Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3

What appears to be a needlessly convoluted title for a relatively straightforward arcade shooter is actually a sly nod to fans of the hitherto hibernating Commando franchise. For you see (POTENTIALLY DULL FACT ALERT), the original Commando coin-op was entitled ‘Senjou no ookami’ in its native Japan which translates as... Well, I’m sure you can guess.

“That we get”, we hear you bleat, “But what of Commando 2?”

If you’re grizzled old gamers like us, you may remember a remarkably Commando-esque 1990 arcade shooter by the name of Mercs – or should that be ‘Senjou no ookami II’? Yes, yes it should.

So, with this little history lesson over we can move on from the obtuse intricacies of trans-Pacific game-naming and focus our attentions on this most belated of sequels. First up: the obvious stuff.

As you’d expect from a title 18 years in the making (admittedly at least 16 of those probably weren’t dedicated to development), WOTB looks significantly better than its predecessors. The chunky, brightly-coloured polygonal characters and environments evoke memories of a Saturday morning cartoon that never was – probably for the best considering the mass fatalities. It’s this welcome concession to stylised simplicity that ensures the action stays smooth even when the going gets rough.

The GI Joe-inspired designs of super-soldier troika Wolf, Coyote and Fox may startle stalwart series fans, but they’re perfectly suited to the gung-ho action which, while violent, is always bloodless and often far beyond the realm of believability. It’s a shame the cut scenes aren’t fully animated to really cement that feeling you’re involved in a show sandwiched between Captain Planet and The Real Ghostbusters, but then WOTB isn’t exactly a game that prides itself on a deep - or even Power Rangers-rivalling - narrative.

No, you won’t find any Metal Gear Solid-style 45-minute musings on the futility of war here; just a 60-second breather and then it’s straight back to shooting wave after wave of cloned cannon fodder. Dual-stick control abides (Robotron has a lot to answer for), something of a departure from previous instalments, but a sensible departure at that as it allows you to weave between the onslaught of bullets while keeping your own fire firmly on target. A trite observation for a control method that’s now more than 25 years old, perhaps, but it’s as effective here as it has ever been.

Power-ups are in copious supply; your bog-standard machine gun can become a three-way blaster, temperature-raising flamethrower or grunt-splattering missile launcher, and you’re also kitted out with a limited supply of potent grenades and screen-clearing M-Crashes (a smart bomb by any other name). Making efficient use of these various firearms is a little like applying Deep Heat: use sparingly in the right areas when it’s called for, otherwise misguided application can result in a world of pain.

WOTB employs various countermeasures in the war on repetition, including a score multiplier system that resets each time you’re hit (which will no doubt invoke some furious Leaderboard competition), PoWs that need to be rescued, secret areas that reward intrepid explorers, and heavily-armed vehicles that can be boarded by multiple players.

Ah, multiplayer: the heart of the WOTB experience. Just like Mercs, not two, not four, but three players – offline or via LIVE - can adopt a beastly codename and join forces in the fight against whichever freedom haters have currently got it in for whatever country our heroes are risking their necks for. When you’re coming up against heavy fire from all directions, it’s good to know that you’ve got someone watching your back – although when health-boosting kits and weapon upgrades appear you may suddenly find that that very same back is left vulnerable while you all scramble for the high-calibre booty.

A little competition always spices up co-op play, so while you’re united in your efforts to save the day there’s always the matter of racking up the highest score once the shrapnel has settled. Collaboration is king, though, and few things in the game are more gratifying than leaping into a tank with your fellow mercenaries and collectively mowing through the hordes of politically ambiguous foes. So mighty is its power that there’s even an Achievement just for doing it.

If you were anticipating a radical reworking of the Commando formula – perhaps a Call of Duty 4-beating FPS, or a quirky puzzle game starring gun-wielding jellyfish – you’ll be sorely disappointed, but we’re guessing that’s precisely not what the fans wanted anyway. Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 unashamedly embraces its roots, does little to tamper with a successful formula save for a few monotony-curbing flourishes and provides a no-nonsense action extravaganza that doesn’t outstay its welcome. In short: it’s everything a LIVE Arcade game should be.

Let’s also not ignore the fact that by picking up this finely sculpted slab of enhanced nostalgia you’re also securing yourself a place on the Super Street Fighter II HD Remix Beta trial. Instead, let us dwell on this wondrous bonus and emit a wordless sound that implies approval.

Article by Dan Maher, Inside Xbox Editor (Gamertag: MrPointyHead)