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The Company of Heroes 2 base game gives you access to two multiplayer armies from the Eastern Front: the Red Army (SOV) and the Wehrmacht Ostheer (GER). From the TrueSight system that emulates the units’ line of sight to the cover-system that encourages clever unit placement – not to mention the combined arms approach and the hard and soft counters gameplay that will make you think twice before trying to destroy a tank with a simple squad of riflemen – each game presents players with an uninterrupted stream of meaningful tactical choices that can turn the tide of war. Though it’s pitched as a standalone expansion pack, and one that retains the Company of Heroes 2 branding, Ardennes Assault is full of new ideas that means it can quite happily stand on its own two feet.Powered by the Essence Engine 3.0, the Company of Heroes 2 series feature some unique mechanics rewarding thoughtful players.
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The meta-map and the elements of persistence between missions make every decision you make count to a much greater degree, whether picking which mission to tackle next to knowing when to break off an assault and retreat. Meanwhile, Ardennes Assault mixed things up by putting the overarching counteroffensive from the Battle of the Bulge in your hands, letting you choose where to defend and where to assault. Throughout the story, Isakovich and Colonel Churkin argue the morality and realities of how they feel the war should have been fought, and this is a balance echoed by the two very different armies which face one another. I wrote in our review:Ĭompany of Heroes 2 breathes a new life into the World War 2 setting, as the more desperate and brutal conflict on the Eastern Front is depicted with a particular feeling of authenticity. I rather enjoyed Company of Heroes 2 when it released in 2013. That’s an awful lot of Company of Heroes for free or at bargain basement pricing!
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