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Field Commander psp Game Reviews
Field Commander
Critic Score
Metascore: 77 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.1 out of 10
based on 53 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 25 votes
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Field Commander is the first military turn-based strategy game for PSP and the only title that offers engaging, challenging skill based warfare in a realistic military setting. You play as a Field Commander working for the Global Defense League, an independent organization established by the Allied Nations to defend the world against covert organizations whose goals include terrorism, genocide, and global domination. Your main enemy in these scenarios is Shadow Hold, an evil terrorist organization bent on inciting wars, illicit arms deals and global domination. Command the land, skies and sea. Orchestrate an offensive attack through 30 unique missions, each one coming alive in beautiful 3D environments with highly-detailed terrain and dynamic visual effects. With an arsenal of 15 army divisions and 11 commanding officers to choose from, the power is yours to outwit the enemy at every turn.

PUBLISHER: Sony Online Entertainment
DEVELOPER: Sony Online Entertainment
GENRE(S): Turn-Based Strategy, Wargame
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2006

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Turn-based strategy doesn't get any better than this. [May 2006, p.97]
100
Modojo
Think of it as paying homage to the turn-based strategy games that came before. Considering the great storyline, the superb voice acting, the graphics, mission creation, and mission downloading, you will never grow old of Field Commander.
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90
GamerFeed
It even goes so far as to improve on the Advance Wars formula, the ability to layer troops adding another strategic twist and the online features adding a significant amount of replay value.
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90
Play Magazine
If it's combat you crave, Field Commander won't disappoint. [may 2006, p.59]
90
TotalPlayStation
It's wonderfully balanced, nicely challenging, and things like the fog of war or stealth units are handled with plenty of confidence.
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90
PSX Extreme
As a total package, Field Commander is easily one of the best turn-based strategy games ever produced. That's no surprise, since it's basically a knock-off of Nintendo's "Advance Wars."
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90
Deeko
Field Commander proves to be a nicely presented and intuitive strategy game that is simplistic enough to lure in the unsuspecting, but thorough enough to satisfy the expecting.
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90
Gamers' Temple
The play is simple enough on the surface, but the real gameplay comes from the depth of strategy involved in the game.
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90
Pure Magazine UK
The first military strategy title for the PSP, it's well presented and addictive. [Feb 2007, p.76]
87
Pelit (Finland)
Advance Wars for PSP. Luckily there are also new ideas, like stackable units, mines and destructible forest. Too bad it is only for two players. [Sept 2006]
86
eToychest
It's not the prettiest game on the console – in fact in some ways its downright ugly – but what it lacks in visual fidelity it makes up for in fun.
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85
DailyGame
Sure it's a knockoff of "Advance Wars DS" in almost any way, but it's still incredibly enjoyable.
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85
Just RPG
With its fun yet basic gameplay, great presentation, and loads of multiplayer action, Field Commander is a great game!
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84
Game Chronicles
This game takes all of the best elements from pen & paper war gaming and combines it with fun and exciting graphics and sound and even gives you old school options like PBM.
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84
IGN
It offers enough depth and flexibility to warrant a look from any serious gamer. It blends an engrossing single-player campaign with great production values and a robust set of multiplayer options.
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84
GameSpot
Field Commander scores a direct hit with satisfying turn-based strategy gameplay, a lengthy campaign, and a healthy array of online multiplayer options.
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83
Play UK
Does everything that you could want from a handheld turn-based strategy game, and manages to throw a few new ideas into the mix to keep it interesting. [Issue 144, p.86]
82
Jolt Online Gaming UK
There are dozens of ready-made missions and most of them can be tackled in radically different ways, which adds even more longevity on top of the mission editor and slew of multiplayer modes.
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82
GameBrink
The game ruthlessly steals from Advance Wars and behaves like its sadistic brother, but this shouldn’t be looked down upon. The game is a realist update for the genre and adds features that fans have been clamoring for.
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82
Games Master UK
Massively addictive. [Aug 2006, p.73]
81
Gaming Horizon
Field Commander is definitely worth a look from any RTS PSP-owning fan. The gameplay is rich enough and the number of options, which includes a multitude of multiplayer modes, is deep enough to keep gamers coming back for more. And even if you aren’t a big RTS fan, like myself, there’s enough here to make you want to become one.
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80
G4 TV
The tactical gameplay is refined and intelligent, yet easy to grasp, and the mix of a fun single player modes, and exceptionally in-depth multiplayer makes Field Commander not simply the best strategy game on the PSP, but one of the best on any system.
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80
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
Taxes the brain more than the trigger finger, so it's ideal for anyone hankering after a tactical time waster. [Aug 2006, p.96]
80
VideoGamer
Controls obviously take some time to learn and the maps are a little small, but the game still works exceedingly well, especially in multiplayer.
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80
GameSpy
The multiplayer component is particularly strong, with ad hoc games, an infrastructure network mode where players can link up for games, and a transmission mode where you can send individual turns to other players, so a game can be played over a longer period of time, much like the old play-by-email strategy gaming of yesteryear.
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80
PSM Magazine
The strategy angle comes from the different abilities of each unit...assuming they're each on a different level (air, land,etc.). [May 2006, p.85]
80
1UP
