Lock, Load, Localize: The Commando Way!
First released in 1998 by Pyro Studios, Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines stands as one of the defining titles of the real-time tactics genre. Set during World War II, the game put players in charge of six different commando units, each tasked with operating deep behind enemy lines. With its unique blend of action and strategy, Commandos brought a fresh perspective to tactical gameplay, ultimately becoming a benchmark for RTT (real-time tactics) games. Its iconic isometric camera, distinct character abilities, and the freedom it allowed players in approaching missions secured its place in gaming history. The series has since achieved cult status, inspiring countless successors with its focus on intelligence, patience, and planning.
Naturally, the return of such a legendary franchise is thrilling in itself—but what made it even more exciting for us was Kalypso Media’s decision to bring the game to Turkish players in their native language, and entrusting 23 Studios with this mission. In strategy games where text density is high, fluency and natural flow of language become crucial. Our goal was to reflect the game’s atmosphere and historical tone in Turkish—striking a delicate balance in both military terminology and character voices. Kalypso’s sensitivity to localization and collaborative approach played a key role in crafting a result we could all be proud of.
For many years, the Commandos series lacked official Turkish language support. That changed with the release of Commandos 3 – HD Remaster in 2022, which we at 23 Studios localized with Turkish interface and subtitles. It was an honor to finally bring the series into Turkish officially. But Commandos: Origins takes things even further—as a brand-new title built from the ground up, it's the first game in the series to be fully integrated into Turkish from day one. Let’s now take a closer look at how we shaped the tone and personality of each iconic Commando character during this process.
The Green Beret – Jack O’Hara
When analyzing the Green Beret’s dialogue, we immediately recognized his rebellious spirit—defiant, impatient, and brutally honest. Lines like “İlgilenmiyorum! Git başımdan dalkavuk!” or “Beni takip et o zaman. Başımı bu belaya sokan adamdan emir alacak değilim.” reveal a no-nonsense, headstrong, and downright rude persona. For him, we opted for a raw, unfiltered style of Turkish that leans into street slang and brash speech. Profanity was used deliberately to reflect his reckless, spur-of-the-moment attitude—lines like “Sikeyim, bir avlu daha,” or “Panzer III’e bak amına koyayım,” were crafted to stay true to his character.
Still, beneath that rough exterior lies a sense of justice, loyalty, and even a hint of sentimentality. Preserving those nuances was key in avoiding a one-note “foul-mouthed bully” stereotype. We made sure to show the tonal shifts in more sincere moments as well, balancing hotheaded outbursts with seasoned, pragmatic wisdom like “Pişman olacağıma temkinli davranırım.” The goal was to present a layered character who feels real and relatable. When the Green Beret speaks, players should feel both his toughness and his hidden humanity—that was our north star.
The Driver – Samuel Brooklyn
In contrast to the Green Beret’s intensity, the Driver brings an upbeat, confident, and thrill-seeking energy. Samuel Brooklyn, aka the Driver, cares less about danger and more about the spectacle of it all. “Sonunda be! Biraz aksiyon!” and “Vay! Keyifliymiş! Benzin dolu varilleri patlatmayı kim sevmez ki!” are just some of the lines that reflect his restless, showman personality. His tone is often playful, witty, and sometimes a bit cheeky—“Ben olmasam n’apardın?” or “Of, ucuz atlattık! Yanınızda olduğuma şükrediyorsunuzdur şimdi.”
Unlike the Green Beret, the Driver uses profanity sparingly—mostly in moments of high adrenaline, like “Sikerler, bunu yapıp gerçekten başaracak kadar çılgın birileri varsa o da biziz!” Instead, we emphasized camaraderie and charm with friendly terms like “usta,” “dostum,” or “beyler,” showcasing his sociable, easygoing nature. His unwavering confidence when it comes to vehicles, mechanics, and explosives came through in lines like “Tank çalarsak tabii ki kıyamet kopar ama ben hallederim!” and “Kenara çekil! PAK nasıl doğru kullanılır göstereyim!” We wanted players to see him as a virtuoso behind the wheel, a demolition artist, and despite all his antics—a dependable teammate.
The Marine – James Blackwood
Possibly the most seasoned member of the squad, the Marine brings a stoic, world-weary professionalism to the table. While the Green Beret is all brawn and the Driver bursts with youthful energy, the Marine speaks with the weight of experience—calm, sarcastic, and a bit disillusioned. Lines like “Senden daha uzun süredir komandoyum ve öyle de kalacağım.” or “Hayat denize benzer. Verdiği kadarını alır, bazen daha fazlasını.” were carefully adapted to convey his sailor roots and battle-hardened wisdom.
