Company of Heroes 2

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Gameplay Mechanics

Core Mechanics and Controls

“Company of Heroes 2” retains much of the core gameplay that made its predecessor so beloved, while also introducing new features that add depth and complexity. At its heart, the game revolves around resource management, unit production, and tactical combat. Players must capture and control strategic points on the map, which provide resources such as manpower, munitions, and fuel. These resources are essential for building units, upgrading technologies, and deploying powerful vehicles.

The control scheme is intuitive, with a combination of keyboard shortcuts and mouse commands allowing players to quickly issue orders and manage their forces. The game emphasizes micro-management, where players need to pay close attention to individual unit placement, cover, and line of sight. Unlike some other RTS games that focus on base-building, “Company of Heroes 2” prioritizes dynamic battlefield tactics and the effective use of terrain.

Tactical Depth and Environmental Interaction

One of the standout features of “Company of Heroes 2” is its emphasis on environmental interaction. The game introduces the TrueSight system, which simulates realistic lines of sight for units. This means that units cannot see through obstacles like buildings or forests, requiring players to scout and use reconnaissance effectively. This system adds a layer of realism and tension, as ambushes and surprise attacks become a constant threat.

Another significant innovation is the ColdTech weather system, which simulates the harsh winter conditions of the Eastern Front. Snow, ice, and blizzards can drastically affect gameplay, slowing down units, reducing visibility, and even causing soldiers to freeze to death if they are not near a heat source. This environmental factor forces players to adapt their strategies and consider the elements as much as the enemy.

Faction Design and Asymmetry

“Company of Heroes 2” features two primary factions: the Soviet Union and the Wehrmacht (German Army). Each faction has its unique strengths, weaknesses, and playstyle, creating an asymmetrical balance that requires players to master different strategies depending on which side they choose.

• Soviet Union: The Soviet faction emphasizes overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers and attritional warfare. Soviet units are generally cheaper and quicker to produce, allowing for large-scale infantry assaults. However, Soviet troops tend to be less individually powerful than their German counterparts. The Soviet doctrine also includes the ability to deploy conscripts, who can be used to replenish depleted squads on the battlefield. Soviet tanks, like the T-34, are designed for mobility and versatility.
• Wehrmacht: The German faction focuses on elite units and technological superiority. German infantry and vehicles are generally more expensive but also more powerful and durable. The Wehrmacht has access to advanced technologies and heavy armor, such as the formidable Tiger tank. German tactics often involve holding strategic positions with well-entrenched defenses and using combined arms to counter Soviet swarms.

The asymmetry between these factions adds significant depth to the gameplay, as players must adjust their tactics based on the strengths and weaknesses of their chosen side. This design also contributes to the game’s replayability, as each faction offers a distinct experience.

Campaign Mode

The single-player campaign in “Company of Heroes 2” follows the Soviet Red Army’s journey from the defense of Stalingrad to the final assault on Berlin. The narrative is told through the perspective of Lev Abramovich Isakovich, a Soviet lieutenant who is interrogated by a Soviet officer, Colonel Churkin. The story is structured around flashbacks, with Isakovich recounting the key battles and events he participated in.

The campaign serves as both a historical retelling and a vehicle for introducing players to the game’s mechanics. Each mission is designed to showcase different aspects of the game, from large-scale tank battles to desperate infantry skirmishes in urban environments. The missions are varied and well-crafted, with a mix of defensive operations, assaults, and special objectives.

While the campaign is engaging and offers a good mix of challenges, it has been criticized for its portrayal of historical events. Some players and critics argue that the game presents a one-sided and overly negative depiction of the Soviet war effort, focusing on atrocities committed by the Red Army while downplaying the context of the Eastern Front’s brutal nature. This controversy has sparked debate about the responsibilities of game developers when depicting historical events, which we will explore in more detail later.

Multiplayer and Skirmish Modes

“Company of Heroes 2” shines in its multiplayer and skirmish modes, where the game’s deep mechanics and tactical depth come to the forefront. The multiplayer component supports up to eight players in various competitive and cooperative modes, with a range of maps that offer different tactical challenges.

In multiplayer, players can choose from several factions, including the Soviets, Wehrmacht, Oberkommando West, and the United States Forces, each with unique units and abilities. The introduction of commanders and doctrines adds another layer of strategy, as players can choose specific abilities and bonuses that align with their preferred playstyle. For example, a Soviet player might choose a doctrine that emphasizes artillery strikes and defensive fortifications, while a German player might opt for a doctrine focused on blitzkrieg tactics and rapid armor deployment.

The matchmaking system is generally solid, with ranked and unranked matches available. The game also includes a robust replay system, allowing players to review their matches, learn from their mistakes, and improve their strategies. The multiplayer community, while not as large as it was at launch, remains active, with dedicated players continuing to engage in competitive play.

Skirmish mode allows players to face off against AI opponents, either alone or in co-op with friends. This mode is a great way to practice strategies and experiment with different commanders and unit compositions. The AI in “Company of Heroes 2” is competent and can provide a decent challenge, especially at higher difficulty levels.

Expansions and DLC

Since its release, “Company of Heroes 2” has received several expansions and downloadable content (DLC) packs, which have expanded the game’s content and added new factions, missions, and features.

