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Company of Heroes

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9.0 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 55 critic reviews
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Based on 321 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Relic

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy, Action

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: September 11, 2006

Summary

A real-time strategy game set in World War II, Company of Heroes brings to life, in full cinematic detail, the greatest war mankind has ever known. Company of Heroes is built on Relic's next-generation Essence Engine and also utilizes the Havok Physics engine, delivering cinematic visual detail in a world completely driven by realistic physics. Gamers will experience the journey of the brave men of Able Company in a deep single-player campaign that begins with the invasion of Normandy through their fight across Europe, all set against the most dynamic battlefield ever seen in a game. Company of Heroes' completely destructable environment means no two battles ever play out in the same way. Advanced squad AI delivers startling new realism and responsiveness, bringing soldiers to life as they interact with the environment and execute advanced squad tactics to eliminate the opposition forces. [THQ]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Yahoo! Games

In Company of Heroes, destruction is a component of the game in a way that we haven't seen since "X-Com" let us root out sectoids by bringing down entire farmhouses.

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100

1UP

Company of Heroes seizes the bloated WWII genre by its tail and wags until years of excess bunkum sloughs off -- what's left is lean, mean, and a triumph for company-level tactics. The more you dig in, the more it gives back, and the less you care that it's another bout of Allied vs. Axis action.

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100

GameSpy

It's a brilliant combination of incredibly deep real-time strategy, beautiful presentation and innovative features that make it one of the best gaming experiences of 2006 to date.

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100

Games Radar (in-house)

You've never seen a strategy game with combat as intense as Company of Heroes.

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100

Eurogamer

It's beautiful, though that's entirely the wrong word. This is a war game, so the word should be "visceral" or something. Models are hugely detailed for an RTS, physics implemented impressively and so on. But relevantly, it's a functional sort of beauty (or - er - viscerality).

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100

Computer Games Magazine

This is where we've been waiting Relic to take us, and with Company of Heroes, the company has confirmed what many folks suspected after "Dawn of War". This is a developer whose name belongs alongside Blizzard, Ensemble, and EALA(nee Westwood)when it comes to real-time strategy games. [Nov. 2006, p.71]

100

Times Online

It’s a gritty Second World War caper that loads the gaming experience to the hilt, leaving players battered, bruised and thoroughly stirred.

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100

Armchair Empire

An evolutionary leap not just in RTS, but for video games in general.

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100

Sydney Morning Herald

One of the best strategy games yet: intense, atmospheric and tactically deep.

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100

GameShark

Don't pass on this one; it's the definition of the phrase instant classic.

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100

G4 TV

It takes the WWII setting and applies it to the kinds of game-related stuff we want to see and do. It’s a game about superior use of tactics and terrain, not overwhelming firepower. In short, it’s an excellent strategy game.

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Game Chronicles

Building upon the impressive Warhammer engine and tweaking it for historic warfare, Company of Heroes is easily the best strategy game of 2006 and sets the bar extremely high for future RTS titles.

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Gaming Target

Few games can revolutionize an entire genre of gaming, but ‘Company of Heroes’ is one of them. From the high-quality next-gen graphics to the unique style of RTS gameplay, Company of Heroes should be hailed as the definitive RTS game.

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Gaming Illustrated

One of the best RTS games in PC gaming history - no doubt about it.

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PC Gamer

Company of Heroes should be on the must-play list of every RTS fanatic out there, even those tired of WWII settings. It's just that good. [Oct. 2006, p.70]

GamingExcellence

Easily one of the best real-time strategy games on the market to date. With a heavy emphasis on tactics, cover, and unit management, playing means thinking strategically and not just sending in units to perish.

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Cheat Code Central

Company of Heroes is an amazingly fun RTS game that doesn’t sacrifice depth for entertainment. It’s fast-paced, rivaling some action adventure games.

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Gamers' Temple

World War II finally gets the epic strategy game it deserves.

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GamePro

Put simply, Company of Heroes is a masterpiece. Its dedication to realistic battle concepts and tactical warfare is enough to make it a high watermark for the RTS genre but its excellent graphics and physics, along with an intensely enjoyable single-player campaign and multiplayer options, help make this an instant classic.

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Worth Playing

Company of Heroes is without doubt a fun and addictive game. In many ways, it has done for real-time strategy what the "Battlefield" franchise did for first-person shooters.

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PALGN

Simply a remarkable game that hasn’t been witnessed for years. The amount of detail and care that was put into this game shows, resulting in one of the most fascinating experiences for any platform.

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IC-Games

The learning curve in this title may put some people off, certainly later in the missions, but there is enough to make the game enjoyable to green strategists while the veterans will find these same late missions give them something to think about.

