Eidos Interactive Commandos Behind Enemy Lines User Manual
CCOONNTTEENNTTSS
HISTORY 2
SETUP 3
THE MAIN MENU 3
NEW GAME MENU 4
SINGLE PLAYER 4
MULTIPLAYER 4
TUTORIALS 4
RESTART MISSION 4
LOAD QUICK SAVED GAME 4
PASSWORD 4
EXIT 4
SAVE GAME MENU 4
LOAD GAME 5
OPTIONS 5
USER PROFILE NAME 5
SOUND VOLUME 5
VIDEO OPTIONS 5
GAME REFERENCES 5
EXIT 6
HELP 6
CREDITS 6
QUIT GAME 6
THE GAME: BASIC CONCEPTS 6
THE TUTORIALS MENU 6
THE MISSIONS 7
TAKING CARE OF YOUR CAREER 7
ASSIGNING OBJECTIVES: THE BRIEFING 8
THE COMMANDOS 8
THE GAME: CONTROLS 9
THE MISSION 9
THE MAP NOTEBOOK 10
SELECTING SOLDIERS 10
MOVING SOLDIERS 11
HIT THE DIRT AND CRAWL 11
THE KNAPSACK 12
USE OF REMOTELY ACTIVATED ITEMS 12
USE OF DEVICES IN THE MISSION 12
PICKING UP AN ITEM IN THE MISSION 13
VEHICLES 13
BUILDINGS 14
CAMERAS 14
THE ENEMY 15
SIGHT 15
HEARING 16
SOLDIERS, PATROLS, ARTILLERY POSTS,
VEHICLES AND TROOP BARRACKS 17
IF YOU ARE DISCOVERED... 17
TACTICAL ADVICE 18
YOUR MEN 18
GREEN BERET 19
DRIVER 20
MARINE 21
SAPPER 23
SNIPER 24
SPY 25
THE MULTIPLAYER GAME 27
PLAYER “COMMANDOS” ON A LOCAL NETWORK 27
THE MULTIPLAYER GAME: A QUICK GUIDE 27
TROUBLESHOOTING 29
KEYS 29
ACTION HOT KEYS 29
CREDITS 31
11
HHIISSTTOORRYY
A HANDFUL OF EXCEPTIONAL MEN...
“...no routine, no bureaucracy... only pure operations, whose success
depends basically on oneself and on the men that have been chosen to
carry out the task. This is revolutionary”
Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clark
It is late 1940. The Axis forces control all of Western Europe.
Momentarily held back by the English Channel, the German army gathers strength for an imminent invasion of Great Britain.
However,there is one man in the British ranks that will not resign himself to play a merely defensive role.This man is Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clark. His plan was to create a special unit with a
handful of exceptional men. Men who are skilled at handling any type of weapon and excel in all forms of combat. Men who
are able to hit the enemy hard in the most dangerous circumstances and live to fight another day.Men who could change the
course of the war by taking the fight behind the enemy lines.
Due to the special characteristics of this unit, the officers who conceived and created the Commandos were forced to forget
most of what they had learnt at the military academies. The Commando doctrine was to use small units,carrying out stealthy
raids. Units had to be self-reliant and able to take the initiative when faced with unexpected situations. Men with highly varied specialties and background,who went through mercilessly tough training at the Scottish castle of Achnacarry,and left there
prepared to face just about anything -except incompetent commanders.
Throughout the war,the Commandos showed great unity and discipline
in combat. On several occasions, determined soldiers carried out perilous actions with great heroism. At war’s end, the Commandos had
accumulated the largest number of decorations received by a single
Army unit: 8 Victoria Crosses, 37 Distinguished Service Orders, 162
Military Crosses, 32 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 218 Militar y
Medals.
This game wishes to pay a modest tribute to those men, who were witnesses and privileged actors in several of the most dramatic and decisive moments of the Second World War: men who were fated to make
History.
SSEETTUUPP
The Commandos installation program runs automatically when the CD-ROM is inserted into
the unit,if it detects that the game has not been previously installed.In case your CD-ROM
unit does not have the AutoRun option activated,you can open the installation program by
double clicking on the Setup program that appears in the root directory of the CD-ROM.
The complete setup menu is available in the Commando launch program (autoruns).
Once the installation program has begun, follow the on-screen instructions.
Once the game has been installed, you can start playing by selecting the appropriate option in the Programs submenu of the
Start menu.
You can uninstall Commandos at any time by selecting the corresponding option in the Programs menu,or using the option
Add and Remove programs in the Control Panel.
