PGC NEWS

Company of Heroes redefined the modern real-time strategy (RTS) genre with its intricate micromanagement and intense multiplayer battles. Relic Entertainment, now under SEGA, followed up the original’s success with Company of Heroes 2, shifting the focus to the brutal Eastern Front of World War II. While highly anticipated, Company of Heroes 2 fell short of some players’ expectations. This review delves into the game’s strengths and weaknesses, analyzing its gameplay, graphics, and overall experience.

Company of Heroes 2 Intense Eastern Front Battles

Intense Eastern Front Combat

Staying true to the spirit of its predecessor, Company of Heroes 2 immerses players in the ferocious battles of the Eastern Front. Missions are structured in multiple phases, gradually escalating the intensity and introducing complex primary and secondary objectives. This dynamic pacing keeps the gameplay engaging and exciting, mirroring the tension of the original.

Company of Heroes 2 Dynamic Mission Structure

The level design effectively captures the scale of the Eastern Front, featuring larger armies than the first game. Fortunately, much of this increased troop count is managed by AI allies, preventing the micromanagement from becoming overwhelming. This approach emphasizes the sheer scale and brutality of the conflict, differentiating it from the smaller skirmishes of the original.

Company of Heroes 2 Large Scale Battles

This design choice reinforces the intensity of the battlefield, creating a sense of large-scale conflict that sets it apart from the more contained battles of the original.

Company of Heroes 2 Eastern Front Atmosphere

Enhanced Visuals

Company of Heroes 2 boasts significant graphical improvements over the original. Character models feature increased texture detail, adding a level of realism not seen in the first game. Even the cutscenes, rendered entirely in-engine, rival pre-rendered cinematics of other RTS titles.

Company of Heroes 2 Improved Graphics

A key innovation is the implementation of a new physics engine, significantly impacting gameplay. Troop movement is affected by terrain, particularly snow, adding a strategic layer absent in the original. Soldiers trudging through deep snow move slower than those on cleared paths, forcing players to adapt their tactics.

Company of Heroes 2 Snow Physics

The game also utilizes advanced graphical effects like Tessellation and Shader 5.0, enhancing the detail of both terrain and characters. This level of visual fidelity elevates Company of Heroes 2 to the ranks of visually stunning RTS titles like Rome 2: Total War, offering impressive detail at both micro and macro levels.

Lack of Gameplay Innovation

Despite the shift to the Eastern Front, Company of Heroes 2 lacks significant gameplay innovation compared to its predecessor. While the setting changes, the core gameplay feels remarkably similar to controlling American forces in the original.

Company of Heroes 2 Familiar Gameplay

Familiar mechanics like suppressive fire (now with PPSh submachine guns instead of Thompsons) and grenade throwing return, with flamethrowers remaining exclusive to engineers. This makes the infantry combat feel largely derivative. The Soviet tank roster also echoes American counterparts, with the T-34-84 fulfilling a similar role to the Sherman and the IS tank mirroring the M26 Pershing.

Company of Heroes 2 Soviet Tanks

In reality, these tanks differed significantly in both power and usage. This lack of distinction has led some fans to criticize Company of Heroes 2 as a reskin of the original.

Company of Heroes 2 Criticism

AI Issues

While AI issues can be game-breaking in other titles, in Company of Heroes 2, they are more peculiar than detrimental. Units sometimes stand exposed to enemy fire, inexplicably doing nothing before being eliminated. The enemy AI can also exhibit strange behavior, such as launching attacks into controlled territory only to retreat immediately.

Company of Heroes 2 AI Quirks

In certain missions, the AI’s actions become even more baffling, sending troops to their deaths or exhibiting other odd behaviors that detract from the experience.

Demanding System Requirements

Company of Heroes 2 System Requirements

While the enhanced visuals are a significant improvement, the emphasis on detail comes at a cost. The game’s demanding system requirements can strain even powerful machines, and some of the graphical flourishes seem unnecessary. Given the top-down perspective, the use of Tessellation for tank tracks in snow or detailed facial expressions on soldiers adds little to the overall experience, as players rarely zoom in close enough to appreciate them.

Conclusion

Company of Heroes 2 offers a visually impressive and intense RTS experience on the Eastern Front. However, its lack of gameplay innovation and occasional AI quirks hold it back from surpassing the original. While the enhanced graphics and new physics engine are welcome additions, they come at the cost of demanding system requirements. Ultimately, Company of Heroes 2 is a solid RTS title, but it falls short of being a true evolution of the series.