The history of the revolutionary run and gun game Please visit my Patreon at / pdbowl Follow me on Twitter at / pdqc1971 Follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.c...
Pat, I wanted to say the same thing. What region is your accent from? I'm told I have a Chicago or Midwest accent, which must be true as I grew up in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
@@DavidKimFX Thank you, I live in the Quad cities which is right on the border between Iowa and Illinois. I never knew I had an accent either until I was playing with somebody on Xbox live and They mention it LOL
Thank you so much Patman :_) this brought back some wonderful memories, my grandfather owned this arcade machine in his dance hall and from the very first time I visited only 6-8 months after I was born, I was plopped infront of the game and played on infinite credits, I enjoyed playing it every time I visited and by the time I was 3 I could beat the first stage (which given how hard this game is, thats quite the accomplishment for someone who couldn't even tie his shoes yet) I own a tiny 3D printed replica of the arcade cabinet but someday I will own the original in memory of my late grandfather.
This game was one of my first video game loves when I was a kid. The C64 made a huge impression on me. I used to have the theme song as my ringtone on my phone.
I remember playing this (Also Ikari Warriors among other classics) at Franks Party Store on Vinewood and Vernor back in the days in the late 80’s in SW Detroit. Just my personal memories...
I was hoping you'd eventually do "History of..." for Commando. I have a lot of memories and great nostalgia for the game. I loved the arcade machine and played it often at a local pizza place. I also owned the NES port as one of the few games I owned as a kid. I remember how glitchy it was, but I was very forgiving of it back then and loved it despite its flaws. I also had Frontline for ColecoVision before Commando and drew the comparisons as well. I had a lot of fun with both games. I never played the sequels other than MERCS, which I thought was fun but I don't remember it as fondly. Great video as always! Thanks for the entertainment. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do watching them.
Thanks for the nice words. I'm glad you enjoy my content and yes I do enjoy making these videos and getting to talk about something I've enjoyed for the last 40 years. I don't think I had frontline for the Coleco I could be mistaken though. Thanks for sharing your memories
My first exposure to Commando was in the "Commando" segments in the NES Bionic Commando game. Super Joe was actually the soldier taken prisoner in that game and the protagonist was actually on a mission to rescue him. There's an Easter Egg in the game too in a weapon called "Joe's Machine Gun" that fires rapidly but the bullets don't reach the end of the screen. Anyways, it was years later before I pieced the connection between the games together even though I owned both Commando and Bionic Commando for the NES. Love your videos man. Every week when I get the notification that a new one is up, a smile crosses my face.
I played the Commando rip-off 'Who Dares Wins 2' a lot on the 8-bit homecomputers; it was a lot of fun too. Somehow I preferred it over Commando, probably because the enemies were more aggressive and really coming for you - and fast - in most cases, not just a basic pattern. That was, until Ikari Warriors came out a few years later of course :) But I'm glad you covered this iconic classic Patman !
Who Dares Wins 2 was a game I played and I was wondering if anyone would mention it. Another one of my old time upscrolling C64 games in this sort of vein was Rambo 2. Tough as nails to beat as a kid!
I used to love all these one man army style games as a kid. I remember playing one called "land air sea squad" or something like that at my local convenient store. These videos are awesome because they churn up long forgotten video game memories. Thanks again.
The Spectrum version didn't originally have any music, that was added much later by a 3rd party. It was a really good version given the limitations of the Spectrum 48K
A lot of arcade games converted to computer back then had no soundtrack. I know the skateboard game 720 didn’t, but then the arcade was huge and with massive speakers and iirc the soundtrack was licensed. You’d hear it anywhere in the arcade. I can’t remember if if Outrun was the same on C64, but I do remember Zapp64 or another C64 game magazine gave a free music tape with the original arcade soundtrack on so I only remember listening to that even when I wasn’t playing Outrun... Musical soundshower anyway? 😜
@@Madyetmellow - I believe one of the computer mags (C&VG?) gave away a tape with the Afterburner arcade music one month and then the companies jumped on board, giving away soundtrack tapes with 720 Degrees and OutRun. I don't remember any others though. Edit, sorry timeline is totally out on that, 720 and OutRun came out on the Speccy in 87, Afterburner was 88.
Great episode! One of my favorite arcade games; I loved the NES port when I got it as a kid. By the way, the best two home ports came much later for the Saturn and PlaySation included on Capcom Generations 4, they're pretty much arcade perfect.
