on the right-hand side of the screen. The enemy troops will jump off the end of this cliff and attack you. If you walk until the enemy troops START jumping off, and then stop, you can just stand there and keep killing them until you either get sick of playing or reach the maximum amount of extra men the game allows. If you plan on playing through the rest of the game you should stop as soon as you reach the maximum amount of extra men, as the longer you just sit there, the harder and faster the enemies become, making the rest of the game substantially more difficult.

Series

1. Commando (1985)
2. Mercs (1990)
3. Commando 3 (2007, XBOX 360 - "XBLA", Playstation 3 - "PSN")

Staff

Designed By

Tokuro Fujiwara

Music By

Tamayo Kawamoto

Cabinet and Artwork

• 

  Commando arcade cabinet.

• 

  Commando flyer.

• 

  Back of the Commando flyer.

• 

  Alternate Commando flyer.

Ports

Consoles

Nintendo Famicom (1986)

Mattel Intellivision (1987)

Atari 2600 (1988)

Atari 7800 (1989)

Sony PlayStation (1998, "Capcom Generation 4")

Sony PlayStation (1998, "Capcom Generations - Blazing Guns")

Sega Saturn (1998, "Capcom Generation 4")

Sony PlayStation 2 (2005, "Capcom Classics Collection")

Microsoft XBOX (2005, "Capcom Classics Collection")

Sony PSP (2006, "Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded")

Computers

Box art for Elite's Amiga port of Commando.

Commodore C64 (1985)

Amstrad CPC (1985)

PC [Booter] (1986)

Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1986)

Commodore 16 (1986)

Commodore Plus/4 (1986)

Apple II (1987)

Atari ST (1989)

Commodore Amiga ("Commando, 1989, Elite)

PC [CD-ROM] (1999, "Capcom Arcade Hits 3") (also includes PDA version for HP/Compaq iPaq Pocket PC's.)

Soundtrack Releases

Album Name	Catalogue No.	Released	Publisher	Comments
C64 ORCHESTRA - RUN 10	7 121361 302329	2007-11-12	productiehuis Oost-Nederland (ON), Rounder Europe	2 CD version.
Instant Remedy	IR01	2002-01-01	High Technology Publishing Ltd.	CD version.
The Best Of AY-3-8912	CZCD 005	2007-07-12	Binary Zone Interactive	CD version.
Commodore 64 PD Music Mix 1	CZCD 011	2007-07-13	Binary Zone Interactive	2 CD version.
This Time It's WAR!	CZCD 014	2007-07-13	Binary Zone Interactive	CD version.
Arcade Ambiance 1986	N/A	2004-08-27	Andy Hofle	Digital download only.

External Links

• Sinclair ZX Spectrum version of Commando at the World of Spectrum

References

The contents of this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
The sources used include MAME (version 0.113u2) and history.dat (revision 1.28 - 2008-10-18).
Please see http://www.arcade-history.com for credits.