2002 · Big Grub · Shooter · Strategy

Spec Ops: Airborne Commando

PlayStation exclusive

The first Spec Ops title on the PlayStation to feature a third-person 3D shooting style, Spec Ops: Airborne Commando literally drops you behind enemy lines as an elite U. S. Ranger paratrooper equipped with essential gear and a lethal arsenal. Weapons include a standard military knife, a Colt 1911A1 Semiautomatic pistol, silenced M4 rifle, sniper rifle (Barret M82A1), the M3 RAAW reusable launcher rifle, hand grenades, and C4 demolition packs. Binoculars, a laptop, and a handheld radio round out the inventory, with satellite imaging available for locating positions of rangers, checkpoints, helicopter extractions, and both real and decoy SAM launchers.

Released: 31 October 2002
Platforms: PlayStation PlayStation 3
Genres: Shooter Strategy Tactical
Developers: Big Grub
Publishers: Take-Two Interactive Gotham Games Sony Computer Entertainment
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Third person
Themes: Action Warfare
Age ratings: ESRB T

About

Spec Ops is a series of tactical shooter video games. The first two games were developed by Zombie Studios, while Runecraft assisted development on the next three games, and the sixth game in 2002 developed by Big Grub. The seventh and final game developed by Yager Development released in 2012.

The first two games were published by Ripcord Games, with the following three published by Take-Two Interactive, and the sixth game in 2002 published by Gotham Games.

Keywords

modern warfare
death
military
war
modern military
polygonal 3d
sniping
playstation tv support
guerilla warfare
team killing

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Development

It was decided to make Spec Ops into an ongoing franchise while the first game, Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way, was still in development. Executive producer Mike Suarez reasoned that the audience for simulation fans "is very loyal; they buy six to twelve products in every year. It's a real evergreen business if you can launch a successful franchise in the simulations category."

Between 1999 and 2002, the games Stealth Patrol, Ranger Elite, Covert Assault, and Airborne Commando came out on the original PlayStation. These featured combat settings and tactical gameplay resembling contemporary titles like SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs and Rainbow Six.