Comandos is back with a solid remaster that allows us to enjoy this fantastic classic. There are some questionable choices, but the experience remains almost intact.
Commandos 2: HD Remaster graphically upgrades a beloved tactical classic and gives a fresh coat of paint to a fairly obtuse set of controls. While it is shipping with a few bugs, all of the pieces that made this game a classic are present and accounted for. With just a little more polish we’ll be able to “Consider it done, boss”.
Textures aren't remastered by hand, but simply upscaled with an AI-model, probably ESRGAN. On the one hand, AI provides astonishing results, and this game is probably the first commercial one, that totally relies on this feature. Therefore they should give the open source authors more credit. On the other hand, you can easily spot the artifacts of this method: washed out/unreadable text on posters etc, problems with transparancy, **** hatchings, frayed edges and general look like an oil-painting. Unfortunately combined with the other issues already mentioned by other reviewers the overall impression is not good at all. I remember that the "no sound" bug was already in the original version, so I suppose they kept most of the source base. An outdated source code architecture could also explain the constant fps drops. 5 points because your budget is low, i really love this game and i suppose your intentions were good.
Although the game is still fun, the updates in the remaster, when compared to the original, are just not enough. This is especially evident when looking at the controls, which have only been marginally optimized. It is also quite hard to keep an overview when there’s a lot going on and the original’s multiplayer mode is missing. If the developers are willing to upgrade the game via patches, we might be willing to give it a second chance.
In terms of content and challenge level Commandos 2 still is a great experience. But as a remaster it would have benefited from a more coherent modernization.
Commandos 2 HD has had a fresh lick of paint and a nice polish but that's about it. It would have been nice to bring something new to the table in terms additional missions or new commandos. In today's world of video games, It just does not hold up against its peers. I do look forward to the planned 3rd installment they have mentioned. This is also due out on consoles in spring 2020 and hopefully, this title will have more modern bells and whistles attached to make it more appealing.
Commandos 2 HD is a poor remaster of a great game, falling short in almost every way. Graphic inconsistencies and inaccurate controls ruin the experience of playing it for hours.
I don't remember seeing so many bugs in any of my videogames before. And I've only done 3 main missions so far. There are visual bugs, there are bugs in gameplay, there are few things I'm used used to do in original game, but can't do anymore. There has been few crashes as well.
Other thing is the overwhelming censorship in this game that is really disappointing. Not only swastikas, but japanese rising sun symbols are censored too. It is a game based on real history - how does it make any sense to censor history? It's absurd!
And at last, the game seems to be not optimized well. It's basically 20 year old game with new skins but it takes ages to load the main menu and load to the game. Loading quicksaves takes less time though.
Don't get me wrong, It is playable, but you would get far better gaming experience playing the original game.
I really wish that dev's would fix the game and lose the ridiculous censorship over time, but my hopes aren't too high.
OMFG the field of view is terrible. While the resolution in the HD Remaster is better than in the original, the field of view is ****. At first I thought the game's default zoom setting was 100% zoomed-in, but no, this was maximum zoom-out. LOL.
In the HD Remaster you can see about 0.1% of the entire map, while in the original version made a million years ago you can see a much larger proportion of the map, making it much more pleasant and calm to play.
I downloaded the original to compare, and I like the original better so am playing that game now.
There I was, extremely hopeful for a remaster with upgraded graphics as Commandos 2 has a link to a nostalgian youth for me. Even more a pity it is how there are even more bugs and glitches than in the original commandos 2 version, more censorship and overall a more worse playing experience than the original one. In the third mission I was compromised. A lot of enemies came. Game started lagging and I couldnt assign my commandos to do anything anymore. As adviced already, don't spent your money on this one. Go for the original one with mods. What a pity of a potential. What a waste and what a disgrace to call this piece of junk a remaster...
SummaryRelive the real-time tactics masterpiece that defined the genre like no other: Originally developed by the legendary Pyro Studios, Commandos 2 - HD Remaster is a true homage to one of gaming's most celebrated masterpieces. Experience Commandos 2 Men of Courage like never before in high definition with reworked controls, UI and tutorial.
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