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Computer Games Online RO

You only need to take one look at the producer recommended specs (3Ghz CPU, 1GB RAM and a 6800 series graphics card or better with at least 256 Ram) to get chills down your spine.

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PC Gamer UK

This is the finest WWII strategy game I've played. Hell, I'm having real trouble thinking of any strategy game that's this spectacular, this intense, this fun. [Oct 2006, p.70]

IGN

The transformation from a idyllic little town into a heap of crushed buildings and burned out husks of vehicles can be shocking. Seeing and hearing major explosions that cause bodies (and bits of bodies) to fly across the screen along with rubble from a nearby building simply puts you more into the battle than any RTS in memory.

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GameTrailers

The sound design is spectacular and really pulls you into the battle, from the first gunshot being fired in the distance to the barrage of armored forces rolling over a war torn city.

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AtomicGamer

There's just the right amount of micromanagement to start without feeling like you're "fixing" bad AI by controlling every single movement.

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Gaming Nexus

Simply an awesome game that really takes the WWII RTS to a new standard. Just make sure you have a nice machine to run the game.

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PC Zone UK

There have been lots of World War II RTS games, but this is the one that finally gives the subject matter its due - it's nothing short of brilliant. [Nov 2006, p.78]

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ActionTrip

I may not be the biggest fan of WWII strategy games, but this one just goes way beyond anyone's affinities towards a certain historical period.

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Gamezilla!

This game can be a complete frustration, requiring careful, specific, and tactical gameplay. However, it is more than worth the effort to learn. If you are willing to slug through that, you’ll find an excellent title that will likely end up being one of the year’s best.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

The new flag-bearer of a genre. Superbly paced with a supreme balance of thoughtful strategy and frantic firefights, the game stands up to repeated play even if you never touch the multiplayer or skirmish modes.

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GameZone

Company of Heroes couldn’t be any safer of a purchase than investing all of your money into your child’s bank account for college. Wait, take out $50 to buy this game and then invest the rest.

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Play.tm

Company of Heroes is superb; a perfect blend of intelligent strategy and powerful visceral action, delivering such a natural World War II experience you'll be left wondering if you're even allowed to enjoy it as much as you do.

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Games Master UK

A new high-water mark in strategy gaming, for both veterans and newcomes alike. [Nov 2006, p.71]

PC Format

At once familiar and surprising. A monster slice of historical strategy fun. [Nov 2006, p.100]

Strategy Informer

This human quality and depth of gameplay is what sets CoH apart from RTS games where your units are all expendable. In CoH nothing is expendable.

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Next Level Gaming

With all the World War II games out there, it is hard to stand apart from the crowd and make a game that people will notice, play and talk to their friends about. Company of Heroes is one of those rare treasures.

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Gamer 2.0

To put it in the simplest terms, this is an example of real-time strategy done right. It’s a blast to play, and a game whose merits any gamer or WWII buff can appreciate.

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GamerNode

The gameplay is widely addictive and chaotic in Company of Heroes, and that's something you don't see very often in RTS titles these days. Relic continues to redefine themselves as a top RTS developer, and with two solid franchises under their belt, they're up there with Blizzard as the masters of the genre.

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Pelit (Finland)

Company of Heroes has one downside: no German campaign. We have seen Allied heroes far, far too many times. [Oct 2006, p.72]

GameDaily

Company of Heroes should be described as a work of RTS art.

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Edge Magazine

It may produce an experience which is as gruelling as it is compelling, but that’s a badge of honour the game wears with pride. [Nov 2006, p.86]

GamingTrend

While I'm certain that battlefield commanders from that era didn't have such instant information and control over the units under their command, the game does a wonderful job of limiting you to a WWII level of information. Combine that with the well thought out interface, and you have a winner!

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GameSpot

Technically remarkable and features some novel twists that make it unique among real-time strategy games. Yet while it's easy to get into, it's not just difficult to master but also rather difficult to manage, partly because the game does such a good job of evoking the sheer chaos of frontline WWII battles.

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Game Informer

Anyone who owns a gaming PC will be well served by this outstanding effort. [Oct. 2006, p.108]

2404.org

Company of Heroes delivers on its promise of excellence. But it’s not without its downsides that I hope to make you aware of before you buy this game.

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Game Almighty

Company of Heroes has revitalized the concept of what an RTS can be, positioning it as a contender for game of the year. Strategy gamers rejoice!

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VideoGamer

Company of Heroes reinvigorates the sub-genre of the World War II real-time strategy game, and its confidence in its own excellence is aptly demonstrated in the very first few minutes of play.

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netjak

The somewhat short single-player campaign does have a few missions that aren't quite as good as the others, but the others are undeniably great, and certainly stand out among all the RTS games I have played.

