Commando (Europe)

Commando on the Atari 7800 is a home console port of Capcom's classic 1985 arcade run-and-gun shooter. Originally designed by Tokuro Fujiwara, the arcade version was a hit worldwide, and this European release brought the action to Atari's hardware. The 7800 port stays true to the original's fast-paced, vertically scrolling gameplay, though like many ports of the era it had to work within the system's limitations. If you grew up with the arcade original, this version is a solid way to revisit those intense firefights at home.

You take control of a commando soldier moving up the screen, mowing down endless waves of enemy soldiers while dodging their gunfire. The core loop involves shooting your way through each stage, collecting power-ups like grenades to clear clusters of foes, and reaching the end to advance to a new level. The controls are straightforward: move with the d-pad, shoot with one button, and toss grenades with another. The challenge ramps up quickly, with enemies appearing from all directions and bullets flying fast.

For its time, Commando on the Atari 7800 was a decent conversion of a beloved arcade game, offering that frantic, no-stop action the genre is known for. It fits right in with other shooters on the system, though it doesn't push any graphical boundaries. If you enjoy classic run-and-gun games like Ikari Warriors or Rambo, this is worth a try. It's a simple, honest port that captures the arcade feel without pretending to be anything more.

Commando (Europe) on Atari 7800 is a faithful port of Capcom's 1985 arcade hit, bringing its vertical-scrolling run-and-gun action to the console. The game was originally developed by Capcom and designed by Tokuro Fujiwara. This European release made the frantic soldier-versus-army gameplay available to Atari 7800 owners, keeping the core experience intact despite the hardware's limits.