Company of Heroes is pretty much tied with StarCraft II as the top ranking strategy game on aggregate site Metacritic. It’s finally getting its much anticipated sequel – which is out tomorrow. If you like RTS games based on actual, once ubiquitous World War 2 history instead of made-up space dramas, this is probably very much on your radar. Wot’s it like?
Here’s what reviewers have to say:
- CVG: 8 – A decent but dated sequel, then, bringing only conservative improvements considering how much time has passed. Of course, some would argue that CoH didn’t need improving – and for them, this is still the same dauntingly deep and brutally complex RTS as it’s ever been.
- Digital Spy: 4/5 – Company of Heroes 2 is a worthy sequel to a classic RTS, honouring its roots and handling its subject matter with the utmost respect. There are times when it will feel very familiar to series veterans, but sticking to your guns is no bad thing when they have never let you down in the past.
- Edge: 7 – Taken as a whole, COH2 has advanced on some fronts but lost ground on others. Attempting to explore the Eastern Front thematically proves misjudged, while persistent unit stupidity is wearing thin after seven years and four games. Counteracting that are the core mechanics, which are as enjoyable as ever, and there are smart new missions to test series veterans. It’s not a glorious revolution, then, but COH2 is a solid continuation of the finest WWII RTS around.
- GamesRadar: 80 – All-told, Company of Heroes 2 is a worthy, if not excellent, heir to the franchise’s legacy. While not quite as innovative as the original, Company of Heroes 2 does little wrong besides weigh itself down with the mildly superfluous and fail to push the envelope of video game narrative–though at times it really seems desperate to try
- Metro: 7 – A disappointing sequel in many ways but as a refinement of one of the best real-time strategies of all-time this is still an enjoyably cinematic experience.
- PC Gamer: 80 – Company of Heroes 2 is the USSR of real-time strategy games: huge, powerful and just a little bit broken.
- PC Games N: 8/10 – New players will find the ease of the campaign an excellent introduction to the franchise, while returning veterans should find plenty to like about the addition of hostile weather and the expanded multiplayer component. There are times when Company of Heroes 2 feels more like a huge expansion than a completely new experience, but damn is it enjoyable.
- VideoGamer: 8 – More so than hi-res First Person Shooters, and perhaps even indie games, it’s stuff like Company Of Heroes 2 that makes the PC such an inviting platform. The flexibility in both processing power and controls lets the PC play host to so many ways of playing: in the light of new consoles that will match the PC’s firepower (in the short-term, at least), Company Of Heroes 2 is a testament to PC gaming’s breadth.
The biggest problem that people seem to have with it is that it does very little new, recycling ideas and mechanics from the previous game. which is funny, because StarCraft 2 did pretty much that and received unanimous praise. We’ll have our own review soon.
The game’s out tomorrow, exclusively for the PC platform.
Last Updated: June 24, 2013
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 24, 2013 at 14:33
Nice scores. CoH was good to begin with so they didn’t need to change too much really. I think in this specific case it was better to stick to a slightly more tried and tested method than changing too much and causing people to hate the new features
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 14:48
I absolutely agree. CoH is most probably the most fun in RTS gaming I’ve ever had. That said, I miss it a lot, but after playing CoH2 Beta, I’m glad to see they stuck with what made the game great, and adding more to the pot.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 24, 2013 at 14:49
Indeed. I remember you raving like a lunatic when you heard CoH2 was coming out 😛
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:15
Indeed. I think my excitement level was the same when I heard about and saw footage of BF3… BF4 on the other hand… think about a crazy kid beside himself on xmas day x10
John Ambitious
June 24, 2013 at 14:56
It’s not often that great games stick to their original ingredients. They sometimes make such a complete mess of sequels that you actually wonder whether they played the first one…insert Grid 2 here….
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:13
I hear you. And that’s probably why the critics mostly say that it’s more of the same, yet giving it a good score. And what’s wrong with Grid 2? Started playing recently and I quite like it 🙂
John Ambitious
June 24, 2013 at 15:48
Did you ever play the first Grid? The new one is a good NFS, but a bad codemasters game.
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 18:24
Yes I have, and LOL 🙂
ElimiNathan
June 24, 2013 at 14:37
I pre-ordered and have been playing the Beta MP and watching Twitch streams of the game. It is similar to the 1st one with a couple of added extras. Still good fun am enjoying it
Lardus
June 24, 2013 at 14:37
So now they can start work on Dawn of War 3 hopefully?
