Company of Heroes 2: glory or death?

Fans of action strategy games have been waiting a long, long time for the sequel to one of the most highly-acclaimed PC games in recent years, Company of Heroes, but fear no more, as the game has finally arrived this week; but is it worth infiltrating?

The PC-exclusive currently holds a Metascore of 80, while securing an 83.38 percentage on Gamerankings.

That’s pretty high for the new release, but what are critics actually saying?

PC Gamer: 80/100

“Company of Heroes 2 is the USSR of real-time strategy games: huge, powerful and just a little bit broken.”

CVG: 8/10

“A decent but dated sequel, then, bringing only conservative improvements considering how much time has passed. Of course, some would argue that CoH didn’t need improving – and for them, this is still the same dauntingly deep and brutally complex RTS as it’s ever been.”

The Escapist: 8/10

“Company of Heroes 2 is a shot of vodka. You know what to expect from its real-time tactical combat, and playing one mission or match quickly turns to two, three or four. But watch out for the hangover; the Eastern Front was hell.”

GamesRadar: 4/5

“While not quite as innovative as the original, Company of Heroes 2 does little wrong besides weigh itself down with the mildly superfluous and fail to push the envelope of video game narrative–though at times it really seems desperate to try.”

EGM: 8.5/10

“While there’s little new here to differentiate between titles besides the change of scenery to WWII’s Eastern Front, Relic once again delivers a premiere RTS experience.”

Edge: 7/10

“Taken as a whole, COH2 has advanced on some fronts but lost ground on others. Attempting to explore the Eastern Front thematically proves misjudged, while persistent unit stupidity is wearing thin after seven years and four games. Counteracting that are the core mechanics, which are as enjoyable as ever, and there are smart new missions to test series veterans. It’s not a glorious revolution, then, but COH2 is a solid continuation of the finest WWII RTS around.”

VideoGamer: 8/10

More so than hi-res First Person Shooters, and perhaps even indie games, it’s stuff like Company Of Heroes 2 that makes the PC such an inviting platform. The flexibility in both processing power and controls lets the PC play host to so many ways of playing: in the light of new consoles that will match the PC’s firepower (in the short-term, at least), Company Of Heroes 2 is a testament to PC gaming’s breadth.

PC Games N: 8/10

“New players will find the ease of the campaign an excellent introduction to the franchise, while returning veterans should find plenty to like about the addition of hostile weather and the expanded multiplayer component. There are times when Company of Heroes 2 feels more like a huge expansion than a completely new experience, but damn is it enjoyable.”

Digital Spy: 4/5

“Company of Heroes 2 is a worthy sequel to a classic RTS, honouring its roots and handling its subject matter with the utmost respect. There are times when it will feel very familiar to series veterans, but sticking to your guns is no bad thing when they have never let you down in the past.”