Was Commando one of the few times the Atari 7800 outshone the NES?

[wizardofwor1975]

Recently I read this review of Commando for the Atari 7800. The author of the article said the Atari version of Commando was one of the few times the 7800 outshone the NES.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/atari7800/585382-commando/reviews/review-84076

Do you guys agree with the author and which version do you prefer? Personally I have both versions.

[Ro-J]

I loved Commando when I had it on a 5.25" floppy disk. I later picked it up for the NES and was severely disappointed -- it flickered too much, enemies disappeared randomly and it was too easy. I haven't played the 7800 version, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear it's better than the NES version.

[wizardofwor1975]

I loved Commando when I had it on a 5.25" floppy disk. I later picked it up for the NES and was severely disappointed -- it flickered too much, enemies disappeared randomly and it was too easy. I haven't played the 7800 version, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear it's better than the NES version.

Which computer did you play Commando on? I remember playing this game back in the day on my C64. Every now and again I play it on my SX-64. The good old commie has so many great trainers for Commando. I hear you on the NES flickering. Flickering was even a problem for the C64. Apparently the guy who wrote the article cites the Atari's lack of flickering as one of the reasons he thought the 7800's Commando was better than the NES version.

[Leo_A]

I prefer the 7800 conversion although I use a converted NES gamepad to play it with, but it's not clear cut. Take these two reviews for instance. Clearly he prefers the NES release.

http://videogamecritic.com/nescc.htm#Commando

http://videogamecritic.com/7800ae.htm#Commando

Note that although it would be an excellent addition, the arcade original also doesn't feature two player simultaneous multiplayer so I'd hesitate to criticize either game for not including it like he does. Also note that he grades games based on the system it's on. 7800 Commando apparently has a higher score than the NES version despite his opinion of the two because of the quality of the software library of both.

The 7800 simply doesn't have games like Super Mario Bros. 3 so it shines a bit more brightly in the 7800's software portfolio than the NES version does in its library.

[wizardofwor1975]

Note that although it would be an excellent addition, the arcade original also doesn't feature two player simultaneous multiplayer so I'd hesitate to criticize either game for not including it like he does.

Good point. Simultaneous game play for Commando would have been a nice touch for this otherwise great game.

[Ozzy_98]

They both have major flaws, flickering on nes, and poo graphics and less sprites on the 7800. 7800 has major gameplay changes due to the lack of enemies.

[Greg2600]

Commando looked better on the 7800, but the game play was still lousy. The 7800's potential was far from realized. Atari Corp spent little to no money on game development, and several hardware projects that would have beefed up the game carts like were done on NES were never finished.

[treismac]

The 7800 version of Commando is definitely better than the NES flicker-fest with its disappearing enemies. The only version I owned as a child, by the way, was the C64 version, which is pretty awesome.


The 7800 simply doesn't have games like Super Mario Bros. 3 so it shines a bit more brightly in the 7800's software portfolio than the NES version does in its library.

Definitely. As much as I hate to say it, one of the best things Commando on the 7800 has going for it is that it is an above average game on the 7800, which, apart from Golden Age Arcade ports, are hard to come by on the system.

[Arkanoid_Katamari]

I've only played the NES version, and I'm horrible at it. It's hard. Hard.

[bb_hood]

I've only played the NES version, and I'm horrible at it. It's hard. Hard.

The arcade version is really hard also, I guess its just meant to be a hard game?
Although its not nearly as hard as the arcade version of Gun.Smoke... the NES version of Gun.Smoke is a cakewalk compared to the arcade.

[Arkanoid_Katamari]

The arcade version is really hard also, I guess its just meant to be a hard game?
Although its not nearly as hard as the arcade version of Gun.Smoke... the NES version of Gun.Smoke is a cakewalk compared to the arcade.

I've never been great at top-down run n gun shooters, I'm workin on Smash TV on NES rite now, I'm a little better at this one cuz the control scheme is fantastic. Still pretty challenging tho.

[wizardofwor1975]

The arcade version is really hard also, I guess its just meant to be a hard game?
Although its not nearly as hard as the arcade version of Gun.Smoke... the NES version of Gun.Smoke is a cakewalk compared to the arcade.

You're right about Gunsmoke. I really like the NES's port of Gunsmoke. The controls on the NES version are fantastic. I play it on my RES with a NES QuickShot joystick from Spectravision. The auto fire button on the Quickshot is just awesome for Gunsmoke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iiJcfSYZ0c

[Rickstilwell1]

The same can be said about Legendary Wings. Like Gunsmoke, the NES version is so much easier than the arcade.

I thought Commando looked better on the 7800, but I don't have a very good 7800 controller at the moment to say one plays better than the other yet.

[bb_hood]

All these games are available on xbox/playstation network when you download the Capcom arcade cabinet. You get Black Tiger for free when you download it, and all the other games are like 3$ each or cheaper in the bundles.

[davidbrit2]

The same can be said about Legendary Wings. Like Gunsmoke, the NES version is so much easier than the arcade.

I thought Commando looked better on the 7800, but I don't have a very good 7800 controller at the moment to say one plays better than the other yet.

Capcom was kind of awful with difficulty balancing back in the '80s, particularly with their arcade games. Black Tiger is about the only one I've played that really feels right.

[WoodyXP]

7800 > NES

The NOSTALGIA update of Commando for the C64 is hands down best, IMO.

[wizardofwor1975]

7800 > NES

The NOSTALGIA update of Commando for the C64 is hands down best, IMO.

I like your avatar. Is it Dr. Phil? ;)

It looks like Nostalgia put out a Commando Arcade EasyFlash in May. Is the new May version the one your're talking about?

http://www.n0stalgia.org/common/pages/releases.php?op=showrelease&id=322

It really doesn't surprise me that the Nostalgia folks are still putting out trainers for Commando. The 64 version of Commando was definitely a good one to begin with. I read the Nostalgia guys are calling the new version the "Ultimate version of Commando".