@@PatmanQC-Arcade-Documentaries They're actually ports! What's curious is that the Commando versions found on the Capcom Classics Collection (Xbox, PS2) and Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded (PSP) are emulations from the Saturn port and not the arcade original since the Saturn was so accurate.
Just a quick comment to say THANK YOU, PAT! I love these mini single-game documentaries. I know a LOT about classic games but I still learn the occasional nugget of fascinating info from these videos. Keep up the great work, my friend!
One of my favorite arcade games... I remember that i watched Rambo & Commando movies in the theather back in the day and got all pumped😂up afther the movies and there was an arcade in the mall & i would go all inspired afther the movies and put on a very highscore... A man it was a great time😇 to be alive in the 80's... As always i enjoy very much these mini docu's Thanks👍👍👍for the uploads & stay safe Pd i even got the nes ver when that came out (dont have😪the game but i now play on emulation) as i dont have the $$ to buy real hardware... What i do have is the poster that came with the game (commando nes) that have an early desing of captain commando "the challenge series" and the poster advertised three games; Commando Ghost & Goblins 1942 Also have a bunch of other posters that came in the nes boxes & some snes posters as well... That is what i enjoy the most these mini docus because you bring a lot of good classic memories I hope this and all your videos get a lot of views, i dont know the patreon stuff but i will try to help you by sharing the videos whit my friends so you can get some more views... Excuse my english if i write some words wrong i am not from the US... Greetings from mexico Stay safe my friend & hope you can keep these videos or more uploads Thanks👍👍👍again
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed the content so much. As a kid of the 80s I grew up with action movies as well as action games so it was a great time to be a video gamer. Hope you are safe down there in Mexico, English is just fine :-) thanks for sharing
it could've been worse. it could've said "conglaturation. you have completed a great game. and prooved the justice of our culture. now go and rest our heroes."
Thanks for the review! I was never much good at the vertical run and gun games even in my gaming prime, and this one especially kicked my ass. I think my biggest problem was that I’m a perfectionist who always wanted to clear every single enemy on the screen, and in games like Commando that’s just a ticket to an early Game Over (1942 with its “% clear” bonuses was even worse for me in that regard).
These Capcom titles were so great and diverse,thank you for all of your detail and care that you put into all of your clips.⚡️ You do a great job,and we’ve all learned a lot from your passion to document these works of art. Thank you. Any chance on the horizon for a Section Z clip?😎 I love that game,seems like not a lot of info out there about it.. I know that Hyper dyne is in the lineage,but there was something special about Section Z...The soundtrack is STILL top notch,and the gameplay as well. Really keeps you on you toes.😏 Aside from the NES release,(which had some great aux/cut scenes within) there weren’t many ports... “That I know of.” 🤠
I love your history of arcade videos. i built a custom arcade1up with a raspberry pi 4(bored during lock down and wanted to learn something new). I've been enjoying all these classic arcade games I never got to play growing up. it's been so awesome keep up the great work. I just finished golden Axe and golden axe revenge of death adder. gonna try out commando now. keep up the great work👍
My fav arcade machine game ever, I remember playing this for hours when I was 11.This game , along with Ghost and Goblins and Kung Fu Master are the Holy Grail of arcades
So cool. I have great memories of this game on the Atari 7800. I didn't have the console, but my cousin did. Whenever we visited (which was often, they lived only 2 blocks away), I was glued in front of the TV playing.
This video made my day. love the way you start off with the arcade then compare the ports. you have a great style and sense of humor so many funny jokes love the cig picture! great stuff
I just want to thank you for these videos. Especially because I did not expect to learn about news games from it. Been a fan of Commando since it came out but never knew about Mercs. Looking forward to adding it to my MAME system's favorites list.
Had this on my ZX Spectrum 48k (one with the rubber keys) absolutly loved it could only ever get to level II then get my ass handed to me. Also had a 128k Plus and still played this game lots of fond memories playing it with my late father the entire Spectrum era always remind me of playing games with him and it's what started me doing what I do today PC Engineer/Tech. Always use the line 10 Goto 20 basic programming even had it put on a T-Shirt So Thanks matey your videos are an inspriation to most a link to fond memories for all
When I was a kid this game (on the NES) was top tier, no one had it and everyone wanted it! All everyone could talk about on the bus or on recess was where all the secret stairs were and what was at the end of the levels. Similar to Castlevania 2 and all its secrets, that's all we talked about haha
Really? My cousin had it and I didn't think it was very good even back then. I don't think I ever heard anyone talk about it except when I got Bionic Commando.
