Section Z for the Nes and Captain Commando

[lkermel]

I was doing some research for my site the other day for the game Section Z (Nes) by Capcom, and I realised the American version was associated with Captain Commando. The american game teaser even says "will you and Captain Commando penetrate Section Z ?"
Here are some pics from thealmightyguru:

SECTION Z box scans, US and European versions

Because I lived in Europe during my youth, I was wondering if someone know who this Cpt Commando is. It seems to have been added only to the US version of the game. That's obviously some commercial thingy. Was he also associated to other Nes games ? was this only a special edition of Section Z ?

Thanks for your help

[wufners]

I'm no expert, but I had the game when I was little.

I believe Captain Commando was a mascot of sorts for Capacom.

One of my Capcom games (Ghost n' Goblins? Section Z?) came with a poster of available Capcom titles and Captain Commando had a prominent place on it. I don't believe he's actually in any game (could be wrong), he's just suppose to be a cool, swashbuckling, laser shooting space cowboy who represents the Capcom experience.

If my feeble memory can remember, I'll check it out when I get home.

[CosmicMonkey]

Yeah, there is a CC game, called (oddly enough) Captain Commando. It's a side scrolling beat 'em up in the Final Fight style. The original runs on Capcom's CPS1 board, and there's a PSone conversion too, which I have, and I'd say it's arcade perfect. Oh, and there's a less than perfect SNES version too.

[wufners]

Our friend, Wikipedia:

Captain Commando, as he appears in Marvel vs. Capcom.Capcom's original mascot, Captain Commando, is a superhero who wears a futuristic armor of unknown origin. His name forms the words CapCom when the first three letters of each word are combined. He originally appeared in the early Capcom Famicom/NES game Section Z (the arcade version of Section Z has similar gameplay, but it is not clear that the hero is the same person) and in the manuals of Capcom's early NES games to thank players for purchasing them. He also appeared in the self named fighting game, Captain Commando, in 1991. He later appeared in Marvel vs. Capcom and its sequel, in which he is often considered to be an excessively powerful character. In Marvel vs. Capcom, he still serves as a mascot, regularly shouting "Capcom!" during fights and relaying Capcom-themed messages after winning. He displays the ability to quickly change from regular clothing, including a cowboy hat, into his armor, suggesting a secret identity

link

So he has his own game and was the star of Section Z? Shows what I don't know.

[lkermel]

waaoooo ! So he's Capcom's original mascot. I knew about the fighting game but it was released back in 1991, and the American version of Section Z is from 1986. So all of this was a bit confusing. And still is. The japanese Famicom version of Section Z doesn't mention anything about Captain Commando (sadly the game documentation is missing from my DiskCard), and I do not think the original arcade mentionned anything about him either... interesting... I wonder if they created Captain Capcom around 1991 and associated him later with the brand.

Thanks guys !!!! I wonder how I missed this from wikipedia, thanks for the infooooo !

[Steven]

I recently discovered that CAPtain COMmando was a very clever name. Haha, guess I'm very late to the party! :P

[rbudrick]

Lol, when I was a little kid, I used to think the character Captain Commando and and the game Commando might have something to do with each other. Bionic Commando, which was basically Commando 2 for the NES (Super Joe is th main character in Commando), threw another monkey wrench into those gears. :-) Plus, I though Ladd from BC looked kinda like Cap. Commando. Stupid retarded kid.

-Rob

[aaronpetrosky]

I always thought Captain Commando was a cool name. I never knew there was a Psx version!

[bazariah]

and heres something that'll realy blow your minds capcom used to be called capsule computers woah trippy

[Kitsune Sniper]

The guy on the upper-left corner of the US box scan for SectionZ was shown in a LOT of different games. The "Captain Commando Challenge Series" was just a name - the games didn't have anything to do with him.

And he also doesn't look ANYTHING like his standalone game / Marvel Vs. Capcom incarnation.

[o2william]

Here are some illuminating(?) passages from the Section Z Manual:

A Special Message from Captain Commando!

Thank you for selecting exciting and fun-filled Section Z.. one of our exclusive family of computer/home video games from Capcom's Captain Commando "Challenge Series".

Game description

It is now the 21st Century. High frequency radio and television communications between Planet Earth and the space-exploring Saturn Space Station blast warnings of approaching invaders, then abruptly cease.

You shed your earthly identity to become the one temaining astronaut in space. You unite with freedom-fighter Captain Commando to enter the outer regions of
space. Concealed in a special solar-energized, jet-propelled supersonic space-suit, and armed with multi-directional weaponry, you depart Earth's surface on a death-defying mission.

You and Captain Commando must maneuver safely through four (4) levels of adventurous battle scenes, penetrating the defenses established by the Space
Soldiers of Balangool. You are challenged as you fight through Sections A to Section Z - where "L-Brain", Balangool's Master Control, programs domination
of the universe.

So you "unite" with Captain Commando, whatever that means. That part of the manual always used to confuse me as a Section Z-playing kid.

I think this incarnation of Captain Commando was supposed to be a "spirit" or a "trainer" that ruled over Capcom's challenging game series, and you could really only conquer them if he permitted it or if you called on his power. Sounds screwy, but it kind of makes sense, in that goofy Japanese/anime way.

[rbudrick]

So you "unite" with Captain Commando, whatever that means. That part of the manual always used to confuse me as a Section Z-playing kid.

I think this incarnation of Captain Commando was supposed to be a "spirit" or a "trainer" that ruled over Capcom's challenging game series, and you could really only conquer them if he permitted it or if you called on his power. Sounds screwy, but it kind of makes sense, in that goofy Japanese/anime way.

No, man...all they are saying is you, the player unite with him. The character in Section Z is supposed to be Captain Commando. I wonder what they call him in the Japanese manual or what the story in that manual is.

-Rob