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 14:46
That’s not a bad idea! DoW2 sucked. Loved DoW1 though 🙂
Lardus
June 24, 2013 at 15:58
Ja, the engine for DoW1 couldn’t handle the sheer numbers required to bring in the ‘Nids, so they went the way they did in DoW2. I liked it the single player a lot, but never tried the multiplayer. DoW3 rumours suggested the would combine the two, bringing massive battles (much bigger than 1) combined with some of the RPG/Squad persistent stuff from two. They REALLY need to get this done!
Brady miaau
June 24, 2013 at 16:23
indeed, but 2 lacked the fun factor of 1, for me anyway.
I hope they can do better
Trevor Davies
June 24, 2013 at 14:41
I find the round-up a bit jarring. Their summaries seem to say, “Meh, more of the same. It’s ok.” But their scores say it’s good.
Argentil
June 24, 2013 at 14:42
Welcome to games journalism where the reviews are made up and the points don’t matter.
Trevor Davies
June 24, 2013 at 14:47
I’d appreciate it more if they made up a song about the game in the style of a 1920’s big band 😉
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 24, 2013 at 14:50
Nah. Rather a hoedown. That would be great.
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:32
lol
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:32
lol
John Ambitious
June 24, 2013 at 14:53
I hope we’ll see as many mods on CoH 2 as there were for CoH 1 in the years to come…
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:02
I’ve had the pleasure of playing the CoH2 Beta, and as a HUGE fan of the first game I’m glad they kept the mechanics that made CoH what it was and still is, and added more to make it better. First off, the graphics. OMW! I’m not even running on max and it looks impressive! That aside, the sound quality really immerses you in the action and feel like you’re part of the experience, which is obviously a plus. And something that I love in great games, are the little things. Things that aren’t THAT important, but having them in and done so well, truly shines in my eyes as it shows the attention to detail, and all together it makes a great game.
Little things, like stuff the soldiers and units say from time to time. It’s hilarious yet fitting the scenario 🙂 Selecting a unit “Freezing Conscript here” or sending them somewhere “At least the walking will get us warm” and the occasional swear words when the bullets and tank shells are flying 😀 – Even bullets ricocheting off tanks, to the small dust clouds brought up from grenade shrapnel.
Noticing all the intricate things together with the crazy action that the game brings to the table, makes it a welcomed addition the the RTS genre and sequel to a beloved title 🙂
Sir Twakkus
June 24, 2013 at 15:33
It sound REALLY awesome but R600 randellas is waaaay to expensive. Will definitely get it, since I love the COH series, but only when it is on a steam sale.
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:44
Maybe, but I purchased the digital collector’s edition 😀
Sir Twakkus
June 24, 2013 at 16:00
Jou bliksem 🙂
Tbone187
June 24, 2013 at 15:02
Seems to be the case with most games these days…Polished graphics but not many actual gameplay advances at all..A bit disappointing really…
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:08
I think because of the billions of games made over the years, ppl have explored almost every possible gameplay mechanic. What’s left it to combine some, or add a few things in the mix. Like back in the day FPS was created, games with vehicles, and games where you could fly in planes. Then later a genius came and decided to throw many of them together and Battlefield was born. Since then it’s simply tweaking and adding what could work. CoH is one of the best RTS games I’ve playing, and I agree that much of CoH2 is quite the same, but those things make CoH what it is, and to make a sequal, it’s a matter of tweaking and adding stuff that would work.
Lupus
June 24, 2013 at 15:10
Difference is Starcraft II is made by Blizzard who cannot do wrong 🙁
Argentil
June 24, 2013 at 15:16
Blizzard can do lots of little wrongs over time, diminishing their good name.
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:20
Yup. Like launching an unfinished game (D3) – I’m enjoying it now more than when it launched.
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:18
Played SC2:WoL like a viking! Hit gold league for a bit, got bored, took a break, never played it again. Also haven’t even bought SC2:HoTS… hmm
Uberutang
June 24, 2013 at 15:42
Had to pick between this and Wargame ALB. I went with WGALB.
Kobus Nel
June 24, 2013 at 15:45
Got that too. Very cool. But WGALB is more of a simulator 😛 So if you’re not into a war sim, then the standard RTS would suit best 🙂
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July 26, 2013 at 08:25
This game is goebel’s crap.