As a two-player game it excels, and as a single player experience it certainly seems compatible with the way most people spend time with their PSPs. It's the ideal commuting partner.
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80
Boomtown
The turn-based gameplay works surprisingly well on the PSP and the gameplay is easy to pick up and play, but packed with nuances and subtleties that you'll learn over time.
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80
Sydney Morning Herald
It's accessible for beginners but has tactical depth for experienced warmongers.
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80
PSW Magazine UK
While the single-player campaign occasionally gets a little repetitive, up against human competition the game becomes almost Chess-like in its intricate strategies. Completely immersive and utterly compelling.
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79
GameZone
Field Commander has great elements (the online multiplayer) and normal features (the lacking AI) that is best to be described as a game of taste.
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78
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Field Commander isn't bad. It just lacks "Advance Wars'" energy and verve, leaving you with a game in traditional military drag with solid but uncompelling gameplay.[June 2006, p.118]
75
Game Informer
However, the overall roughness in every aspect of the game and the mediocre single-player element make this a niche title in an already-niche genre. [May 2006, p.113]
75
Gaming Age
Field Commander does exactly what it set out to accomplish; provide a solid, portable, turn-based military strategy title.
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75
Detroit Free Press
Field Commander is not only a genre first for the PSP, it's also a pretty darn good game for anyone who'd rather think first and shoot later.
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75
PALGN
Despite taking a bit too much Advance Wars and not building enough of its own game, Field Commander is quite enjoyable and scratches the strategy itch.
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72
Gamezilla!
It has strong multiplayer capability with the PSP’s wireless functionality, and a satisfying single player game.
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72
My Gamer
Field Commander is nothing more Advance Wars with a fresh coat of paint. But while Nintendo players will hark that Sony stole their coveted stragety game, you can’t ignore the fact Sony’s multiplayer mode one-ups the GBA and DS versions.
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70
Pocket Gamer UK
Field Commander is a polished, well-presented game with loads of options, but it's let down by weak AI. Best enjoyed via multiplayer.
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70
Total Video Games
Whilst the Campaign offers a slice of the action away when you're away from a Wi-Fi access point, the fact remains that Field Commander's strength is in its online functionality. More specifically it's the fact that by implementing an Infrastructure mode, players don't have to scour the locality for a second player in order to enjoy some Human vs. Human warfare.
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70
Edge Magazine
What it lacks in personality it makes up for in solid mechanics and slick execution, and should do any tactical fanatic proud. [July 2006, p.90]
70
GamePro
But in the process of making Field Commander appeal to a more hardcore audience, Sony Online Entertainment also made the game far blander than it should be. Unit design is purely uninspired and the story and accompanying dialogue are as trite as the next game.
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70
Games Radar
There's nothing wrong with the fundamentals, and the online play is sweetness, but a couple more weeks in the situation room would have helped this war sail smoother.
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70
games(TM)
Field Commander has chosen a good series to emulate, and it emulates it with panache. [Sept 2006, p.130]
65
WHAM! Gaming
If you do have a DS but don’t own Advance Wars, skip Field Commander and pick up the true turn based strategy king. If you do already have Advance Wars, just play through it again and save your money for something truly new on the PSP.
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60
AceGamez
Yet another area where Field Commander falls short - other games grade your performance, so you can go back and improve your strategy, but here it is simply win or lose, no matter how well you plan and execute your campaign.
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60
Yahoo! Games
It's ultimately disappointing that the best Sony could do with their advanced hardware is a poor man's version of a Game Boy game ["Advance Wars"]. But, hey, at least you can play it online.
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60
EuroGamer
Although Field Commander has plenty of options, it's doubtful hardcore strategy heads will find enough to get lost in.
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50
netjak
There are glitches upon glitches in the online version of this game, infesting the very area of the game that would have made it the finest in its class. Sometimes you cannot access the online mode. Sometimes, upon accessing it, you find your transmission games (games via email) frozen forever. You can play around the glitches until your FC becomes unplayable.
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50
NTSC-uk
Field Commander is the Ford Focus of the genre; it's solid, reliable and enjoyable but nothing new or all that exciting and it will leave you wanting that little bit more.
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50
RewiredMind
Just taking the best points of a fine gaming series does not a good game make. As a huge Advance Wars fan, I’m appalled that another developer could take such liberties, but they do say that imitation is the best form of flattery.
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50
Game Revolution
A soulless clone of a good game. It puts almost all of the pieces together, but the two that it misses, intelligence and personality, are what make a game likable and engaging.
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40
Computer Games Magazine
Unfortunately, in the few sad stabs it takes at being its own thing, Field Commander misses the point. [Sept. 2006, p.81]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Zhou F. gave it a3:
You can see the designers rubbing their hands in glee at the processing power they have, at the chance to one up their Advance Wars foe. But sadly, all this game does is show how well the AW games are designed, for every flaw they fix turns out to be a feature. See for example the air units that can go anywhere and pick off units at their leisure. The soulless 'serious' plot. The crappy 3D graphics that make all vehicles look almost the same. The braindead AI that insists on taking out my infantry over my artillery. When I completed the survive 30 turns mission by totally annihilating the enemy in 15 turns, I decided to stop playing.

