Developer: Relic Entertainment
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Real-Time Strategy (RTS)
Platform: Microsoft Windows
Released: June 25, 2013
Website: http://www.companyofheroes.com/

Recommended system requirements

CPU: Core 2 Quad Q6400 2.13GHz/ Phenom 9600B Quad-Core
GPU: GeForce GTS 450/ Radeon HD 4850x2
RAM: 4 GB
OS: Windows 7 (64-bit)
DirectX: DX 10
HDD: 11 GB .

Ratings

Story: 8/10
Design: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Presentation: 9/10
Overall score: 9/10

Games based on the Second World War are not as common as they were a decade or so ago. While we have witnessed the combat on the Western front in many games, the meat-grinder that was the Eastern front has not received the same level of attention.

In Relic’s latest offering, Company of Heroes 2, the war is now being fought on the steppes and frozen fields of Soviet Russia. Sticking to the same formula that worked so well for the last game, which was touted as the best strategy game to release in years, Company of Heroes 2 takes the series forward and manages to deliver an addictive and at times tense experience.

The single-player portion of the game focuses on the mode called ‘Theatre of War’, and pits the adaptive forces of the Soviet Union against the battle-hardened Nazi war machine, as they push east. You will be part of the herculean effort which was Operation Barbarossa, and will participate in famous battles such as the Siege of Stalingrad.

Relic Entertainment has tweaked the features of the previous game, and has put a lot of time and effort into it. For starters, the introduction of the Theater of War mode walks players through the game in either single or cooperative missions, offering a host of special scenarios to tackle within the game. These missions offer main objectives to achieve for victory, as well as side-quests that the player can attempt to gain a better advantage on the battlefield.

The Soviet forces, deploys conscripts as their main infantry force, these poorly trained and at times poorly equipped soldiers, bring numbers to the battlefield and are low-cost, to offset the disadvantage of being poorly trained. The German Wehrmacht, on the other hand, deploys battle-hardened panzergrenadiers forces, and they are well armed and competent troops. Both sides use vehicles and armoured vehicles that were used historically.

While the Soviet Red Army and the German Wehrmacht are two very different forces, they are well balanced in the game and use their historical advantages to try and tip the balance in their favour. A new dynamic weather system has been implemented into the game, to simulate the harsh weather conditions of the Eastern front. At times, the weather can be a greater enemy than the opposing force. The Russian winter is brutal, and the game simulates it as such. Blizzards will roll in, reducing visibility and making travel across open ground more difficult. Any infantry forces that are not in shelter or by a bonfire will slowly freeze to death. If you are not careful, your squads will die in the cold. With the implementation of weather effects, the developers have further deepened the realistic feel of the game. Units can now also commandeer abandoned enemy vehicles, and press them into service after repairs.

In multiplayer, you’ll be able play matches with and against players on various maps with special conditions added to them. As there is no campaign for the Germans, it might take some time to get used to their units and vehicles. Nevertheless, both sides feel equal footed and balanced with regards to gameplay, each having their own unique strengths and weaknesses. While the Germans have superior firepower, the sheer size of the Russian manpower puts them at practically the same level.

The gameplay has also been simplified in the form of the Commander Abilities, which locks you down for a more linear progression of skills and bonuses as opposed to the first game in the series. Still, it’s fun to have a customised skill system to accommodate your late-game strategy, and when it all works out, it’s very satisfying. Players also have the option of hosting their game on Twitch.tv for the purpose of showing their gameplay to a wide audience.

While console games currently try to make room for the next generation of graphics, games like Company of Heroes 2 make delightful use of the PC platform to present a very beautiful set of aesthetic details. The game is littered with special effects, animations and objects that are eye catching. The sound design and effects are a real treat, emulating the scenario of a real battlefield.

The game portrays the battlefield sights and sounds in the most beautiful manner. You’ll be able to treat your senses to the icy tundra’s chilling atmosphere, or the desolate streets of Russian cities with great attention to detail. It’s quite common for strategy games to skimp on these aspects, but Relic put some time and effort into making the game appealing to the eyes and the ears. Simulating the atmosphere for a battle can be tricky, but Relic Entertainment pulled it off with style.

With this new instalment, Company of Heroes 2 proves that it’s got the right idea to move forward with in the genre. It might not be a dramatic reinvention of the strategy game, but it does not need to be, as the first game in the series did re-define the real time strategy genre. Almost all the mechanics from the original have made their way in here, and the few new additions only help sweeten the deal. This game is a must play for any fan of the RTS genre. Comrades, the Eastern Front awaits.