PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Crash Commando
by Jem Alexander 
{ Jul 22nd 2008 at 3:30PM }
Click for high resolution image.
A five-man development team in Sweden has been working for over a year, so far, to develop Crash Commando. The game will release with eight maps, trophy support and downloadable content is already being planned. Deathmatch and team deathmatch are already included in the game and a capture the flag mode is aiming to be included for launch or post-launch DLC.
Every map is "double sided," meaning that there's a front and a back and walking through doors will allow you to switch at any time. On the map we played, we could see our enemies moving around in the background, on the "other side," which gave a nice sense of depth. Movement is very free, as every character is equipped with a jetpack, allowing more time to be spent on fast paced combat.
Gallery: Crash Commando
Weapons include rocket launchers, machine guns, explosives and grenades and can be swapped over whenever you die. Which you will. Bloodily. To keep the game moving quickly, deaths come quickly and often. Though watching your enemies (or, indeed, yourself) explode in a cloud of blood never gets dull.
At the moment the game is online only, with a maximum 12 players in the same game, though the Sony rep we spoke to said that there's the possibility of 4-player "sofa" play being added as downloadable content. It sounds like the developers are planning on supporting this game for quite a while after release, something that's common when it comes to Sony's exclusive titles.
Controls are nice and simple, using as few buttons on the controller as possible. The game also supports bots, allowing for single-player gameplay in the absence of any online friends. Crash Commando looks like it'll be great fun when it releases at the end of the year and, depending on the price, could be another PSN must-buy to add to the list.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NotoriousJnX @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:50PM
Where's the Bandicoot?
meatee @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:49PM
There's been so much buzz about Fat Princess, but I was surprised to see no one talking about this game. When I saw the PSN sizzle video, this looked every bit as interesting to me as Fat Princess. I really can't wait for some side-scrolling deathmatch action, sounds awesome!
Lars @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:38PM
I had no idea it was under the radar. Just last week, the 1UP guys were talking about it and how great it is. I'm eagerly anticipating it too.
I think it has a terrible name though. Not only is it so vanilla that it's easy to forget, but also Commando 3 just came out and the major new ability in Commando is called M-Crash.
dabamf @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:51PM
Coming from a Warhawk fan, this looks great!
Nick @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:51PM
I want this game, damn it.
Tony @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:18PM
anything good coming out for XBLA? seems like PSN is really where it's at for innovative titles...
NOW WHERE IS MY NEXT GEN MICRO MACHINES???
RobLink (Alex Kidd incarnate) @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:31PM
Anything good coming for XBLA? Are you being sarcastic? Portal? Castle Crashers? Although this looks good, those two pretty much got anything on PSN beat.
HAAS599 @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:46PM
Yeah... Portal is original, never played that before.
Castle Crashers is one game that is on par with 5 other PSN titles. Castle Crashers is cool, but not as cool as you want it to be.
Ralph Cordova @ Aug 6th 2008 8:09AM
its sooo good..
The_Punisher @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:24PM
Wow, you guys jsut told us NOTHING about actual gameplay. THX?
KHCloud @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:46PM
Yes they did, they compared it to soldat and warhawk gameplay-wise. Play soldat and you'll probably have what the final gameplay will be like...
jimhead @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:11PM
I loved the original (eventhough i was never really able to play it fully because some malfunctioning in the software or something.). This is a total first day buy for me
AshStampede @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:38PM
more demos for psn so we can be the judge.
pasteymofo @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:48PM
I was excited watching the video at the conference, thinking that it did look exactly like Soldat. So how does shooting work exactly? Do you have a target reticle that you move with the right analog, then R2 to fire or something similar?
If this game comes out and it plays exactly like Soldat, I'll buy it Day 1. :)
Luke @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:46PM
Agreed. Soldat is a blast.
Joe @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:03PM
Why does this have no split-screen. I want to know why this gen devs are skipping it. I even just heard over at IGN that Killzone 2 will not have split-screen or co-op. I want to know why I bought another PS3 controller if ever dev is just making multi-player games without split-screen. Some people don't play online. So I would like the devs still add it.
dabamf @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:08PM
The developers are hinting at 4-player local play, so that's something right?
Alex @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:02AM
dude, I have 6 ruddy controllers
4 sixaxis and 2 white dualshocks
what am I gonna do with em?
blarg
M @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:23PM
looks like bionic commando on steroids.
HanzoTheRazor @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:35PM
The difference between the PSN and XBLA is that they get wayyy more fodder, which can seem like the PSN is worse when it clearly is not. I mean, come on, Socom, Siren, Warhawk, WipeOut HD, PixelJunk Eden & Monsters, Flower, Fat Princess, Crash Comando, Super Stardust HD, everyday Shooter, Buzz, Sing Star, Dark Mist, Echocrome, LocoRoco 1 & 2 and Fatal Inertia Ex [which is really solid]. All these ROCK, and have 2 things; *innovation and originality!* All M$ucks can do with their copy-box is duplicate and buy.
Gate @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:11AM
Love Soldat. This needs offline multiplayer, though. I think that's one of the appeals to the Wii. The only game I own that supports offline multiplayer is Madden 08, and that can get old pretty fast.