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines requires the following system specifications:
• Windows 95 ( or Windows 98) • DirectX 5.0 or greater installed
•DXMedia Installed (available on game CD) • Pentium ( class 120mhz or equivalent processor)
• 16 MB of Ram (32 Recommended) • Fast 1MB SVGA Card (compatible with DirectX 5.0+)
• 135 MB of Uncompressed Hard Drive Space • 4X CD Rom (8x recommended)
•Keyboard and Mouse • 16bit Soundcard is recommended
NOTE: We have not tested on and do not support gameplay on Windows NT or Laptop computers.
TTHHEE MMAAIINN MMEENNUU
When you enter the game, the Main Menu will be displayed. Menu ME01
From this menu you can select all the options in the game. You can also
access the Main Menu from within the game by pressing the Escape (ESC)
key at any time.
Moving around the Main Menu and its submenus is simple:
• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move through the options.
•To select the desired option,press Enter or click on the option with the
mouse.
• If you are in a submenu, press Escape or right-click to return to the previous menu.
• If you find yourself in the Main Menu during a game, press Escape or right-click, and you will return to the game.
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The options of the Main Menu are as follows:
NEW GAME MENU
Permits you to start a new game of Commandos.When you choose this option,
the following submenu will appear:
SINGLE PLAYER
Lets you begin a new game of Commandos for a single player.
MULTIPLAYER
Lets you begin a Commandos Multiplayer game. Use this option to play with other people in a LAN (IPX or NT based) network,
over a TCP/IP (Internet Connection or on the Mplayer gaming service.(see later in this manual,in the chapter on Multiplayer Mode)
TUTORIALS
Takes your to the Commando Training Camp where you can learn the game.
RESTART MISSION
Restarts the current mission after you have lost a Commando or failed an objective.
LOAD QUICK SAVED GAME
Lets you load the last quick saved (Ctrl + S) game.
PASSWORD
This option allows you to play directly any of the missions in Commandos.To do this, each time that you successfully complete
a mission you will be given a password to access the next mission.Write down the password so that you can use for the next
mission or to replay a specific mission.
EXIT
Takes you back to the previous menu.
SAVE GAME MENU
When you select this option,you will see a list of slots where you can save the current game.
Choose one of the slots,give it a file name and the current game will be saved for retrieval.
You can also quick save the game by pressing Control + S during the game (quick save
system),although you will not be able to give a name to a game that is saved in this manner. To reload it, select NEW GAME / LOAD QUICK SAVE GAME, or press Control + L during the game.
If different people play with Commandos in the same computer,see below in the section on OPTIONS / USER PROFILE NAME
so that each person can have their own set of slots in which to save their games.
LOAD GAME
When you select this option,you will see a list of the available slots.Choose the desired slot to recover one of the saved games.
Remember that if the game that you wish to load has been saved with the Quick Save system, then you will have to recover it
pressing Control + L or selecting the option NEW GAME / LOAD QUICK SAVE GAME.
OPTIONS
This element in the Main Menu permits you to change certain game parameters.When you select this element, the following
submenu will be displayed:
USER PROFILE NAME
If several people play with Commandos on the same computer,by using this option each one of them can have their own set
of saved games and their own game options. Each time you want to play, choose this option and enter a gameplay name or
nickname. If this is the first time you do this, a new set of game values and slots for saving games will be created. If you have
already entered your name previously,this action will recover the set of values that belongs to you.
SOUND VOLUME
This option allows you to adjust the volume of the game sound effects. Select this option and then press the right arrow for
volume increase or the left arrow for volume decrease.You can also drag the volume slider by clicking on it with the mouse,
and then dragging it sideways without releasing the button.
VIDEO OPTIONS
Use this option to select your favorite resolution for playing Commandos.The greater the resolution is,the wider the game area
will be that you can view on your screen, but on the other hand, everything will be smaller.
GAME PREFERENCES
Here you can select three options that affect the way you play. To change, highlight
choice, then press the arrow keys left or right to select.
• Submissive / Indifferent to enemy halt:When one of your soldiers is carrying out a movement order and an enemy orders him to halt, this option will determine what he does
until he receives new orders from you.If you have selected Submissive, the soldier will
halt. If you have selected Indifferent, the soldier will attempt to continue on his way.
(default is Indifferent)
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• Verbose / Laconic Commandos:This option determines whether your soldiers will speak or remain silent in response to your
orders. (default is Verbose)
• Commandos Warning ON/OFF:this option turns on or off the Commandos warning flashes. (ON is default)
EXIT
Takes you back to the previous menu.
HELP
This feature offers a quick guide to the game controls and the commandos profiles.
