Desert Commander

Desert Commander

released on Apr 28, 1988

Desert Commander

released on Apr 28, 1988

The player's force consists of nine different types of units and one headquarters unit (which is a unit by itself and also can be used to attack). Each scenario gives a different set number of units to use, which the player can mix and match between the different typese without going over that limit. When in a one-player game, the second controller can be used to modify the CPU forces. When playing against the CPU, the computer will be given a different ratio of units to command than the player. On the easiest scenario both the player and the CPU have the same amount of units, on all others the CPU will have more than the player. There is no variance in artificial intelligence, so the only thing that makes the later maps harder is the larger number of units the CPU has. The game is turn-based with no time limit. The object of the game is to destroy the enemy's headquarters unit. The player that does so first wins. Units have different mobility range, which varies according to the unit type and (except for aircraft) the terrain. They also have different shooting range, though this is fixed and not depends of the terrain. All unit types have limited ammunition and fuel. In order to replenish them the player must land them at the appropiate buildings; for example, all aircraft must stop at an airport in order to recharge their fuel and ammo supply. A certain unit is particularly strong or weak against a particular opponent, performing average against every other unit types.


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Alright, Desert Commander definitely isn't my usual jam, but for a strategy game on the NES? I gotta admit I dug it... sometimes. Those battles can take FOREVER, but it was cool trying to outsmart the computer and take down their oil fields. If you like old-school wargames, it's worth checking out.

My favorite visual representation of units on a map out of all the strategy games released up to this time. The cartoonish and clean visuals translate into the pretty simple gameplay as well, which would have been a great introduction to turn based strategy for a newcomer. While it is a little slow when playing against the computer, it's an overall competent game and the first taste of what would eventually be the Nintendo "Wars" games we wouldn't get in the west until Advance Wars.

Erwin Rommel might be the most mid loser to ever get this fluffed up retroactively in history. A lot of this comes down to the west fundamentally agreeing with the Nazis in their ideology, if not conduct of the war (hence their capture of civil society post-war), but even then this man did not deserve one of the few NES strategy games to make it stateside.

Goddamn this game is slow. If it wasn't released in 1988, my reception towards it would be worse. There isn't a ton of content in this game, and what counts as the campaign is painfully slow. The fight animations are basic and get quickly repetitive. An admirable attempt (playing as the Nazis aside), but the genre just wasn't mature enough yet to have a NES game like this play well.

Surprisingly competent strategy game for the NES. Not worth playing today by any means, but certainly good for the time.