Ironic, considering that the audio seems untouched since 1999.īattlezone: Combat Commander may be closing in on two decades old, but it's as compelling a game now as it was back in the day, and we're still waiting to see what the old modding crew can do with this polished-up version of the engine. A caching issue, then, and perhaps later patches can pre-cache the audio to reduce this problem. So far the only technical issue I've encountered is a brief stutter when playing any sound for the first time on a mission that seems greatly reduced if I move the game over to my SSD. Visually speaking I would have liked the view distance extended, with fog effects purely cosmetic, but it would admittedly throw a spanner into the works in some scenarios just climb the nearest hill, spot the enemy base and go from there. I've admittedly got a fairly beefy GPU (A laptop Geforce 1070) but I'm able to consistently run this at 1080p, maximum settings at a locked 100fps (my monitor's limit). Multiplayer and all its modes are present and correct (even supporting LAN play and cross-play between Steam and GOG owners), and the branching single-player campaign is fully intact.įrom the I've played of this enhanced edition, it feels like a significant improvement, and seems very scaleable. While a little clunky in places, Battlezone 2's first-person command interface still holds up well, largely, and the hovertank combat feels weighty and satisfying still. Under the gloss and polish lies the exact same game that I played and loved all those years ago, and have occasionally dusted off every couple years to see just what the fan-patching and modding community have been doing with it. Were it not for some dated looking particle effects and slightly over-compressed audio hiding behind the reasonable pretense of radio distortion, Battlezone: Combat Commander (for some reason, they dropped the 2 from this release's name) could pass for a decently pretty-looking modern indie title, though some of the original game's quirks remain, such as aiming and shooting on foot having a heavy, semi-vehicular feel to it. Invite your friends for a cross-play multiplayer experience, including the classic Deathmatch mode, and a co-operative mode ‘MPI’ where players must work together to win by managing their offence, defence, and scrap collection.Įnjoy unique community generated content with support for mods, such as new singleplayer and multiplayer map mods, new vehicles, HUDs, assets, custom scripts and much more.Some may grumble about the recent glut of HD updates and remasters that have been bulking out release schedules the past few years, but when it means that a new generation can experience joys like 1999's RTS/tank-combat hybrid Battlezone 2: Combat Commander, then I'm all for it.įollowing up from the slightly wonky re-release that was Battlezone 98 Redux, Big Boat Interactive (under Rebellion's publishing banner) have poured a lot more time and effort into the sequel's enhancement, which launched via both Steam and GOG today. Units learn and improve as they gain combat experience - new units fight like recruits, while experienced units are a lot more effective in combat, using strafing manoeuvres, choosing weapons to suit the situation, or even retreating when necessary.Įxperience Battlezone: Combat Commander like never before, with an all new DX11 renderer, shader based rendering, and a completely retextured and upscaled terrain. Take command.īattlezone: Combat Commander is back, and looking better than ever with slicker visuals, brand new achievements, Steam Workshop support and more!įight across 24 intense missions, over 6 exotic living worlds, scavenging the battlefield for crucial bio-metal used to create powerful units, towering defenses, and vital facilities.Ĭontrol of over 30 unique unit types, from lethal tanks and tough ground units, to towering walkers and relentless air-support, and face off against the enemy in intense first-person combat. Combining to form the elite International Space Defence Force, they recruit you to help lead resistance, before total devastation is unleashed on the human race. Once arch enemies, the US and Russia abandon their space race and unite their forces in the face of impending alien attack.