REVIEW – Company of Heroes returns with a third installment to the world of Real-Time Strategy gaming, which has become scarce in recent years. Rain of artillery shells, situationally adapted tactics, and large-scale decision making in campaigns where every resource counts, welcome a new modern vision of World War II with Company of Heroes 3.

Developed by Relic Entertainment, the same folks behind prestigious series such as HomeWorld or Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War, Company of Heroes is a successful RTS series that first appeared in 2006 on PC. The first game was acclaimed by critics and followed by two stand-alone expansions. The 2006 game takes place respectively during D-Day and Operation Market Garden and features the American and British forces fighting against the Wehrmacht and the Panzer Elite.

Company of Heroes 2, released in 2013, went to the other side of Europe with a Soviet campaign that required us to crush the Wehrmacht from the siege of Stalingrad to the capture of Berlin, and then return to the Ardennes forest with the Ardennes Assault DLC in 2014, which features the American troops and the OberKommando West of the DLC released earlier that year. Finally, a last DLC released in 2015 added the troops of the British Empire, bringing the total number of factions that can face each other in the game to five.

While Company of Heroes laid the solid foundations of the franchise as it presents itself today, Company of Heroes 2 sublimated it with the “True Sight” system – reproducing the real field of vision of our units – a dynamic campaign system with Ardennes Assault, and an ultra-competitive and dynamic multiplayer.

Although both games are still played by fans, many were asking for a new installment in the franchise. So here comes Company of Heroes 3, with a focus on scripted campaigns offering choices and management, or even the emphasis on active pause for the less dynamic players among us. So hop into that Jeep and put on a helmet, because this time we’re going to Italy!

Stick to What Works

If you’ve played a Company of Heroes game before, don’t worry, you won’t be taken aback. You’ll find the classic campaign modes, multiplayer modes in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, with control of position or annihilation in players versus players or against AI on different maps (others will come out with updates and DLC, or directly from the community via the Steam Workshop).

Speaking of maps, they are still composed of multiple Strategic Points that must be captured to obtain ammunition and fuel. These must be connected to your base and will allow you to use your command perks or command more powerful units. You still build your base, deploy troops, and send them all to their deaths!

There are no changes to the cover system. The cursor changes color depending on the quality of the protection, making your units more or less resistant to enemy fire depending on whether they are behind a stone wall or like fruit in the middle of a boulevard. Troops can still be retreated in an emergency via the dedicated button or shortcut to the nearest medical post to be treated and reinforced, thus keeping their equipment and veteran level and all the advantages they confer.

The “True Sight” system is still in play, which allows for a more advanced strategic dimension. Units have a field of vision impacted by the environment, rather than having a cone that removes the fog of war around them, they only see what is in their direct field of vision. That means if your Panzergrenadiers face a four-story building or a two-meter-high wall, they won’t see the mortar position hiding behind it.

What’s new under the Mediterranean sun?

All of the above was already known. But in terms of gameplay, there are several nice additions, such as the fact that units automatically pass over walls and barriers, eliminating the need to give the order via a mouse click as was the case in Company of Heroes 2. Another improvement to note is that buildings are no longer constructed by engineers or pioneers but are directly integrated into your HQ, so no more construction units hanging around in the base needlessly consuming Pop-Cap. They now only serve to reinforce strategic points, set up defenses, and other traps in the field.

In addition, the developers have had the great idea of ​​making it possible to retreat our beloved units directly from a building. No need to manually get them out and suffer the fact that they decide to expose themselves to enemy fire by going out through the front door due to lack of micro-management. This may seem insignificant, but now it’s a small feature that I sorely miss in other Company of Heroes games. Similarly, it is now possible to move a unit out of a building without clicking on the dedicated button, but directly to its new position.

Some American troops also have a “Breaching” ability that allows them to clear a building of enemy troops garrisoned inside and take it over, which is rather nice to reward taking a flank of an MG42 hidden in a building.

