Company of Heroes was one of the most impressive releases for a new franchise within the strategy genre. Having launched the Homeworld series, such a start was nothing new for Relic. But for those of us who were growing weary of the state of real-time strategy games, CoH was a breath of fresh air that reenergized the genre. Continuing the battle onward is the new expansion, Opposing Fronts, giving gamers access to German and British forces in the Operation Market Garden and the battle for Caen campaigns. Similar to the original, it’s a fantastic game, though this outing is marred by privacy protection woes that nearly sent this reviewer screaming.
I was really digging what Relic and THQ had going up until this point. Company of Heroes, the Dawn of War titles, I had a blast with all of them. I was even enjoying the ability to play the games without the disc in the driver. Finally, companies are realizing that not everyone is a pirate … oh … wait. When installing Opposing Fronts, a message comes up saying that the original Company of Heroes has been detected and needs to be deleted, but that I can enter in the CD key later. Okay. So, I uninstall the original, and then I proceed to go through what has to be the longest base installation I have ever had to go through. Around an hour or so later – seriously, the thing just keeps installing and installing – I am greeted to a panel that features boxes for some information. Oh, a Relic Online account. What’s this? I don’t need the disc in the drive if I sign up for it? I can keep track of my stats and hop into online games whenever I want? Sounds cool, but maybe later. No, there is no later. To even access the single-player campaign, you have to create a Relic Online account. The only other option is to turn off your Ethernet port whenever you play, which isn’t all that viable for most people, myself included. Thinking that I can just pop the disc in and avoid all this, I try ejecting it and trying that. Nope. Then I sit through another hour plus of patch installs.
Once all of the patches are finished download and installing – an overly long process that involves being booted back to the desktop and manually going back into the game – I realize that I have to go through this, otherwise the game won’t continue. A later patch tells me that I need it to play online, but the truth is that I need it to play, period. Problem: that patch doesn’t work right, resulting in a message telling me the patch is downloaded and needs to install, only to have me booted out and nothing happen. And this is what happens when ridiculous piracy measures are implemented. Oh, but that’s not all. I then got to track down my original Company of Heroes CD key, enter it, then insert the disc to have the media validated, and then tell them where I purchased it. What the hell? Like Dawn of War, having the original opens up the other sides for online play, and it also makes the original campaign selectable from the main menu. Quite the workout, no?
So, after three or so hours of installing, downloading, restarting, and downloading some more, I am finally ready to play the game. Now, why did I spend so long talking about the installation program? I did it because it is absolutely ludicrous, and I do not need to feel like a pirate because I want to play a game.
The game itself is great. The ‘wow’ factor has worn off a bit, as it’s not quite the revelation that its predecessor was, but it’s still an amazing experience. Aside from improved AI, there is also dynamic weather, which not only looks incredible but it also makes spotting troop movement more difficult – the kind of small touches that set the original apart and ahead of its competition. The basics are still there – troops still seek cover behind objects, units have upgrades and special abilities, there are still resource points that need to be controlled, and everything as theatric as you remember. If you are new to the series, as this is a standalone expansion, then you might want to pick up the original, as there is little in the way of training for newcomers.
The new factions have their own unique styles as well. The German Panzer Elite are very mobile, with a variety of upgradeable halftracks that can bombard with artillery, replenish squads, and provide covering fire. There are also heavy tanks, and mobile heavy artillery. The squads can be upgraded for heavy infantry and anti armor combat, which are lethal combinations when pilled into a few halftracks and escorted by a handful of tanks. Their approach is to storm an area, hit it hard, and then shell the outlying remnants; and then to shell whatever counterattack is approaching. The variety of mobile units is impressive, and the infantry can take a pounding. There are also special units that can appear from houses for heavy close combat, or special forces that can erect anti aircraft fire for taking out incoming armor. The tactic of rushing in, tussling hard, then moving on is exciting, as it all depends on keeping up the momentum and not letting any unit go to waste.
On the other side of the coin is the British Army 2nd Army. Instead of rushing in, the British pound an area to dust before going in. Their armor and units aren’t as hardy as the Germans, but they can still pack a punch. There are also lieutenants that can spur squads on with their leadership skills. Instead of having a few antitank or ant air guns, their engineers can construct massive artillery emplacements that can devastate areas. For maximum destruction, areas can be bombed in succession, slowly moving into a designated direction, sending body parts and vehicle pieces flying. While areas are being blasted, special squads can go ahead and snipe entrenched enemies while their mobile base uproots and scoots across the map. The contrast between the how each faction advances really plays well and brings a lot of life to multiplayer.
The two campaigns are actually fairly lengthy, each with the usual victory-through-attrition missions that are so satisfying to complete. There is something about the way levels play out in Company of Heroes that makes them so exciting, with the territories going back and forth between sides, small engagements being for high stakes, there’s just this great sense of immediacy that permeates throughout. Any flag can erupt in a huge conflict that destroys all of your available troops, or a delay tactic can result in some squads rushing around the conflict and draining the enemy of vital supplies. The constant need to keep track of who is getting what resource and where each is located keeps the pace, even if things aren’t happening; and the off-screen support, made available through experience points, keeps everyone on their toes as that extra support tank or elite squad can turn the tide. The fact that there isn’t a single wasted unit is so impressive; the unit upgrades and limited population cap make every vehicle and squad important, and their abilities can make even the wounded a hero. For those experiencing this for the first time, you are in for a treat; for those who have enjoyed the original, it won’t quite be the same as the first time, though a few more additions would’ve helped, but it’s still a thrill.
Multiplayer is also integrated heavily, now. The game automatically starts out at the Relic Online login screen, and the main menu has a top bar that has a button that jumps straight to automatch online play and buttons to a friends list and stats as well. The main multiplayer screen not only shows the games available, but also has news, game history, medals, and chat rooms. It’s definitely set up nicely, and the service is robust, I just wish it wasn’t mandatory and a requirement for solo play.
Overall: 8/10
Company of Heroes: Opposing Forces is a great expansion. Those who don’t own the original might want to invest in it, not only to learn the ropes, but to also unlock the U.S. in multiplayer. Since the disc isn’t needed for the original campaign once the CD key and media validation process is finished, I suppose that means the original is installed with the expansion, so you might as well play what’s already there - plus the fact that it’s a great game, well worth your time. Installation and Relic Online aggravations aside (and with a deep breath), Opposing Forces offers a great campaign, albeit a little light on the new units, and should please any real-time strategy fan.
