| “ | Boris has arrived! - Boris |
” |
Boris (Russian: Борис) is the Soviet commando infantry unit in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 - Yuri's Revenge, replacing the Psi-Corps trooper.
Official description
| “ | Boris is highly effective against infantry, thanks to his rapid rate of fire. Rather than using C4 charges to eliminate structures, Boris is able to call in an airstrike of MiG fighters to bombard any structure he targets with his laser designator. - Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge manual(src) |
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Game unit
Boris is equipped with a specially designed AKM assault rifle, the successor to the AK-47 that Soviet rifle infantry wielded in the Second World War. Boris is very accurate and can dispatch most infantry with a single burst of fire from medium range. This weapon also dealt an appreciable amount of damage to vehicles for some degree of anti-tank capacity despite its anti-infantry nature when compared with Tanya's dual pistols, even capable of taking out vehicles faster than a deployed Guardian GI.
When ordered to attack buildings, Boris uses a laser pointer to call a MiG airstrike from a random edge of the map, which outranges all defenses (barring the Grand cannon), but cannot defend himself while doing so. The laser must remain in contact with the target until the airstrike itself has been delivered, or the MiGs simply turn back. If they are destroyed en route and the laser remains active, more will spawn shortly after. Before he reaches elite veterancy level, two are summoned. Once he is, four appear.
Like all commandos in Yuri's Revenge, he is immune to mind control. However, unlike Tanya and Yuri Prime, he is not amphibious.
AI behavior
The AI is not programmed to train or even use Boris.
Changelog
- Yuri's Revenge patch 1.001:
- Boris will now correctly call MiGs in to attack occupied tank bunkers.
- Boris' laser designator will no longer be interrupted if the enemy units garrison/un-garrison a building he is targeting.
- If a commando (Tanya, Boris, Yuri Prime) is placed into a transport, and that transport is destroyed on water, the training slot for that commando unit is now properly freed.
Background
Little is known about Boris' early history, other than that he was formidable enough on the battlefield to become a hero of the Soviet Union in unseen events prior to the first iteration of the Third World War. He became more prominent in the second iteration of the war in the non-canonical Soviet campaign of Yuri's Revenge, participating in capturing the Allied time machine in San Francisco and liberating Allied troops in London, destroying psychic dominators in both instances. If Boris is killed in the prehistoric era in the mission Time Shift, he re-emerges from the barracks after the second time jump, as he is native to that timeline.
Aftermath
After the merging of the timelines, the role of the Soviet commando was taken by Natasha Volkova during the Post-War Crisis and the third iteration of the war.
Quotes
When created
- Boris has arrived!
- It is I, Boris! (unused)
- I have no fear. (unused)
- Let the games begin! (unused)
- You are no match for Boris! (unused)
When selected
- Boris here.
- Yes, comrade general?
- Let's light them up.
- I'll point out the target.
- Don't mess with me.
When moving
- Is nothing I cannot do![sic]
- This will be easy.
- Boris agrees.
- I have important mission.[sic]
- Russia's fate is with me.
When ordered to attack
- Hahahaha!
- Die, traitorous dogs!
- Eat lead!
- Fools! You can't touch me!
- Who is next?
When calling an airstrike
- Bring on the MiGs!
When suppressed
- They are attacking us!
- Is very bad here, comrade![sic]
- I am hit!
- We must have reinforcements!
Gallery
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Concept art by Phil Robb -
Concept art by Phil Robb -
SHP sprite
Cameos
English, French, and German versions share the same cameos.
| English | Korean | Chinese |
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Trivia
- In the Chinese version, Boris' name was not transliterated like Tanya's. Instead, he was given a new name, 菁英戰鬥兵 (elite combat trooper). If transliterated into Chinese, however, Boris would be called 鲍里斯 (Bàolĭsī), while Tanya would be called 譚雅 (Tányǎ).
- Unlike Tanya, Boris has little character development outside of his apparent performance on the battlefield in-game.
- Boris's second name was never revealed.
- There is evidence in the code that suggests Tesla Troopers, SEALs, Tanya and Boris were once able to enter and clear garrisons, but then that functionality was disabled before release; see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1HnoE57i8A&t=195s.
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 Soviet Third World War Arsenal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Prominent Members of the USSR | ||||||||||||
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