Most Commandos games are real-time strategy titles that put you in control of a small squad of crack troops, viewed from an overhead perspective. Commandos Strike Force tries something new, however: this is a first person shooter with more focus on action and stealth, but retaining the ability to command and switch between up to three highly trained commandos in a variety of WWII settings. Planning, stealth and care are still keys to the game, and you'll need all your skill to manage.

Like most first person shooters, Commandos Strike Force is best played with a combination of mouse and keyboard. Use WASD to move your commando, the mouse to look and shoot, and the Tab key to switch between available commandos during the mission. You can adjust the controls however you like in the game options menu, but there aren't too many controls to learn and the default setup will probably be fine for most players. You can also play Strike Force with a gamepad if you prefer.

Throughout the game you'll play as three commando types: a Green Beret well-suited to straight up infantry combat; a sniper capable of taking out enemies from afar (he's also deadly with throwing knives and a speedy swimmer); and a spy, whose primary job is infiltration and disguise. Not every commando comes on every mission, but you can switch between those that do whenever you like. The game's AI controls any commandos you're not, so they'll try to keep up as you advance.

Each mission has specific objectives that you must meet in order to proceed. These vary from simple elimination jobs to complicated infiltration and sabotage assignments, often requiring a lot of stealth and planning rather than gunfire. Pay close attention to the setting and objectives prior to each mission, as the wide-open nature of most levels encourages you to come up with your own solutions to game challenges. As you advance, the storyline unfolds through the eyes of your commandos.

The key to Strike Force is recognizing and utilizing the unique capabilities each of your commandos brings to the table. Your progress forward is determined by how well you use your people: if the Green Beret is unable to get past a heavy gun emplacement, switch to the sniper and take out the gunner. If both men are unable to advance due to heavy resistance, have your spy steal the uniform from a German officer and handle the infiltration. Strategy is more important that firepower in this game.

The spy can steal uniforms from enemies, which grant varying levels of cover depending on the rank of the officer he's impersonating. Be warned: normal soldiers are easily fooled, but higher-ranking Germans will be more and more suspicious, so don't get too carried away.

In addition to his ability to dress up as German officers, the spy can fling coins to distract foes when he's trying to be stealthy. Use this to get an enemy to look away while you creep across an open spot.

The radar in the lower left corner of the screen may not be realistic, but it's useful. Check red arrows to see not only the location of enemy troops, but which way they're looking.

When one of your commandos gets hurt, drop what you're doing and head over there to heal him up using a medkit. Not only do you lose the mission if all your commandos are out, but you never know when you might need the injured man's skill further down the line.