THE MISSIONS
In Commandos,you will lead your men through a series of realistic missions that are freely inspired by the various fronts where
the allied commandos participated during the Second World War.There are twenty missions of increasing difficulty,divided into
four campaigns:
Each of these missions has unique objectives, terrain, and enemy forces. There are unique problems and various possible
approaches depending on your tactical skill and your skill in handling weapons.From knocking out a simple and poorly defended radio mast in Norway to leading the final assault on a fortress located in the very heart of the Reich, a mission that is only
possible for those who know no fear.
CREDITS
View the Pyro team which created this game.
QUIT GAME
This option will let you leave the exciting world of Commandos and return to mundane reality.
TTHHEE GGAAMMEE:: BBAASSIICC CCOONNCCEEPPTTSS
In this section, we explain the general concepts of the game.
THE TUTORIALS MENU
Before you go and fall straight into the hands of the enemy, you probably need some
instructions. In the Tutorials option in the Main Menu you will find the help that you need
to quickly become familiar with the game.There are two kinds of tutorials:
• Seven Theory Sessions:These are short video lessons in which you get an explanation of
the game controls. There is a Theory Session that shows the general concepts of the
game and commandos profiles.
• Six Training Missions: These are mock missions that work as in the real game, except
that they take place in a training camp,allow you to use a single man in each mission,
and furthermore, your soldier can suffer unlimited damage.You should become familiar with the specific actions of each of
your soldiers.
Although you are not required to complete the six Training Missions before being able to play the first real mission in the game,
we strongly urge you to do so.
Seven missions inspired by the
Commando raids in Norway.
All missions have a main objective. Examples include blowing up an enemy installation, rescuing a prisoner or the “elimination” an enemy general. If you do not succeed in this objective, you will not have successfully completed the mission and will
not be allowed to continue onto the next assignment.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR CAREER
To be assigned mission, it is necessary that you have successfully completed the main
objective of the previous mission.Each time you finish a mission successfully,the game
will assign points depending on the degree of completion, and will give you access to
the following mission. The points will depend mainly on the amount of time you have
needed to complete the mission (the less time, the better), and the wounds you have
suffered (the fewer wounds, the better). The number of enemy casualties that you
cause is totally irrelevant, although you will be informed of this figure at the end of the
mission.
As you complete missions, the merit points received will keep adding up. Depending on the accumulated points, you may
be promoted.
Five missions in Egypt, Libya
and Tunisia centered on the
war in North Africa
Three missions in France,
during the period that begins
with the Invasion of
Normandy (D-Day).
Five missions that take place
during the final assault on the
Third Reich.
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You begin the game with the rank of Lance Corporal.As you accumulate combat merit, you will continue to be promoted. If when
the war ends,your results have been spectacular,you may have reached the rank of Field Marshall, which means that your acts
have been absolutely brilliant.If,however,your efficiency and worth have been merely adequate, you will languish at a low rank.
The Allies need men of legend,if you prove your mettle, command may look to you to tackle a crucial “ultra secret”mission.
So it is up to you whether you wish to simply do what is required, or,on the other hand, become an example for your men by
going beyond the call of duty.Your honor and your military career depend on it ... then again, so do your retirement benefits.
ASSIGNING OBJECTIVES:THE BRIEFING
At the start of each mission, you will be given a briefing. These brief instructions outline
the context of the mission and your team’s objectives.
The “briefing”will give you the following information:
•The strategic circumstances in which the mission takes place.
• The main objective of the mission.
•A brief mission run through by Colonel Smith in which you will be given the position of
the objectives, the location of the points of interest or danger, and tactical advice that
you best listen to.
If you do not wish to listen to the entire briefing,you can press Escape while you are within the briefing.You will then go directly into the mission.
If during the mission you no longer remember exactly what the objective is, press Ctrl +
B and a reminder will appear with the objectives of the current mission.You can also click
on the folded green corner of the map book.
THE COMMANDOS
As a player of Commandos, you will be the officer who has been
entrusted with the command of a group of six very special Commandos.
A rather small number perhaps, but these are not ordinary soldiers.
These are exceptional men. Their background and respectability is
sometimes ...doubtful. They possess combat skills that are unique that
result from inherent abilities,or are the result of a highly unconventional biography.They are so highly trained, and they work so closely together, that they are able to sneak into the heart of the
enemy’s installations without being detected. They can then fulfill objectives that would be unthinkable for a larger unit. As
their leader,you are in control of the situation and you are responsible for the outcome.
To mold soldiers like these take months and months of study,training, specialization, and a little luck. The General Staff has
invested a great deal of time and resource in these men.They ha ve received so much training as a team that they work perfectly together,forming a cohesive that can not be replaced. That is why your duty is to keep them alive, together and active
during the entire war. The loss of a single man would be an irreparable loss. If during the course of a mission you lose a single member of the team, you will not be allowed to continue to be in command.