Absolute Classic! I always pretended Super Joe was from the Royal Air Force, as his uniform was blue like theirs lol It was only when I joined the RAF myself, that it dawned on me that wearing bright blue instead of desert DPM in the middle of that particular theater would more than likely have resulted in poor old Joe being picked off as soon as he jumped from the chopper?! My only frustration with the game... Could I hit take out that motorcycle guy throwing grenades off the bridge?! Could I Hell!!! Thanks for a super nostalgia hit PatMan. Made me so happy to see all these other gentlemen of a certain "vintage" share the same passion for Commando! Take care my friend 🇬🇧🇺🇲👍
I loved Commando in the arcades but was well pleased with the C64 conversion, but a slight let down with just 3 levels. But at the time, that was all they could offer! Still a good video and very welcome to watch. Nice trip down memory lane. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I don't know why it was only three levels. If it was a space issue considering most games were released on tape over in Europe you would think they could've released part two with the missing levels.
I used to play this game at my local 7-11, id get a Big Gulp and the checker would let me get a refill. I like Mercs a little because you could drive the vehicles and I loved this flame thrower. I never played this game on any of the home consoles, they never seem to capture the arcade fill at all, this game was meant to play at an arcade, thanks for another informative review.
This was my game. I remember playing this at a local Fish and Chips restaurant in Connecticut back in the mid 80's. I still have the NES game cartridge which from time to time, I pop up my console and start kicking a$$!!
This was great on NES and one of my first NES games back then. Only challenge is the firing only aims where you're facing, which makes the player vulnerable. Great history.
I played Commando and Mercs back in the day at the arcades, so much fun. I never bought the home conversions. Commando was sort of an early version of Ikari Warriors, I wish they had developed sequel where you could change out your weapons, have bosses at the end of the levels or commandeer vehicles. Imagine flying around in a Huey taking out enemy soldiers and structures with that bird, it would’ve been fun, thanks for the review.
Damn. First game I remember playing with the old man rip. Ended up getting it as my first nes game. Haven't seen game footage...for a long time. Good vid
8 Stages?!!! I could only pass the first stage. I remember playing this in Nathan’s - they had a huge arcade and you could hear the thunderous roar of all the machines from outside. What great memories.
The NES port wasn’t done by Micronics-it was the first game that Capcom themselves designed for the system. It’s definitely a bit of a mess, but the additional content was a sign of their later arcade ports being expanded for home systems.
I never got to play this in the arcade, but boy did I ever play it on the NES, so much so that I could actually beat it. Wasn't until years later that I saw the C-64 version, with the spectacular soundtrack.
I love this channel. Keep up the great work! Also I'd live to see a video on the history of Afterburner or the history of Sega's legendary R360 arcade cabinet.
I really enjoyed this video. Keep up the stellar work sir. The regular nintendo version was glitchy, but it was still fun. Way better than ikari warriors.
Thanks for this entertaining presentation of an old classic. I had it on the Amstrad CPC. Speaking of ports and releases, 2 compilations (Capcom Generations on PlayStation 1 and Capcom Classics Collection on PSP) included both Commando and Mercs. They were emulated as far as I can remember.
These "History of" videos are a welcome addition from the comparison only ones, although I like them all really. I think You are a bit harsh on the Spectrum version, it's amazing considering what the hardware is capable of. Atari 2600 version is terrible and very poor choice of colours. MSX horrendous but is apparently very difficult (almost impossible) to get the screen scrolling smoothly. I guess back in the day it was a lot about money, so lots of rubbish was released, although there were always some amazing games around. I wonder who the idiot in a suit was in Germany who made the decision to ban games where people got shot and changed it to space aliens.
I've given certain spectrum games major props the course of these documentaries but I just didn't see what the appeal was of this game. Again, I'm no authority it's just my opinion
@Imperious685 the country has very strong "Youth Protection" laws, which govern not only videogames, but also television, movies and music. However, the majority of the censorship is actually carried out by the local developers and publishers, in an effort to allow the game to hit the shelves straight away without frustration. It's an odd dichotomy as post-Cold War unified Germany is incredibly liberal and democratic, yet it's censorship of the arts is one of the most archaic.
Excellent job! I always wondered what was up with the Nintendo version as it had all of those ladder and bunkers that you had to rescue POWs. I even think Nintendo power released a map guide or hint guide on the game if my memory serves me correctly.
