Note that this game is significantly different than the 2002 G.I. Joe Commando Attack game. This game features a very different map, different rules, and no missile launcher.

Both the G.I. Joe and Cobra teams consist of two squads of six soldiers each. Depending on the number of players, each player controls one or two squads. The object is to enter the enemy headquarters.

Each turn begins with a roll for initiative. The team winning initiative rolls one die per squad. The result tells how many soldiers in that squad may be moved that turn. Each soldier may be moved any number of spaces in a single direction, stopping if they land on a jungle, river, or enemy square. Up to two soldiers may enter the same enemy square. Combat is resolved by dice rolls. Ganging up with two soldiers allows an extra die roll (choose the higher number) and two chances to win the battle (only one of your soldiers may be captured at a time). There are also rules for freeing captured allies and raiding the enemy supply depot. The first team to successfully infiltrate the enemy headquarters wins.

There are 2 squads of cardboard soldier pawns for the G.I. Joe team.
RED SQUAD includes:
Alpine, Dusty, Flint, Quick Kick, Shipwreck, & Spirit.
ORANGE SQUAD includes:
Bazooka, Duke, Footloose, Gung-Ho, Lady Jaye, & Recondo.

Likewise, there are 2 squads of cardboard soldier pawns for the Cobra team.
GREEN SQUAD includes:
The Baroness, Cobra Commander, a Crimson Guardsman, Ripper (the Dreadnok), Tomax & Xamot (the twins.)
BLUE SQUAD includes:
Destro, an EELS trooper, Firefly, Storm Shadow, a Tele-Viper, & Zartan.

The artwork for all 24 cardboard pawns is the exact same artwork that came on the packages in which the actual action figures were sold in the 80's. Squads are designated by 2 things: the color of the plastic bases (for the stand-up cardboard figures) and the backgrounds printed around the edges of the cardboard figures themselves--the colors should match.

It is also worth noting that the bases are equipped with the pegs that would insert into the heels of actual poseable G.I. Joe action figures, so that players can make their own squads using their own G.I. Joe action figures. (For those with figures from the 90's or later, this should be particularly interesting as it is a way to update the game.) This is especially important to fans who have ideas for "Dream Teams" or prefer to use Storm Shadow as a G.I. Joe (rather than a Cobra) since he later joined the G.I. Joes, in the storyline, etc.