The action is played from an overhead perspective, but players are free to rotate their view a full 360 degrees, as well as zoom-in on the environments from various levels. Accomplishing goals may involve shimmying up poles, swinging from cables, knocking on walls, and stealing vehicles.
Players can select one or all of their commandos at once to position them in strategic positions within the 11 mission environments, which range from Germany to the South Pacific. The objectives remain the same no matter which difficulty level is selected, however.Each of the game's 12 missions begins with a debriefing on the current situation and key objectives.
Commandos 2 can also be played on one of three difficulty levels, each affecting the range and speed of armaments, the reaction time of enemies, and the prevalence of helpful first-aid kits and ammunition, among other things. In addition to the manner in which players deal with the enemies, points are earned for each secondary objective completed, for receiving little or no damage, and for finishing the mission as quickly as possible. As points are awarded, the player's rank gradually increases, with the ultimate goal being to achieve the rank of Field Marshal. Gunning down enemies earns players the least amount of points. Objectives can be carried out in a number of different ways, with players being rewarded most for tying enemies with a rope, followed by silently killing enemies with a knife. Although concessions were made in historical accuracy for entertainment purposes, each mission offers realistic secondary objectives. As Sergeant "Tiny" McHale, players lead a group of eight military and demolitions experts, including a canine named Whiskey, through a series of missions inspired by actual World War II events. The hit PC strategy game by Pyro Studios can now be enjoyed on the PS2 with the release of Commandos 2.