Super Joe
The lone soldier controlled by the player; he advances through enemy territory using a machine gun and grenades.
Documented for this version
Joystick | Move the soldier |
|---|---|
Button 1 | Fire the machine gun |
Button 2 | Throw a grenade |
Arcade control-panel button numbering can vary by cabinet; Button 1 and Button 2 identify the two attack functions.
How it plays
Commando uses a top-down, vertically scrolling perspective. The objective is to advance through enemy territory, defeat infantry and installations, and survive to the end of the stage. The joystick moves the soldier, while the attack buttons fire the machine gun or throw grenades.
Enemy soldiers enter from multiple directions, and some formations include vehicles or fixed defenses. Ammunition for the gun is effectively continuous, but grenades are limited and must be collected or conserved. The arcade game is built around a single-player campaign with advancing stages and increasingly dense enemy attacks.
Plan your run
Keep moving while firing, but avoid advancing so quickly that enemies appear outside your reaction range. Use the edges of the playfield carefully, since enemy soldiers can surround the player from several directions.
Save grenades for clusters, vehicles, and fortified positions. Watch the scrolling area ahead before committing to a route, and prioritize threats that can block movement or attack from close range.
Meet the cast
The lone soldier controlled by the player; he advances through enemy territory using a machine gun and grenades.
Before you begin
Fire continuously while moving to reduce the chance of being caught by incoming infantry.
Conserve grenades for dense groups and difficult defensive positions.
Commando is a 1985 arcade run-and-gun action game developed and published by Capcom. The player controls a lone soldier, commonly identified as Super Joe, fighting through hostile jungle and military positions with a machine gun and a limited supply of grenades. Its vertically scrolling battlefield, fast enemy attacks, and emphasis on constant movement give it a demanding arcade rhythm. The game was widely recognized for its energetic shooting, memorable military presentation, and influential top-down combat, and it became one of Capcom's notable mid-1980s arcade releases. Its straightforward objective and escalating pressure make each credit a test of reflexes, positioning, and resource management.
Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial Team
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