Dave M. gave it a9:
The best strategy game on the PSP with good multiplayer support. Like the idea of hot swap so you can play with one console. Still waiting for something better to appear after 1 year.

Moe S. gave it a7:
This game is half decent as for all the advanced wars comments do people think AW was the first turnbased strategy game? I think I'll go post on AW and accuse them of ripping off panzer general etc.

Nick S. gave it a7:
I have to agree with DJFIL, I have not played Advanced War but from what I've heard, it appears to be the better game. This however does not mean I am disappointed with Field Commander, the graphics are ok, the sounds are good, and its indeed very playable. I am not too sure that turn based strategy games is the way forward, the AI does not appear to be the smartest and some rounds appear to take an eternity (saving and buying new armoury then push forward, retreat, save and buy new armoury, push forward). Maybe I'm not the best tactitionist but I don't feel it gives me more options. Nevertheless, good game, worth buying, long life span....that's what counts at the end of the day.

Bill G. gave it a10:
no point compairing this to a game that is found on another format and will never make its way onto the PSP. Great turn based stratagy game and love the idea of playing other players over the internet. looks great sounds great and plays great, if you like your stratagy games then add this to your collection

Dan H. gave it a6:
Decent turn-based strategy, but doesn't even compare to Advance Wars DS. Advance Wars DS has way better maps, AI, CO's, personallity, and replayability. This feels so much half-baked compared to it.

peein gave it a9:
the best stategy for the psp and as said above much better than AWDS snd believe me ive played both, superb!!!

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