• The Western Front Armies: This standalone expansion introduces two new factions: the Oberkommando West (OKW) and the United States Forces (USF). The expansion shifts the focus to the Western Front of World War II, offering new maps and scenarios. The OKW is a unique faction with a focus on elite infantry and heavy armor, while the USF emphasizes mobility and combined arms tactics.
• Ardennes Assault: This single-player campaign expansion follows the US forces during the Battle of the Bulge. Unlike the main campaign, Ardennes Assault features a non-linear mission structure, where players can choose which sectors to attack or defend. The expansion also introduces a persistent company system, where the performance of your units in one mission can affect their strength in subsequent missions.
• The British Forces: Another standalone expansion, this DLC adds the British Army as a playable faction. The British Forces are characterized by their defensive capabilities, with strong infantry, artillery, and the ability to dig in and fortify positions. The expansion also includes new maps and additional content for multiplayer.
• Additional Commanders and Skins: Relic has released numerous additional commanders, unit skins, and other cosmetic items through DLC. These add-ons allow players to customize their forces and experiment with different strategies.

While the expansions and DLC have generally been well-received, some players have criticized the game’s monetization approach, arguing that certain content should have been included in the base game. However, the expansions do add significant value and extend the longevity of the game, particularly for those interested in multiplayer.

Company of Heroes 2 – Since its launch, Company of Heroes has established a new “monument” of the modern strategy game genre, with many micro standards, to be able to become gaming the “hot” network of the year.

Overcoming victories, THQ (now bankrupt) and Relic (returned under SEGA) continued to release the second part of the series, bringing players to the Eastern front full of misery.

Although being put a lot of “enthusiasm” but Company of Heroes 2 has not really met the requirements of gamers.

Still “following” closely to the soul of the previous version, Company of Heroes 2 takes players to the most fierce battles on the Eastern front.

The game screens are designed to be divided into many stages, bringing players from getting used to the game screen, increasing the pace up to the main and sub-quests “puzzle” players, gradually pushing up the pace of the battle climax, full of drama.

This makes the “excitement” of Company of Heroes 2 still guaranteed compared to the first version.

Besides, the way of building the game screen is also extremely reasonable, “describing” the “quality” of the Eastern front when the number of troops on both sides is more crowded than the first version.

Fortunately, this large number is largely in the hands of machine allies, otherwise, with the “bold” micro-control style like Company of Heroes 2, the whole battle will become chaotic and difficult to control.

This approach helps “bold” add to the severity of the battlefield compared to the existence of only “small” units, like the previous version.

Compared to Company of Heroes, this second version is upgraded quite a lot in terms of graphics.

The models have increased the number of textures that make the characters more “real” than ever.

Even the cutscenes based almost 100% on the game engine, have the same quality as the pre-built movies of other games of the same type.

Most especially, the application of a new physics mechanism makes the combat on normal and snow environments differently, affecting the player’s tactics relative to the previous version.

For example, the group of troops moving in the snow will be very heavy, slower than walking on the trail with little snow.

Besides, many advanced graphics effects are also included in the game such as Tessellation and Shader 5.0, providing a high level of detail in both terrain and characters.

Therefore, it is possible to compare the graphics detail of Company of Heroes 2 quite high, making the game a “beautiful” strategy game equal to the “monsters” like Rome 2: Total War, in both sides micro and macro.

Unfortunately, when compared to the previous version, Company of Heroes 2 didn’t have a significant breakthrough in gameplay.

Although it has shifted the “focus” to the Eastern battlefield, Company of Heroes 2 still feels almost no different from the American troops in Company of Heroes.

The same old skills like suppressing shot (with PPSh instead of Thompson) and throwing grenades, or only engineers equipped with flamethrowers … also make the infantry array almost “copied” from the original before.

The Soviet tank system has the look of American vehicles when the T-34-84 models are almost the same … Sherman when playing the main attack role or the IS tank line, is similar to the M26 Pershing.

While in reality, these tank models differ in both strength and usage.

If for many games, the A. I error is a hard to accept error then for Company of Heroes 2, this error is quite… bizarre and does not seriously affect the entire game.

For example, many times, military units … stood in front of the enemy and … did nothing to be easily shot down with a series of bullets.

Or there are times when the mechanical opponent sends a few groups of troops to attack within your control and then … run back.

Besides, in certain screens, the behavior of the machine is also difficult to accept when constantly sending troops … to die, or any other “gritty” situations that annoy players!

Graphics are quite a strong upgrade point of Company of Heroes 2 compared to the previous version, but the “cramming” of many effects into the details makes the powerful machines “drag” out unnecessary.

A good example: most of your playtime will be looking at the battlefield from a high position, making it completely unnecessary to apply Tessellation, showing tracks in snow or emoticons on soldiers’ faces. Why do you have time to “zoom in” the scene to see these things?

where can you get a Company of Heroes 2 online

Company of Heroes 2 – PC: Buy it now

Company of Heroes 2 (PC DVD): Buy it now

Conclusion

“Company of Heroes 2” is a remarkable real-time strategy game that combines deep tactical gameplay with a strong narrative and impressive visuals. Its innovations, such as the TrueSight system and ColdTech weather mechanics, set it apart from other games in the genre, offering a unique and challenging experience. The game’s attention to detail, both in its historical setting and its gameplay mechanics, creates a level of immersion that few RTS games can match.

While the game has not been without controversy, particularly regarding its portrayal of the Soviet Union, it remains a significant and influential title in the RTS genre. The expansions and DLC have added considerable value, extending the game’s lifespan and providing players with new content and challenges. The active community and modding scene have further contributed to the game’s longevity, ensuring that “Company of Heroes 2” remains a relevant and engaging experience years after its release.

In the end, “Company of Heroes 2” is a game that rewards strategic thinking, careful planning, and adaptability. It captures the brutality and chaos of war while offering players the tools to navigate and overcome those challenges. Whether you are a fan of the original “Company of Heroes” or a newcomer to the series, “Company of Heroes 2” is a must-play for anyone interested in real-time strategy games and World War II history.