company of heroes

[econ21]

This is sounding tempting. But does it still feel basically like a Command and Conquer type game? I played Dawn of War and really admired the craft and love that had gone into the game. Yet, I still felt I was playing Command and Conquer. Do people feel like that with this game? Or does it manage to make you feel you are playing a wargame? Or at least using something approximating to realistic tactics?

Also, what are the single player game modes like? Dawn of War had a rather short and linear string of missions (the second expansion sounds more promising with something resembling a Total War style open campaign). I like a long campaign with the hook of unit experience and resources carrying over from mission to mission (Panzer General exemplified this); ideally I like some strategic freedom (Total War style). RTSs typically don't provide much of either.

[Crandaeolon]

But does it still feel basically like a Command and Conquer type game? I played Dawn of War and really admired the craft and love that had gone into the game. Yet, I still felt I was playing Command and Conquer.

It feels between a conventional RTS and a wargame. It has typical RTS conventions like constructing units and buildings in minutes from accumulated resources. Weapon ranges are compressed. Units have (sometimes cheesy) "special abilities."

Wargamey elements include cover, suppression, a somewhat realistic armour thickness and hit angle modeling for vehicles. Small arms can't do any damage at all to buildings or armoured vehicles, unlike most other RTS games. Even though weapon ranges are relatively short, the game has effective artillery and fire support units that interact with the battle in a believable manner.

Also, what are the single player game modes like?

Coh has a short and linear, but well-crafted campaign. There's also a Skirmish mode against AI opponents, but that's about it for the SP. The SP features in CoH are comparable to the original Dawn of War.

[econ21]

Thanks for the information - I just read the gamespot review and it comes out well (9.0 IIRC). I've ordered it - maybe it will serve the same function as DoW did - bide me over before CAs big release. I daresay it will get expansions that make it more interesting (for some reason, I always like German WW2 campaigns better than allied ones - I probably don't want to stray into the psychology of that).

The fact that Amazon's CoH comes bundled with DoW was the clincher for me - a second copy will enable my son and I to try DoW multiplayer. I found the skirmish mode in the DoW demo more tactically interesting than the campaign scenarios. I'm also rather interested in the sound of the second DoW expansion campaign. But I never got much into the original DoW game as RTW came out only a week after DoWs release and shortly thereafter blew up my computer[1].

[1]At the time it was rather like having an old man having a heart attack on his marriage night.

[Divine Wind]

The fact that Amazon's CoH comes bundled with DoW was the clincher for me - a second copy will enable my son and I to try DoW multiplayer. I found the skirmish mode in the DoW demo more tactically interesting than the campaign scenarios. I'm also rather interested in the sound of the second DoW expansion campaign. But I never got much into the original DoW game as RTW came out only a week after DoWs release and shortly thereafter blew up my computer[1].

Is this a Amazon.co.uk special offer? Would you be so kind as to provide a link? This has me tempted too!

[econ21]

Is this a Amazon.co.uk special offer? Would you be so kind as to provide a link? This has me tempted too!

Yes, it is an Amazon.co.uk special offer.

I don't really want to provide a direct link as I am afraid it may assume you are me, if you see what I mean (Amazon always asks me if I am me when I go on their website).

But just find "Company of Heroes" in amazon.co.uk and you will see it says "(Incl. Dawn of War Game of the Year Edition)" after the title.

[Divine Wind]

Thanks, i ordered it today, so hopefully it will arrive by the end of the week.

Something to keep me entertained until MTW2 hits the shelves. :)

[doc_bean]

Has anyone gotten the European edition yet ? I still can't seem to find it in stores I want to know whether it also contains DoW:GoTY or if that's just an Amazon exclusive deal.

[lars573]

This is sounding tempting. But does it still feel basically like a Command and Conquer type game? I played Dawn of War and really admired the craft and love that had gone into the game. Yet, I still felt I was playing Command and Conquer. Do people feel like that with this game? Or does it manage to make you feel you are playing a wargame? Or at least using something approximating to realistic tactics?

If you absolutely can't stand CnC style RTS games don't play it. If you can aslong as the gameplay is good then paly it. I'd describe CoH as an evolutionary step from DoW. It has many of the elements Relic put into DoW taken to the next logical level. Light cover is provided by thing that you would expect it to be. Like shell craters, wooden fence, shurbery/hedges. Heavy covers is provided by what you'd expect it too be. Stone walls, sand bag lines, deep shell craters. The maps are also much more dynamic. If you come across and enemy hard point in an other wise open flat feild you can give your infantry cover by calling in some artillery to that area to create craters for your grunts to hide in. Also the unit recruitment system work on a theoritical supply chain. Example US Paratroopers are called in from a drop plane. Rangers come in from the reserves, in CoH parlance that means off map. Tigers (and Tiger aces) are the same, called in from the reserves. Sherman calliopes as well.

Also, what are the single player game modes like? Dawn of War had a rather short and linear string of missions (the second expansion sounds more promising with something resembling a Total War style open campaign). I like a long campaign with the hook of unit experience and resources carrying over from mission to mission (Panzer General exemplified this); ideally I like some strategic freedom (Total War style). RTSs typically don't provide much of either.

Well the senarios are only linked by the allied units that are fighting. You can also re-deploy experienced units from previous missions. I'm still using the same sniper I got in the first D-day mission.

Also I wouldn't let the kid try this one. Where as DoW was rated mature for squirting blood sometimes. CoH is rated mature for the swearing, not the blood.
When ordering a US infatry squad to move. "Jesus Conrad tie your ******* laces"
Engineers finishing a sand bag wall. "Jobs done. If I see one more ******* bag of dirt."
German armour under attack. "Panzer in zee ****!"
Re enforcing Grenediers. "Hey new guy, don't ****-up!"