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One of the more recent additions to the RTS Genre - Company of Heroes – is an RTS by Relic Entertainment set in World War 2. Although it labels the factions axis and allies, they are really The Germans and The Americans. It offers a good campaign with you playing the Allies (there isn’t an Axis campaign). Beginning on Omaha beach you progress through the game achieving a variety of objectives until the German threat is neutralized. It has a great multiplayer set up too allowing 2-8 players to go head to head either online or using your LAN. Stunning graphics and a fully destructible environment are probably the most noticeable goodies this game has to offer. Adding to the esthetics is beautiful animation. When your guys run you might just think you’re watching a movie rather than playing a game; adding a new benchmark for RTS games as far as graphics are concerned
Rather than
feeling like your run-of-the-mill RTS game, Company of Heroes feels and looks
like a WWII flick with one obvious difference....you’re in charge! And as such
if you tell your squad of infantry (infantry is managed in squads rather than
individual units for ease of play) to attack a Panzer head on the will likely
get mowed down like dandelions under your John Deer mower. (just like the
movies!) But that is not to say infantry is useless against armor. If your
guys are packing bazookas they can do some damage to said panzer but they will
do more damage attacking from the sides. And, if they attack form the rear that
stand a real chance at immerging victorious against the heavy armor. Also, unit
size is proportional which just adds to the realism when you see that tank
coming down on your men it will look every bit as intimidating as you would
expect.
The game also
sports real-time physics and a completely destructible environment. Something I
personally have been yearning for in an RTS. Now let’s say your squad managed
to defeat the Panzer with the help of an artillery strike only to find a squad
or two of Germans coming at you. Well, those awesome craters aren’t just for
looks. You can use them as cover. The games features light and heavy cover
depicted by yellow and green respectively. Infantry can also take up positions
inside of building where you will see the man the windows with realistic
animation. But don’t get too comfortable. The Krauts might just take out your
building with a Panzerfaust or other explosive. All of this is possible because
of Relic’s new “Essence Engine”. This not only enhances the game with great
looks but replay ability since you are able to reshape the maps through the
destruction it.
Adding to the
feel of the game are some nice audio techniques. You can here the panic in the
voices of your men as enemy armor rips them to shreds (of course I was only
checking the sound when that happened) You can here them whisper when
conducting a clandestine operation. What’s more when they report back from off
the screen they sound as if they are using radios. The thunderous bass of a
tanks main gun, the buzz from the MG-42 machine gun add a potent kick of spice
to the game. But hold on to your hat if your on the receiving end of the
dreaded Nebelwerfer! The first time I heard that battery firing on my army I
thought it was going to reduce my army to ashes in an enormous mushroom cloud!
I soon realized it was just a six-shot artillery barrage but I suffered plenty of
damage none-the-less. The audio is topped off with a tension-filled symphonic
score that adds even more depth to the game. Relic does a great job capturing the frenzied action of battle. The management of a single battle in Company of heroes is enough to keep an experience RTS player busy. Keeping your firing arcs on the enemy, maintaining adequate cover for your men and dealing with new threats as they appear could be a little overwhelming for some novices. On top of that you have your base and resource management to contend with. All of this busywork makes for an intense if not hectic match which is sure to engulf your senses and have you loose track of time
Unfortunately there is a small downside to all of this great gaming Company of Heroes offers. Mainly, you’ve got to have a pretty beefy machine to experience this game in all its glory. But even if you don’t it is still spectacular on more modest graphic settings. There are also a few minor glitches in the game but they have little effect on the gameplay. All in all if you like RTS games Company of Heroes is a must have for your collection.
Madmikesgaming.com |
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Bazookas
pack some serious firepower