Phalanx

[Perturabo]

The lower order Phalanx are certainly not unbreakable from the front. It is however, very difficult. Really only Kataphractoi, FM bodyguard (generally Leader/Heir) and certain heavy infantry with high experience ratings can do it. Oddly enough, also the early KH short-pikemen (sorry, didn't have time to look in game for correct name) are one of the more effective units at doing this, particularly for the AI in towns. They form up into a narrow block and simply push through the pike formation quite easily.

Bar the last example in my opinion its really the way it should be. The phalanx are not invincible, but don't expect militia or light cavalry to do it from the front. That should be suicide to low level units and cost too much for even the elite units to try unless at last resort.

The phalanx in vanilla MTW2 on the other hand, are pathetic, unless micromanaged in which case they reach the 'unsatisfactory' rating

edit: Gateways into towns etc are a special case. with the amount of troops attempting to push through at the same time it is akin to a stampede at a football match. Don't expect any troops to handle that too well to be honest.