His sarcasm and frustration occasionally bubble up in remarks like “O kadar iş, üç beş kâğıt parçası için miydi?” or “Anca evrak çalarız, makine sabote ederiz, rastgele kokmuş balık yağı tanklarını havaya uçururuz! Fransızcamı mazur görün ama siktiğimin crème de la crème’iyiz!” We limited his use of profanity, reserving it for moments of absurdity or exhaustion—like “Tabii ki bilimsel deneylerini bu siktiğimin adasının tepesinde yürütmek zorundalardı…” Each curse carries purpose, not excess. Players should sense that the Marine is someone who’s seen it all, complains a lot, but is rock-solid when it matters. A grizzled, reliable comrade shaped by countless storms at sea and war.
The Spy – René Duchamp
With the Spy, we aimed for a tone that set him clearly apart from the rest of the team—sophisticated, composed, intelligent, and ever the gentleman. René Duchamp chooses his words carefully, analyzes situations with precision, and always maintains a sense of elegance. For his localization, we completely avoided slang or profanity and used refined, articulate Turkish with a touch of dry wit and intellectual polish. To highlight his multilingual identity and French roots, we preserved original expressions like “Très bien,” “Mon Dieu,” “Non, non!” and “Achtung!”
His lines—“Son derece zarif bir çözüm,” or “Kusursuzca yerine getirildi”—reflect his perfectionist and meticulous approach to the job. But beneath that polished exterior lies a deep patriotism and quiet rage against Nazi tyranny, shown in moments like “Görmezden gelmem gerekiyordu, ta ki cehaletimin sonuçlarına bizzat tanık olana kadar,” or “Almanya’ya her dönüşümde anılarım yeniden canlanıyor. Nazi ilerleyişini durdurmamız gerektiğini acı bir şekilde hatırlatıyor bana.” His every word had to reflect intelligence, experience, and unshakable principles.
The Sniper – Francis T. Woolridge
The Sniper is the calmest, most reserved member of the team—a true professional who speaks little but with impact. Every word he utters serves a precise purpose. His dialogue is devoid of slang, profanity, or emotional expression. Instead, he delivers concise commands or brief situational updates, perfectly in line with his cold, focused persona.
Even a line like “Mükemmel bir nişancıyımdır,” is said with calm, detached certainty—less boast, more fact. Our localization mirrored this “speak less, do more” philosophy with measured and minimal Turkish lines. Players should feel that every word from the Sniper carries weight, and even his silence conveys razor-sharp focus.
The Sapper – Thomas Hancock
For the Sapper, we envisioned a natural strategist, a planner, and a calm yet firm leader within the team. Hancock is the one analyzing situations, laying out plans clearly, guiding the squad, and boosting morale in tough times. His tone was mostly formal, confident, and instructive. Lines like “Durun, planın üzerinden bir kez daha geçelim,” or “Oraya varınca şu yeni çıkmış radar kulelerini indirmemiz gerekecek,” cement his role as a planner and mentor. His motivational lines like “Yaparsın be oğlum! İçeriden sana destek olmak için elimizden geleni yapacağız.” further reinforce his leadership and team-first mindset.
Slang is virtually absent in his speech. Profanity is rare and only appears in critical moments, such as “Sikeyim! İşe yaraması gerekirdi!” or in an emotionally intense outburst like “Hâlâ yaşıyor amına koyayım!”—brief lapses in an otherwise collected persona. These moments hit harder due to their rarity, emphasizing his human side. His expertise in explosives, sabotage, and technical matters gave his dialogue natural authority and competence.
Lines like “Belki de tek başınayken yoktu. Ama artık yalnız değilsin. Senin için canını ortaya koyacak yoldaşların var,” reflect his role as a moral pillar of the team—one who sees others’ potential and motivates them. His tone blends the gravity of duty with unwavering trust in his squad, making him feel like a dependable senior officer, a mentor, and a warm, calm figure under pressure.
From the Green Beret’s rebellious fire to the Sapper’s calculating calm, from the Spy’s elegant precision to the Driver’s chaotic charm, each Commandos: Origins character demanded a distinct voice. At 23 Studios, we worked tirelessly to ensure every commando’s tone, style, and role within the team was faithfully carried over into Turkish Localization. Experiencing their missions in our native tongue brings new life to the tactical depth and atmosphere of the game—and we’re thrilled to have played a part in that.
