'Company of Heroes 2' review (PC): Sticks to its guns...

[dutchman]

A new generation of console gaming is almost upon us, but the PC will always be the platform of choice for real-time strategy fanatics, and it isn't difficult to see why when a title like Company of Heroes 2 comes along.



Developer Relic Entertainment had its work cut out with this sequel. Not only is its predecessor one of the most celebrated titles the genre has ever seen, but the World War 2 setting is also becoming increasingly challenging to tackle from a fresh angle.

Seemingly undeterred by the size of the task at hand, the studio has delivered something special, unlikely to disappoint even the most avid fans of the series.

Company of Heroes 2 honours and respects its forefather's award-winning formula, as well as its delicate subject matter, while introducing enough new content to set the experience apart.

The first Company of Heroes focused on the Allies' campaign against Nazi Germany, but its follow-up switches the action to the Western Front, focusing on the the Soviet Red Army's key battles against Hitler's forces.



The new setting makes this a darker experience than its forbear, with some bleak scenes playing out against the harsh, unforgiving backdrop of the Russian winter. It will chill you to the bone in more ways than one.

Players will find themselves handing out orders on the front line at historic battles, including Berlin and Stalingrad, all of which have been painstakingly researched by the development team to ensure authenticity.

Company of Heroes 2's underlying mechanics aren't radically different to its predecessor's. It's a thoroughly in-depth RTS experience that has players directing troops and managing resources from overhead.

For the most part it's the same tactically-rich experience as before, where the strategic placement of units is perhaps the most important factor when it comes to completing your mission objectives.



The new technology at the game's core is what differentiates it from the original Company of Heroes, and the vast majority of its genre counterparts for that matter.

The game is built upon the Essence 3.0 engine, which not only makes it a visual tour de force, but also has far-reaching implications for the gameplay.

For instance, a new line-of-sight system dubbed TrueSight successfully emulates the level of visibility in real combat, meaning that large sections of the map are obscured by the elements until you venture into them.

This heightens the tension as you explore each nook and cranny of the playing field, often wandering straight into an ambush and being forced to dictate new on-the-spot orders to recover.



Realistic weather simulation is also an integral part of the game, with the cruel Russian winter capable of doing as much damage to your army as the Nazi forces.

On-foot units such as shock troops will have a hard time trudging through thick snow, making them easy targets for any German snipers lying in wait, and we found out the hard way that attempting to move a tank across a frozen stretch of water is inadvisable.

The series has also made great strides in authentic environmental destruction - grenade explosions throw up a shower of dust that obscures your viewpoint for a moment, and structures that catch fire gradually collapse in on themselves.

You'll feel like a demolition expert when wielding tanks and other heavy artillery units as the scenery explodes around you, not that the game is about wanton destruction by any means.



Outside of the impressive new engine, Company of Heroes 2 is about shrewd tweaks rather than dramatic overhauls. For example, units can now vault over small obstructions and barriers and sniper units are only camouflaged when stationary.

Company of Heroes veterans might want to crank up the difficulty dial to the max, but most RTS players will find the level of challenge the solo campaign offers just right, and there's plenty to see and do outside of the core mode.

The Theatre of War mode offers new gameplay experiences, including a scripted co-op mode and solo challenges against computer AI.

There are 18 challenges in total, some of which pit the player against near-impossible odds, while others feel like little more than an apt warm-up for the online multiplayer section of the game.



Theatre of War is a welcome inclusion, bridging the gap between solo and online play nicely, and giving players a place to turn to hone their skills before delving into the ever-competitive world of multiplayer.

Multiplayer is not drastically different from the previous game's, but the same factors that set the single player campaign apart have an impact on how matches play out.

For instance, the unpredictable weather patterns force both sides to alter their strategy when they come into play. Blizzards are capable of killing off units, wreaking havoc with your air support and limiting your visibility.



These are factors that both sides will have to account for in their tactics, and the winner of each skirmish is usually the player who is most adept at handling Mother Nature's wrath.

There is also a more robust levelling-up system this time around. Multiplayer profiles accumulate experience points the same as before, but now there are additional challenges that enable players to permanently enhance the abilities of specific units. For example, skilful use of infantry will see them earn a permanent health or accuracy boost over time.

Setting up a multiplayer profile in Company of Heroes 2 is not unlike embarking on a career. You'll gain experience over time, unlocking new units and commanders, which brings a sense of reward for the time you have invested.

The game impresses on both the graphic and sonic fronts. Not only has a staggering amount of visual detail gone into the battlefields, the cacophony of gunfire and explosions will whisk players away to the front line.

This heightened sense of reality not only adds to the sense of immersion, it also highlights the horrors of real-life conflict by pulling no punches in its depiction of the Eastern Front.



Victories often feel like defeats because the loss of human life and the atrocities of your own comrades are examined in the wake of each campaign, lending Company of Heroes 2 the kind of poignancy rarely seen in video game warfare.

Company of Heroes 2 is a worthy sequel to a classic RTS, honouring its roots and handling its subject matter with the utmost respect. There are times when it will feel very familiar to series veterans, but sticking to your guns is no bad thing when they have never let you down in the past.

4 Star Rating

Review by Mark Langshaw