I'm an avid gamer. And games that don't satisfy me get dropped right after completion.
So you can under-freaking-stand how powerful Company of Heroes must be to have been reinstalled on all 3 graphics cards I had on my PC since 2006. And ONLY now, in 08, do I have a graphics card to play it on MAXED out settings.
But my single core processor slows the whole thing down when playing with 4 or more Hard enemies. Because the A.I in this game is soooo gawdamn good.Mostly.
Here, lemme guide you through some of this games awesomeness.
You've got 3 forms of currency.
The map you play on is divided into control points.
If you've played Battlefield, you'll get it.
You have to order your guys to capture flags that give you bonuses for each type of currency.
Since each sector of the map is unique, you need to be able to plan defenses or assaults.
There's a catch. All sectors must connect to your HQ, otherwise you don't get the benefits.
The three forms of currency are:
Manpower
-Which is easy to get. A constant flow is generated at your HQ and with each captured sector. Most unit/building purchase will require manpower resource.
Munitions
-A little tough to come by. Capturing munition sectors will increase the amount you get per minute. This is used on the field. When you ask your squad to throw a grenade, it'll cost you munition resource. Even calling for artillery needs this.
Fuel
-Needed for construction, upgrades, but most importantly vehicles and tanks! You get it at a slow pace from your HQ, but capturing fuel sectors increases your fuel salary.
Command Points
Are earned by doing things that benefit you and your allies such as:
-killing enemy troops/vehicles/buildings
-capturing enemy sectors
-fortifying captured sectors to increase income
Each faction gets to choose 3 unique commanders.
For the allies:
Infantry Commander(focused on defence)
Paratroop Commander(focused on recon and sabotage)
Armored Commander(Tanks!)
The Germans have 3 doctrines to choose from
Defensive doctrine
Blitzkrieg doctrine
Terror doctrine
The Allies are more numerous, and their troops aren't specific in their abilities.
Thus, Allied soldiers can utilize German weaponry if need be, or adapt.
Allied troops get field promotions for killing Germans.
Germans have heavily armed and trained militia.
Their troops can order heavy weapons like bazookas.
German troops have to be promoted through excessive training upgrades.
Infantry
Never before have infantry been so accurately portrayed on an RTS than in Company of Heroes.
Instead of the usual standard behavior seen on most strategy games, each member of a squad will dive into foxholes, get behind cover, lie flat to avoid cover, reload after shooting out a clip and amazingly, MISS! That's right. Instead of having each bullet 100% hitting its mark, gunfire is random.
You can actually see bullet trails. If it hits a wall, then the enemy doesn't receive damage. When you pit basic lightly armed infantry against tanks, they'll start screaming at you. Saying they need an bazooka and things like that.
Here's a situation in COH:
You send out a group of riflemen. They encounter a Grenadier squad armed with a heavy machinegun(MG42) and a bazooka(Panzerschrek). Just order your squad to get behind cover, then chuck a grenade at them. Once the Germans are down, your guys can go ahead and PICK UP their heavy weapons!
But the real stars of Company of Heroes are the
VEHICLES
No other strategy game gives you THIS much variety and detail. Here are 6 German tanks, each with their own role, voice and statistics. The first is a Ostwind. Then a STUG4, STUH42, Panzer IV, Panther and finally a Tiger.
The main battle tank, which forms the bulk of the armored division is the Panzer IV. It's reasonably priced and can go toe to toe with a basic enemy tank.
The Ostwind is an anti Infantry/anti Aircraft gun mounted on the chassis of the Panzer IV.
The STUG4 is a anti tank platform on wheels, and the STUH42 is a anti infantry cannon on the same chassis.
The Panther is the heaviest tank available for purchase. It can take down any Allied tank one on one. Sometimes one on 2.
Finally the Tiger. Only available through Command Points.
The Allies get
Wolverine Tank Destroyer, which is a lightly armored topless tank that is really fast and packs a punch. But it doens't have mounted machine guns and gets crippled easily.
M4 Sherman, which is quite weak when first bought, but can be upgraded with a better cannon, a turret gunner, and smoke screen launcher.
M4 Sherman Crocodile, which is a variant of the standard M4. Just that it has a flame thrower instead of a gun.
M4 Sherman Caliope, yet another variant of the M4, also without a gun. Instead it is a moving rocket artillery launch pad.
M26 Pershing heavy tank, the Allied heavy armored beast, capable of taking a Panther tank one on one.
Tanks may seem unstoppable against vehicles and infantry, but there are many many ways to bring a tank down.
-mines can destroy a tanks engine, making it stationary and easily destroyed
-bazookas can seriously hurt the tank
-Tank destroyers and heavy tanks ussually triumph over standard tanks
-AT guns, the bane of tanks on both sides. Slow but packs a punch against armor.
All these can easily bring a mighty tank to its knees. Hitting a tank in the rear will increase the damage done. Hitting it while it's aiming at you increases the possibility of destroying the main weapon, leaving it no choice but to retreat for repairs.
Buildings
In company of heroes, buildings take realistic damage.
Like in this picture
My tanks have shot it at different angles, wherever the shell hits, that's where the damage will be done. Keep shooting the corners and the whole thing will collapse. If there is an infantry unit huddled up inside, shooting the windows will wipe them out.
The extensive detail put into every tank is amazing.
After an artillary barrage, pieces of leftover can be found.
Play this game.
Also. Far Cry2 is cool. See this convoy of trucks. My client wants me to destroy it. Planted some IEDs(improvised explosive devices), like a detonator strapped to a mine/rocket/tnt.
AND....
Kaboom!
Oh and Julz. Remember we're gonna do a one on one for Company of Heroes.
After SPM.
My Panthers will be waiting.
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