As you will soon learn,this is one of those details that make Commandos a unique game, and determines the manner in which
you have to play.
Each of the six men is highly specialized in one specific field (see the section entitled Your Men).There are actions that all are
capable of carrying out, but there are other items and actions that are reserved for just one man. For example: only the Sapper
can activate or even pick up and transport explosives, and only the Marine can capture an inflatable launch and use it.
So you must learn to spread out the tasks. Remember: success in a mission may depend on the fact that a single man, the
appropriate one, is in the right place at the right time. Get the timing wrong, or the man, or the place... and you are history.
THE GAME: CONTROLS
Next we explain the main options in the game. Detailed knowledge of these controls
will help you to complete your missions successfully.
THE MISSION
From the moment a mission begins,you can scroll the viewing screen around the entire
mission. In fact, we recommend that you do so before you issue orders to your men.
This way you can get an overall idea of the tactical situation.
To move the viewing screen around the mission, use the cursor keys. You will notice
that this movement will occur automatically when the mouse pointer comes close to the edges of the game area.
You can vary the amount of zoom, from a detailed view to a
general panoramic view.To do this, use the
in the numerical keypad. The
level of zoom,the
you to a normal view.
-key to diminish it, and the * key will return
+ key is used to increase the
+, - and * keys
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THE MAP NOTEBOOK
If you click on the spiral notebook that you find on one side
of the screen, you will be able to see an approximate drawing of the mission map.The rectangle represents the area that you can see on screen. The red circles outline your prime
objective(s). The blue points indicate the position of your men, and the red points that of the
enemy soldiers. Click on any zone of this drawing to move
the viewable game area to that zone.
If you click on the folded corner (highlighted green) of the
map notebook, you can access the Briefing Notes screen,
where you can see a summary of the mission objectives from Colonel Smith.
SELECTING SOLDIERS
Before giving any orders to one of your men, you must select him. There are three different ways to do this:
• Left Click the desired commando on the map
• Left Click on his face on the upper edge of the screen.
• Press a numerical key between 1 and 7 in the alphanumerical keyboard.Each key corresponds to one of your men, according to the following table:
(Yes,there are “Guest comrades” in some missions -you’ll soon get to know them!)
There are two methods to simultaneously select more than one man:
• Right click on an area inside the game screen and then drag the pointer without releasing the right-click button.This way
you will draw a red rectangle. Release and the men that are inside the rectangle will be selected.
• Click on various faces on the edge of the screen while keeping the CONTROL key pressed.
You will learn that there are some situations in which it is not possible to simultaneously select men. For example, if your men
are under enemy fire or if one of the men you are attempting to select is a prisoner.
You will see a red bar next to the face of each soldier in the upper part of the screen.This bar is his health level.It will descend
whenever he is wounded.When it reaches the bottom... your soldier is toast. In every mission there is a man who has limited
medical supplies to increase the health of the team. Each Commando can “suffer”a certain number of wounds. In this regard,
Tiny is your strongest and Duke your weakest commando.
If you click on a soldier who is already selected,you will “deselect him”.To quickly deselect all your soldiers,you can press the
0 (zero) key on the alphanumerical keyboard.
MOVING SOLDIERS
Normally,you will see that the mouse pointer has the shape of a double arrow.This is the movement
pointer and is used to move your soldiers.If you do not see the movement pointer, it is because you are
undoubtedly viewing the pointer that belongs to an active item.To recover the movement pointer,rightclick anywhere on the map screen.
To make the selected soldier or soldiers move somewhere, click with the movement pointer on the
selected destination, and they will walk in that direction. If you double click, they will run there.
When you give a soldier an order that forces him to run somewhere he will only carry it out whenever he is able to. Exceptions to this rule are those cases in which the soldier is carrying a heavy load.
When you give a man a movement order,you can select any point in the mission towards which there
is a possible route, no matter its distance. Your soldier will attempt to follow the best route towards
that point, and avoiding obstacles whenever possible.
HIT THE DIRT AND CRAWL
Your men can lie down on the ground.To do this, click on the commando crawls icon located on the
upper top edge of the screen, or press the C key.The selected men will hit the ground.
A man who is lying on the ground can be moved normally with the movement pointer,except that he
will move by slowly crawling. Commandos cannot fast crawl. If a man crawls on snow or sand, the
tracks he leaves will not be visible to the enemy.
To make a man who is lying down stand up, click on the commando stands icon in the same location
or press the S key.
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