[vintagegamecrazy]

If you like this game on the 7800 and like like better than NES ports than try out Ikari Warriors, same game type but lightyears better on the 7800.

[treismac]

7800 > NES

The NOSTALGIA update of Commando for the C64 is hands down best, IMO.

I am having trouble getting this to work on Frodo on Wiibrew, where I can't get past the text screen that project the game to Mario (Mr. Alpha). What the hell? Universal File version my ass.

It works just fine on VICE, though. Maybe I should give the game longer to load?

EDIT:

Yeah, nothing still.

[bb_hood]

I just played Commando on both Nes and 7800 to see what all the commotion is about.
Yeah, 7800 is probably a better game but only because the NES version is such a jumbled mess. The Nintendo version should be called 'Super Joe verses the worlds stupidest army'. There are guys all over the place. Most of the time the bad guys just run around and dont even shoot. Sometimes the bad guys just vanish for no reason. There is so much flicker across the screen, and the cars and motorcycles flicker so much they are almost invisible. Its still playable though but not much fun. I guess the game levels just repeat every 4 levels but increase in difficulty? I would say both are equally not fun to play. Commando on 7800 is kinda slow and no music.

[Daria]

This is kind of funny, but I was cleaning my copy of Commando NES last night. The flashing sprite issue was so bad I thought there was something wrong with my cart until I read this thread.

[davidbrit2]

Commando on 7800 is kinda slow and no music.

There's music, and it's really good, since the cart uses a Pokey chip.

[WoodyXP]

Is the new May version the one your're talking about?


Yup, that's the one.

[WoodyXP]

I am having trouble getting this to work on Frodo on Wiibrew, where I can't get past the text screen that project the game to Mario (Mr. Alpha). What the hell? Universal File version my ass.

It works just fine on VICE, though. Maybe I should give the game longer to load?

EDIT:

Yeah, nothing still.

I haven't run it on an emulator, so I can't speak to that. Boots up fine on a 1541u as an Easyflash cart.

[bb_hood]

There's music, and it's really good, since the cart uses a Pokey chip.

The cart has music? I played it on emulator and diddnt hear anything but sound effects.

[WoodyXP]

The cart has music? I played it on emulator and diddnt hear anything but sound effects.


http://youtu.be/I1Z3hOBZ2C8

[davidbrit2]

The cart has music? I played it on emulator and diddnt hear anything but sound effects.

Probably because the emulator sucks and doesn't do Pokey properly. The real thing has excellent music, though I have seen at least one Commando cart with a dead Pokey that had no music.

[bb_hood]

Probably because the emulator sucks and doesn't do Pokey properly. The real thing has excellent music, though I have seen at least one Commando cart with a dead Pokey that had no music.

Makes sense, the emulator deos kinda suck but it played the game ok (without sound that is).

[wizardofwor1975]

Probably because the emulator sucks and doesn't do Pokey properly. The real thing has excellent music, though I have seen at least one Commando cart with a dead Pokey that had no music.

Your right about the pokey chip. Atariprotos.com said, "In fact, many people play Commando on emulators without ever knowing that there are missing sounds and music."

http://www.atariprotos.com/7800/software/commando/commando.htm

I didn't know that Commando and Ballblazer were the only two games for the 7800 that used the Pokey chip. I guess you learn something new everyday.

[Leo_A]

Most modern homebrews, typically among the cream of the crop on the 7800, also utilize it. Look up any PacManPlus homebrew for an example.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Xf6SuS-A4

Most such titles also support the high score save functionality that early 7800 titles had. Sadly, gamer's couldn't take advantage of that back in the day, but Curt Vendel released a homebrew high score save cart years ago. And the Cuttle Cart II does it as does the upcoming Harmony 2 multicart (Not sure if Curt's expansion module has it built-in).

Despite a decent software library if you were interested in early 80's arcade gaming during the latter half of the 1980's, the 7800 lineup was pretty weak by the standards of the day once the NES really took off. But in retirement, it's finally starting to meet its potential with one of the best homebrew scenes there is.

[treismac]

Despite a decent software library if you were interested in early 80's arcade gaming during the latter half of the 1980's, the 7800 lineup was pretty weak by the standards of the day once the NES really took off. But in retirement, it's finally starting to meet its potential with one of the best homebrew scenes there is.

Apart from Pac-Man reboots, what has the 7800 homebrew scene put out worth playing, Leo?

[Leo_A]

You can start here. It's a bit out of date (I don't see Astro Blaster and K.C. Munchkin listed, for example), but it gives an idea of what he has done.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/215551-pacmanplus-and-the-atari-7800/

And he's not the only talented author that programs for this system. Take Ken Slider's excellent ports of Q-Bert and Burgertime, for example.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJOcHnSSaDU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfopxhPK8v4

[treismac]

You can start here. It's a bit out of date (I don't see Astro Blaster and K.C. Munchkin listed, for example), but it gives an idea of what he has done.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/215551-pacmanplus-and-the-atari-7800/

And he's not the only talented author that programs for this system. Take Ken Slider's excellent ports of Q-Bert and Burgertime, for example.



Much obliged, good sir. I'm still holding out hope that one day a port of Paperboy will emerge that blows away both the Master System and NES versions.


Atariprotos.com said, "In fact, many people play Commando on emulators without ever knowing that there are missing sounds and music."

http://www.atariprotos.com/7800/software/commando/commando.htm

For the record, Commando sounds and looks (the colors are so much more vibrant than the original hardware's output) great on the Wiibrew 7800 emulator.