- PC ››
- Strategy ››
- Company of Heroes
Company of Heroes
- September 12, 2006 16:46 PM PST
- Email this!
- GamePro Score
- User Score
- Write your review!
No 'I' In Team
While the expansion of resource nodes and supply lines already adds an excellent layer of overall strategy, Company of Heroes' greatest strength lies in its combat engine. Initial expectations surrounding the game were high but players will be truly astounded when they find out how much depth is lurking under Company's hood. Unlike most games where combat generally devolves down to a contest to see who can throw more units into the fray, Company requires players to acquaint themselves with combined-arms warfare. For instance, infantry units, which are often mere fodder in other games, shine as the base tool for any situation, while tanks, which have been inflated in stature for too long, take their rightful place as a support weapon.
Striking a balance between infantry and vehicles is the most important ingredient for success in the game. Infantry units are versatile but unless they're backed up by support units such as tanks and artillery, they're vulnerable out in the field. On the flip side, vehicles and armor can be devastating but they need wily infantry units by their side--to do the "grunt" work--in order to be effective.
PROTIP: Sherman Crocodiles are exceedingly useful for flushing out entrenched infantry.
Relic also brings to bear a realistic combat system in Company of Heroes. Take the concept of suppression, for example. Units in Company of Heroes can become pinned down by heavy gunfire, thus reducing their effectiveness and ability to fight; it also leaves them vulnerable to flanking maneuvers. Players can and should lay down a hail of machinegun fire to suppress an exposed enemy so that another unit can move in to hit their flank or rear, a historically accurate nod to WW II tactics.
Likewise, these kinds of tactical options are also stressed in combat involving vehicles and armor. Most of the armor present on a vehicle is welded onto its front, meaning that the rear and sides are more vulnerable to fire. Careful positioning of units can ensure their ability to survive battles and flanking maneuvers can again play a critical role in ending conflicts decisively. There was one minor A.I. hiccup in which armor would consistently expose their rear armor when moving short distances but luckily, Company of Heroes makes it easy to position your units to face any direction you want: clicking and holding down the right mouse button brings up a field-of-view grid that you can then swivel around, perfect for repositioning a machinegunner or tank on the fly.
And with so many different tactical options present, multiplayer offers a sense of depth that few games can match. Thankfully Relic has finally decided to set up its own online service, doing away with third-party sources such as Gamespy and the result is a far more stable and informative interface. Only a few minor balancing issues plague the game at this point, but Relic - which is known to relentlessly balance its games - should quickly clear up these issues.
PROTIP: Make use of cover at all times--infantry units will survive much longer that way.
- Previous Page Prev
- Next Page Next
- 1
- 2
- 3