The addition of the tactical pause in solo play offers an additional strategic dimension. Indeed, this pause allows for better planning of attacks and the effective use of different types of units to carry out coordinated flanking maneuvers, which could be a bit more complex in real-time. And not just for that, either. The tactical pause is a huge selling point for players intimidated by normal real-time strategy management but still drawn to the game. Of course, you won’t be able to enjoy it in multiplayer, but if you want to play quietly on your own, Company of Heroes 3 is now the most accessible game of its kind, without losing its essence.

Explosive Destruction and Two Campaigns: What to Expect from Company of Heroes 3

Relic Entertainment has outdone themselves with the destruction of the environment in Company of Heroes 3. While the previous games already allowed players to turn a rural village and its surroundings into a lunar landscape, this latest installment takes it to the next level. Each mortar, machine gun, bomb, or shell leaves a mark on the landscape, creating craters, holes in buildings, and even tiny traces from machine gun fire. However, buildings can be deceptive, as they offer soldiers a false sense of safety until they become the target of a rocket strike or bombing. Explosions are so powerful that everything within the blast radius is vaporized, leaving behind a fine mist of blood on the ground. The chaos and debris left behind affects gameplay, as smoke can block visibility and taking cover becomes increasingly difficult.

Vehicle damage has also been upgraded in Company of Heroes 3, with scars remaining visible even after repairs. The difference between a brand-new tank and one that has been in the field since the beginning of the mission is stark.

This latest game includes two campaigns, the first taking place in North Africa and putting players in command of Rommel’s Afrika Korps. The ten scripted missions take about 4 to 5 hours to complete, similar to driving from Benghazi to Tobruk. The second campaign, which is more interesting, is the liberation of Italy. Players control Allied troops in a dynamic, free-form campaign across a large Total War-style map. The game’s primary mode is turn-based, as players capture coastal towns, airfields, and other locations to establish their front line and supply routes. Historical missions, such as the Salerno landing or the capture of Monte Cassino, provide context, while secondary missions make the primary objectives more manageable.

Coastal towns and airfields allow players to recruit ground troops and request naval or air support on both the strategic map and during real-time missions. Airfields can be used to send reconnaissance planes, bomb Italian towns, parachute troops behind enemy lines, and heal and recharge the action points of soldiers.

How you respond to each faction’s expectations (British, American, Italian) will influence your affinity and access to different units. You’ll also be able to alter history somewhat with your actions. However, the narrative remains incidental; you’ll replay the campaign primarily to master the gameplay rather than experience a different adventure.

War Among Humans

The multiplayer mode in Company of Heroes 3 allows players to battle it out in 1v1 matches or up to 4v4. Unfortunately, there’s no co-op campaign, but players can face off against AI opponents in skirmish mode with their friends to hone their skills.

The classic game modes of the series are all present, including Annihilation, where the objective is to destroy the enemy’s base, and Victory Point, where control of specific areas on the map is critical in lowering the opponent’s points.

Players can choose any faction they like to face off against one another, meaning that it’s not just Allies vs Axis. You can pit your British army against your friend’s Wehrmacht or even have a fraternal American vs American showdown. All four factions appear to be well-balanced, with each having their unique doctrine that players can explore (I personally enjoy playing as the US Paratroopers!).

While the graphics engine does an exceptional job of immersing players in the World War II era, the gameplay doesn’t take many risks. The refinements are adequate enough to please veteran players, while new players can easily enter the genre, even on consoles. Still, there’s no reinvention here, and even the Italian campaign forces feel familiar to the genre.

Final Thoughts

Company of Heroes 3 is an excellent strategy game that’s sure to please both solo and multiplayer players, whether they’re competitive or not. While the North African campaign may be conventional, the Italian campaign offers excellent replayability and longevity, even though the factions aren’t a significant factor. The multiplayer mode is already well-balanced and promises frenzied battles against both AI and human opponents. Relic is expected to be on hand to address any issues that may arise, and the modding community is sure to keep the game fresh and exciting.

-BadSector-

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Relic Entertainment

Style: Real-time strategy

Release: February 23, 2023.