The Scoreboard #12

Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3

Whether you’re blasting away scores of evil, faceless enemies, rescuing underfed POWs from their prisons, or getting killer multipliers for racking up sweet points, WotB: Commando 3 has a lot in store for Achievement lovers. Unfortunately, this Live Arcade title suffers from a serious case of “SGS” — Stupid Gamerscore Syndrome. Achievements with a point value of 7? Really? Wait, there’s another one worth 6! We love our twin-stick shooters, moreso when cartoony mercenaries are what we’re controlling, but this whole SGS thing is getting out of hand. We need to find a cure!

Best Achievement: Reckless Driver (20 pts.) Kill 40 enemies while in a vehicle. — In the first level, you’ll hop in an APC/Jeep-y vehicle, and while you’re blasting away buildings with its barrel-cannon, make sure you plow through infantry at top speed. Nailin’ 40 of the fools with your grill will take seconds, although the monstrous truck doesn’t really control well. But the unintended sideswiping will only benefit your slaughter-ific cause.

Worst Achievement: Sleuth (20 pts.) Find all of the Secret Areas in the game. — Secret Areas are secret areas, and while these aren't as ridiculous as, say, Castlevania's — i.e., you won’t be jumping through solid walls — you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled. There’s 10 in all, some with POWs in them, and you might want to keep a guide handy just in case. Remember: there’s no backtracking in this game, MSX-style.

Easiest Achievement: One Man Army (20 pts.) Kill 200 enemies. — Massacring 200 machinegun-toting jerks won’t take long — especially if you run over the endlessly spawning mercs without destroying their birthing-barn — and we recommend going solo and dragging out the first level. If you can dodge bullets, which is simple enough, you’ll be in the clear for some rifle-blasting, grenade-chucking carnage. Ah, now we’re back to the depressing killing-for-points amorality again. Aww, man.

Hardest Achievement: Mercenary (15 pts.) Complete the game on Suicide Mission difficulty. — If you didn't get the hint from the last 11 Scoreboards, bring a buddy for tougher difficulties. Real friends will be your bullet sponge when you can’t take the heat — of which there's plenty on Suicide Mission difficulty — and they’re there to waste groups of villainous dudes so you don’t need to expend your grenades. Without a friend or two, don’t expect to go far — your health is easily depleted, and there are more bad guys and, in turn, mad bullets. Godspeed, soldier.

Time Investment vs. Payoff: 8 (out of 10) — Commando 3 has only five levels, and if you’ve got friends, expect to unlock 100-plus points in a single playthrough. Anything you miss will probably fall under the “secret area” category, since you’re likely to gloss over those and, in turn, miss some POWs. It’s a good, short romp, and after the first level, you should be pretty stoked about the unlocks.

Overall: 7 (out of 10) — We’re docking points for terribly numbered Achievements, but other than that, Commando 3 is a decent way to get a quick jump in your Gamerscore. It’s chaotic and fun, and when you think you should get an Achievement, you probably will. That, and you get an Achievement for icing dudes with a truck!

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