Commandos 2 & Praetorians: HD Remaster Double Pack brings together two classic strategy titles reimagined in high definition for modern PC play. The collection pairs a real-time tactics experience focused on small-team operations with a larger-scale real-time strategy title set in ancient Rome. Both games emphasize careful planning and unit management in single-player campaigns, with one offering additional skirmish and multiplayer options.
Gameplay
Commandos 2 centers on controlling a squad of nine specialized commandos during World War II missions. Each operative brings distinct abilities, such as the green beret for close combat, the sniper for long-range elimination, the demolition expert for explosives, the diver for underwater approaches, the seductress for distractions, and the thief for infiltration. Players navigate authentic wartime environments across ten missions set in varied locations, using interactive elements like stolen uniforms, climbable structures, swimming sections, and vehicles including jeeps and tanks. The 3D engine supports full 360-degree camera rotation and seamless movement in and out of buildings, ships, and submarines, while weather effects and day-night cycles add to the tactical considerations. Reworked controls and an updated user interface aim to streamline the original experience.
Praetorians shifts focus to commanding Roman legions and rival forces across campaigns in Egypt, Gaul, and Italy. Players manage armies composed of multiple unit types with unique strengths, arranging them into formations that influence combat effectiveness on the battlefield. The core loop involves positioning troops, exploiting terrain advantages, and coordinating attacks to secure objectives while advancing through a narrative of political intrigue and imperial expansion. Three distinct factions each feature specialized troops and abilities that encourage different strategic approaches during engagements.
Game Modes
The double pack delivers its primary content through structured single-player campaigns in both titles. Commandos 2 presents a linear series of demanding missions that require stealth, precise timing, and creative use of each commando's skills to overcome superior enemy numbers. Praetorians follows a campaign path where players prove their command abilities across multiple theaters, culminating in confrontations with elite forces.
Praetorians expands beyond the campaign with a skirmish mode that lets players set custom battle parameters and objectives against AI opponents. An online component supports matches with up to seven participants, mixing human players and AI in the same engagements. Commandos 2 remains focused on its mission-based structure without additional modes.
Visual and Technical Updates
The HD remasters update the original visuals with higher resolution assets while preserving the core art direction of each game. Commandos 2 benefits from improved environmental detail that highlights interactive objects and varied terrain. Praetorians receives similar treatment to its unit models and battlefield maps. Both titles include modernized interfaces and adjusted control schemes intended to make the older mechanics more accessible on contemporary hardware.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player feedback on the double pack shows mixed results, with Commandos 2 recording 58 percent positive reviews on its primary distribution platform. The remasters appeal most to those who enjoy methodical real-time tactics or strategy gameplay that rewards observation and resource coordination over fast reflexes. Praetorians offers more variety through its skirmish and online options, while Commandos 2 delivers tightly focused single-player challenges. The collection suits players interested in revisiting or discovering these specific historical and tactical settings, though some note that certain interface and control adjustments still reflect the games' origins. Availability on PC provides straightforward access for those seeking classic strategy experiences without ongoing seasonal content or expansions.
