Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts

Let's face it. There are more WWII games out there than there are AIDs patients. Most are the same, boring, linear first person shooters that use the simple formula of "point + Click = Dead Nazi". Finally, we have something different.

A year previous this release the original Company of Heroes Redefined 3D RTS games, and, no doubt, it came from Relic.

With one of the most impressive track records to date, Relic has done nothing but create quality RTS games -- Homeworld I take as their most important achievement.

Gone are the days of low-poly soldier models with out-of-scale vehicles flying around the map while they blow their retarded enemies away while standing up in a field. Gone are the days of cluster bombing a group of troops and their health dies according to the damage assigned the weapon.

Now we have an RTS that shows the grittiness of war, the power of weaponry; An RTS where a single, well-placed tank shell can demolish a full squad of Infantry; While dynamic armor values on the Panzer determine the area in which you want your M10 Tank destroyer to fire at.

Graphically, it is indeed a beast. While performance isn't too hard while on the higher settings in the default veiw, going to ground level may take a toll on your system.

The audio is fantastic. You can almost feel the clods of dirt rain down after a Howitzer barrage.

While the physics engine is amazing, It does have a few minor bugs, resulting usually in a piece of wall flying across the map at mach 4 when your tank hits it. Not an often happenstance, however.

The AI -- The cornerstone to any RTS game -- is simply amazing. The harder difficulties see the AI attempting to flank your men while commencing a head on assault; and the individual AI know where and when to take cover from that Ostwind unloading on them.

With a Fully-destructible Environment, you will be pleased to see that Sherman plow through the base of a corner inn as it chases a small Wermacht squad 'round the corner.

Be ready for the Time of your Life -- This time with British and the new Panzer Elite....