Dude..... Who is playing this game!?!? Whoever it is, they are CRUSHING IT!! ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS the entire video! If anyone was ever that skilled at Commando, they deserve a trophy, a medal, a button, a ribbon, a button with a ribbon .... SOMETHING! S#!T, give this MoThErF@#$&R a PURPLE HEART!
recuerdo que cuando enchufabas el arcade antes de que se ponga la plantalla de inicio, apretabas el boton de start y disparo a la vez, tenias acceso al menu de sonidos y configuracion del juego. todavia se puede hacer en mame. recuerdo que estaba horas escuchando las melodias de este juego. son arte, bellezas sonoras.
I hate when classic franchises get a "sequel" from some semi-amateur developer that doesn't revive the series, but instead puts the final bullet into it by making trash. (commando 3, the latest contra monstrocity, etc)
@@PlasticCogLiquid Well, not as many games as professional studios like Ubuysoft or EA; but I agree; especially that 2008 Commando 3 looked like a game from the late 90s tech-wise.
I really like all the information you have and all these games I don't know whether you look at all up or whether you just know it from when you were a kid but it's great to know all this and foam from all the games we all enjoyed
like i've previously said, you would give the guy who narrated Stand by me , a run for his money ! lol i watch your videos because they trigger good memories, and give tons of fun facts, and of course your delivery is always top notch. id see you narrating the new cgi blockbuster hit Gunguns and dragons a galactic affair. vol2 am i the only one that see's it?
Now you're smoking 5 packs of cigs a day? Glad you cut down. I had Commando on Intellivision, which I thought was amazing (considering the hw). (which also featured the smoking soldier graphic btw). This game was SO influential as time marched on! Very important history! Thanks PatmanQC!
I freaked outfor a sec as i didnt remember any in game music on the spectrum - i see that it was written on a 128 machine and hacked into a new version. Spectrum played really well thou and was a decent, challenging version worthy of praise when it came out.
Man takin me back! Totally remember this and actually liked using the knob controller as opposed to the standard stick..well they called it a 'joy'stick for a reason
PatmanQC - History of arcade game documentaries it is still new with not a lot of playthroughs yet, but I am working on it. It would mean a lot to me if you would subscribe❤️
Couldn't forget the C64 version, the music and the action were fantastic! who could forget the soundtrack?! I think that's the best conversion followed by the ZX one, which is a great achievement for the system resources, and the Amiga version in third place for its lack of background music!
Joseph Gibson aka Super Joe was front and center, no pun intended, in the Capcom arcade games you have mentioned. Believe it or not, he was Capcom's equivalent to G.I. Joe, hence his name, Super Joe, especially playing a key role in the NES version of Bionic Commando. The only downside is the fact that Capcom made him a villain in the reboot, which I elect to ignore. Other than that, another well put review. At least I got the Capcom Arcade Cabinet to play this game whenever I want.
I loved playing the C64 version when I was young. As soon as I heard that music, I was taken back to sitting in front of my computer, joystick in hand for hours. This was a very smooth and playable port for the time.
I always thought of Frontline as a really bizarre in-joke on the part of Taito. They made the protagonist an apparent US soldier (going by the color scheme) and the animation of running around literally has characters traipsing about with a sort of dancing motion in their legs. Such a weird game. | I remember those underground bonus areas from the NES Commando which were totally absent from the arcade original. It's interesting to see that the 7800 version had something similar. Also the music/sound in the 7800 version is doing more than the native hardware could, so they must have had an extra sound chip in the cartridge.
I thought it was strange as well of the 7800 version added hidden areas just like the NES version. As far as frontline goes, I still love it as a kid but it doesn't hold the same charm nowadays as commando does
Great documentary, this. I remember feeding seemingly limitless 10p pieces into the Commando arcade machine at my local arcade back in the day and giving the joystick a wrangling every single time, mainly because I didn't know what the hell I was doing half the time. Looking at the snippets of the Commando movie, why is it every time I see Schwarzenegger tool up for the final showdown in the movie, I expect him to keel over backwards and end up in the middle of an Arnie-sized explosion??
I had a love / hate relationship with this game on NES. I remember being obsessed with finding the binoculars and after getting the Nintendo hint book and sneakily reading it 8th grade Social Studies class I found out how to get them. Coincidentally, I became sick to my stomach after that class and had the nurse call my mom to pick me up and take me home...hehe.
Thanks PatmanQC. First when I signed up I thought "QC" stands for Quebec, but it's not as I later found out. You (and plenty of beer) makes "stay at home" more bearable, or should I write beerable? :-D
