The analog controls handle very well for both shooting and movement. It is very easy to evade the slow-moving projectiles, strafe around cover, and blast through enemies with keen precision. I also enjoyed lobbing grenades with the right trigger button (RT, R2) and quickly activating my M-Crash technique via the left trigger (LT, L2). Again, the only control issue I came across was while driving vehicles. I never could get the hang of the steering and velocity. I ended up bashing into objects left and right like The Hulk in city traffic.

Visually, the game is very appealing. The terrain and environments vary greatly, and the overall impression is crisp and engaging. Also, the familiar, angled, top-down perspective is perfect for observing the battlefield. I liked the animations of both the enemies and the heroes, but the explosions, felling of bullet-laden trees, and collapsing of buildings are all underwhelming. Additionally, the solid color scheme is very similar to the one used in Rocketmen: Axis of Evil, which is charming but not particularly gritty (fortunately, gameplay is far better than it was in that shooter). Furthermore, I was unimpressed with the character design. I especially hated having Fox as a teammate. She is the token female of the bunch and her diminutive stature made it very easy to mistake her for bad guys and vice versa. Finally, the M-Crash special attack is useful, but every time you use it all players are subject to a corny art still that flashes across the screen. This becomes very annoying when battling bosses, as gameplay is constantly being interrupted by players activating their M-Crash. To make matters worse, after the power is used, there is a two to three second delay before the other members can commence shooting again.

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The sounds in this title are silly. The effects sound fine, but they are super annoying after just a little bit. That's because the rapport of your weapons will constantly fill the room without any break whatsoever. It's literally an incessant noise that will grate on your nervous system. Because Commando 3 is an irreverent spin on action cinema, I would have loved a little exaggerated voiceover work mocking the Governator, like that of Rainier Wolfcastle from The Simpsons.

Last, but not least, is the solid online and local co-op play. Even though the game gets even easier with friends, it's still the best way to enjoy it. Connecting online is a breeze and there's no lag whatsoever. I was kicked out of two of the three games I played, but the overall quality of the experience was a good one. Furthermore, jawing with people over voice chat is hilarious, especially after torching several goons with the flamethrower.

Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 is a decent shooter that anyone could enjoy. As long as you realize you'll be getting only a few hours of dumb fun out of the deal, blasting away at home and online is a riot. However, if you've only got limited download dollars, know that there are far superior offerings for both the PS3 and 360. As such, I can't give this game a full seal of approval, but I can say those initially intrigued by the title will probably find it's worth the money.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Editor / News Director