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AceGamez

For once, Company of Heroes feels less like a game attempting to sell itself on a popular theme that seems guaranteed to make a buck, and more like a great game that just happens to use a tried and tested point of history for its setting.

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Game Over Online

A good game, but not a great game. It’s not the second coming; depending on your personal spin it’s probably not the best RTS ever; it’s not the game that is going to re-energize the RTS genre. I keep coming back in my mind to the phrase “evolutionary not revolutionary” no matter how overused and hackneyed it sounds.

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Game Revolution

While it sports some classic RTS flaws, the speedy gameplay and dynamic strategy really push things forward. With Company of Heroes, Relic shows us once again that war is hell, but it makes for gaming heaven.

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games(TM)

It’s testament to Relic’s experience, expertise and endeavours that it has managed to make Company Of Heroes so distinctive from any other wartime RTS. [Nov 2006, p.100]

WHAM! Gaming

Not surprisingly, some liberties were taken to reconcile logistics with gameplay. Call in the airborne and your paratroopers arrive immediately, with no need to plan the air drop in advance. But that is where the suspension of disbelief ends.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 321 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

joe gave it a7:
The tanks, Jesus Christ they can be retards, instead of retreating lets do a full u turn, expose our rear armor and die. Infantry, Why do you insist on jumping out from behind the sandbags and getting blown to hell? Game has balance issues, once the enemy controls more than 2/3 the map you may as well quit as they will have more units than you have bullets. But some parts do redeem this game.

Diexe N. gave it a7:
While i did enjoy the whole squad based combat and the fully discructable environments i never really liked the stratiegic point capturing objective. It gets frustrating during a single or multiplayer game because while im capturing one of the enemys points he is usually captuering one of mine and i just hate that. But overall it was a pretty good game and the campaign was good so i will give it a 7.

L M gave it a7:
There's a lot to like in CoH and the game has a huge following. I'll come right out with it though.. This game is for kids. If two tanks circling each other and firing at point-blank is your idea of a 10/10 game, so be it. Also if you buy this game it will take you about 4 hours at least to download and install all the patches. Just figuring out which patches you need to get is a challenge. What CoH succeeds at is delivering the experience with a simple/solid user interface. However the gameplay in CoH isn't very hardcore. Another RTS I find more detailed and rewarding to play: Men of War. It isn't nearly so arcade-ish as CoH and has a far better ballistics model. Well, CoH doesn't really have much of a ballistics model. When you tire of CoH, get Men of War.

Al R. gave it a9:
An excellent revision of the squad-based RTS genre, and a fitting blend of realism and gameplay conceits to maximize fun. The ability to use and upgrade civilian buildings into forward bases and make use of cover is brilliant. The power to call on allied forces from off-map is true-to-life and genre appropriate. The sheer flexibility of the infantryman as the backbone of the Army is in full display, a welcome change from the crippling overspecialization rampant in many titles. The use of a territory control model for resourcing is excellent, as it ties economic and defensive strategy together as a package. I do have to say that buying it on Steam is a good way around the torrent of patches and updates at install, but it does mean waiting for the full download to play.

Jacob gave it a10:
I have played this game since it first came out. I came across it by luck. Now with all of the expansions out, this game appeals to single and multi player enthusiasts. The AI in the troops is a great aspect, the dimensions you have to cover in this game mean that you cannot get a super weapon and win. You have to play to win each time. For first time strategist it is a fun play and for veteran gamers it is the complete conjunction of action strategy and fun.

Dick A gave it a10:
CoH pretty much set the standard for RTS games post 2006. At its conception, its mix of intuitive and deep unit cover, intelligent unit AI, a great interface and outstanding graphics blew away previous entries into the genre. CoH was as a big step forward for the genre as Command and Conquer or Dune. It was the perfect mix of gameplay, history and balance. With patches, the game's AI is now absolutely outstanding, and still features a strong online community. Plenty of variety in maps, built in mission editor, the game simply features everything you could want in an RTS, complete with the expected attention to quality relic can provide.

David P gave it a5:
The graphics and gameplay in this game are terrific, apart from some small problems with AI that others have mentioned. But I take issue with the oppressive front-end, which has to be the worst on the market. Even if you only want to play single-player, you are forced to create an online account and log in. Even worse, the first time you run the game you have to download and install large patches. You have no choice. It works like this: you start the game, wait for it to load, and are told you must install a 75 MB patch. The game exits, the patch downloader starts, and it downloads the patch (patches ranges in size from about 10 to over 100 MB). The patch to installs. You must repeat this process seven times before you are allowed to play!

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Company of Heroes

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