Commandos 3 Destination Berlin (Pyro Studios, PC M15+)

By PETER ELEY

Herald rating: * * * *

Almost 60 years after it ended, World War II is still providing ammunition for scores of computer and console games. Commandos is up there with the best and is into its third instalment.

Commandos 2 was big on action but short on missions. Version three rectifies that with three big campaigns: D-Day, the battle for Stalingrad and the push into Berlin. Each has lots of smaller missions. And it's on the hard side, too, which means most players will get a lot of game time out of it.

You lead a team of commandos, a sharpshooter, tough guy, scuba diver, explosives expert, spy and a thief. Managing their abilities is the key to the game, and cracking missions often depends upon getting the combinations right. And just when you think you're home, a new set of objectives have an annoying habit of popping up. Commandos is a map-based, real-time strategy game, but there's no boring resource gathering to waste time. Instead, you'll spend your time planning ambushes, sabotaging enemy installations and racing against the clock in timed missions.

Excellent graphics add a touch of realism, but you'll need a grunty system. The publishers recommend a 2Ghz processor, 512mb ram and a 128mb graphics card.

* Email Peter Eley