The first and most obvious improvement in Commandos 2: HD Remaster is obviously the graphical overhaul.
The lighting and shadows see a good bit of improvement. Will this live up to my absurdly fond memory, or is this another game that should have stayed locked in the nostalgia of our minds?
Having purchased the rights to the game after Pyro Studios went under in 2017, publisher Kalypso Media went to work, partnering up with developer Yippee! Entertainment to bring this game back to life for modern platforms and for new audiences. It remains one of my favorite tactical strategy games of all time. (Of note, if you’d like to see a fantastic show that will put you in the mood for this game, check out Churchill’s Secret Agents: The New Recruits on Netflix where regular people tackle real-world tactics of SAS soldiers from the time) The sequel, Commandos 2: Men of Courage moved the game from a 2D engine to a 3D one, added higher resolutions, interior and underwater locations, the ability to use enemy weapons, vehicles, and equipment, and three new soldiers for the fight. Based loosely on real missions conducted by the SAS, the game featured a Green Beret, Sniper, Marine, Sapper, and more tasked with taking out Nazi installations and targets using unconventional stealthy approaches. Focusing on World War II, the game featured an intrepid team of British Commandos bent on taking the fight to the enemy. Sure, there had been isometric tactical titles before this game from Pyre Studios. There are a few games that define an entire genre, and Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is among them.