Relic used to make some absolute corkers, huh? They’ve lastly discovered their manner again within the highlight with Age Of Empires VI, however if you happen to have been kicking in regards to the RTS area within the 00s, they have been akin to gods. Between Homeworld’s area opera spectacle and Warhammer 40okay: Dawn Of War’s grimdark bombast, they someway discovered time to make just a little collection of down-to-earth ways games in regards to the biggest tragedy in fashionable historical past. Company Of Heroes 2, the excessive level of their World War 2 operations, is free to obtain this weekend. Likewise, the remainder of the wartime franchise has been lower to 1 / 4 of the price ’til Sunday night.
While contemporaries like Starcraft focussed on high-speed memorisation and counter-play, Relic’s games at all times felt just a little extra manageable. Whether on the muddy fields of 1940s France or the blood-soaked hellscapes of the 41st Millenium, capturing useful resource notes was key to each powering your conflict machine and gaining intel on the sector.
Company Of Heroes was much more granular. Supply traces, useful resource varieties and battle traces meant you can ship some punishing blows by being in the precise place on the incorrect time. Cover, unit formation and car going through might additionally imply the distinction between a grand push and an embarrassing massacre.
Oh, I’ve had a grand outdated time on Company Of Heroes 2’s battlefields. I used to play it with uni friends who grew into grognards far too early, spilling technical deets of each final tank, rifle and shell as they manoeuvred across the battlefield.
Personally, I simply performed the yanks and constructed the most important, baddest rocket tank. Can’t take cowl if the quilt’s not there.
While Dawn Of War would get weirder (and worse) and Homeworld can be handed off to a different studio for a spin-off and a sequel, Company Of Heroes 2 is oddly frozen in time. It’s Relic at their finest, and it’s value choosing up.
If you obtain Company Of Heroes 2 on Steam between now and Sunday at 6pm (UK time), it’s yours. No catch. There’s additionally a franchise-wide sale on the remainder of the wartime technique collection, together with all of COH2’s expansions and its predecessor.
