Info about Company of Heroes 2:

Official game description:
Powered by the Essence Engine 3.0, the Company of Heroes 2 series feature some unique mechanics rewarding thoughtful players. 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.  
**PICK YOUR FIGHT**
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**NB:** multiplayer standalones allow you to play on any map against anyone owning any COH2 product.  
**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). It also comes with a gritty single-player campaign that will give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the series core tenets. Step into the boots of a Soviet commander of the Red Army, entrenched in brutal frontline warfare to free Mother Russia from the Enemy invaders! Adjust your tactics to take into account the brutal weather conditions and wield the might of the Soviet Empire as you smash your way to Berlin.  
**Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies** adds two new factions from the Western Front to the roster of playable multiplayer armies: the Oberkommando West (OKW) and the US Forces (USF). While the former puts you in charge of an aggressive and powerful army with very specialized and elite units – yet in very limited numbers – the latter introduces an expeditionary corps that allows for a variety of approaches and very powerful combined arms tactics, but which inevitably falls a bit short in the heavy armor department.  
**Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault** offers a compelling single-player campaign for the USF faction revolving around the Battle of the Bulge. Engage in a dynamic non-linear campaign across the Ardennes landscape consisting of 18 scenarios, choose between three iconic companies, customize their abilities and bear the consequences of your actions as overall company health persists between missions.  
**Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces** is the latest entry in the series and features this iconic Allied army from WWII (UKF). Experience a unique tech-tree that challenges the player to balance the constant trade-off between mobility and defense. Surprise your opponents with your development choices and an open end game configuration. Enjoy an army with character and distinctive units & abilities, from the Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tank to the RAF glider.  
**KEY FEATURES**
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*   AWARD WINNING FRANCHISE  
    Sequel to the highest rated strategy game of all time returns with an innovative warfare experience that will redefine the Strategy genre once more  
*   ESSENCE ENGINE 3.0  
    Cutting-edge technology that increases the graphical quality and accuracy of deadly combat with the unprecedented TrueSight™ system, the ultrarealistic ColdTech™ dynamic weather that changes strategic warfare forever and improved environmental destruction  
*   TACTICAL WARFARE  
    Develop and utilize your new Commander Abilities and experience the up-close moment-to-moment brutality of frontline warfare through new Dynamic Battle Tactics  
*   INTENSE ONLINE COMBAT  
    Featuring the great competitive and co-operative multiplayer that fans have grown to expect from this high-quality and critically acclaimed franchise
**MULTIPLAYER ARMIES COMPARISON**
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Find out the multiplayer army (and associated game/standalone) that suits your play style.

Release date: Jun 25, 2013

Categories: Real-time Strategy, Tactical, Territory Management, Unit Management, Base Building, Resource Management, Multiplayer, Historical Strategy

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 95; verdict: Predatory / Casino; summary: Company of Heroes 2 exhibits multiple patterns of predatory monetization, including excessive and fragmented DLC, pay-to-win mechanics, deceptive pricing, day-one content locking, and aggressive FOMO tactics. The base game is widely perceived as incomplete, with essential factions, campaigns, and commanders locked behind a paywall. The total cost of all DLC is prohibitively high, and the pricing structure is intentionally confusing, leading to accusations of a cash grab. These practices significantly detract from the user experience and create a sense of exploitation among players.
- Steam Deck: score 70; verdict: Broken (High Friction); summary: The Steam Deck/Linux experience for this game is plagued by critical stability issues (crashes, black screens) and forced workarounds (Proton, server segregation). While Proton mitigates some problems, the native Linux version is outdated and incompatible with Windows crossplay. Localization policies and UI/UX flaws further degrade the experience. The most severe issues (crashes, anti-cheat segregation) prevent seamless gameplay, warranting a high-friction score.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Exceptional tactical depth and immersion (weight 0.97): Players consistently highlight the game's tactical depth, dynamic weather, and immersive sound design. Features like TrueSight, destructible environments, and faction-specific strategies create a rich, engaging experience that stands out in the RTS genre.
- Highly polished and balanced multiplayer (weight 0.97): The multiplayer is praised for its balance, depth, and active community. Modes like 1v1 and 2v2 are well-balanced, and the game’s competitive scene remains engaging due to faction variety and strategic diversity.
- Dynamic and immersive campaign (weight 0.93): The campaigns, particularly the Soviet and Ardennes Assault DLC, are lauded for their emotional impact, historical authenticity, and strategic depth. Players appreciate the well-paced storytelling and unique faction perspectives.
- Diverse factions and units (weight 0.92): Four distinct factions (UK, US, USSR, Germany) offer unique playstyles, units, and strategies. Players appreciate the historical accuracy and variety in unit abilities, which add depth to both single-player and multiplayer.
- Superior to predecessors and successors (weight 0.91): Many players consider *Company of Heroes 2* the best in the series, citing improved mechanics, graphics, and balance over the first game and *CoH 3*. Its darker tone and historical texture are also highlighted as strengths.
- Accessible yet deep gameplay (weight 0.91): The game strikes a balance between accessibility and depth, with simple mechanics (e.g., cover system) that are easy to learn but hard to master. This makes it appealing to both beginners and veterans of the RTS genre.
- Immersive atmosphere and presentation (weight 0.91): The game’s atmosphere, including its sound design, graphics, and weather effects, is frequently praised. Features like dynamic weather, detailed destruction physics, and realistic unit animations contribute to a highly immersive experience.
- Strong modding support and replayability (weight 0.9): The modding community is highly active, adding replayability through custom maps, skins, and gameplay enhancements. Mods like the Realism Overhaul improve balance and realism, extending the game’s lifespan.
- High value and affordability (weight 0.83): The game is frequently praised for its high cost-performance ratio, especially during sales. DLCs and expansions are also noted for being affordable and adding significant content.
- Engaging co-op and PVE content (weight 0.11): The game offers enjoyable co-op and PVE modes, including skirmishes and bot battles. These modes are accessible for players who prefer not to engage in PVP, adding to the game’s versatility.

Common complaints:
- Severe balance and gameplay issues (weight 0.41): The game suffers from imbalanced factions, with complaints about overpowered units (e.g., Tiger tanks, MG-42 spam) and unfair mechanics like artillery spam or RNG-based outcomes. Players feel there is no effective counterplay to dominant strategies.
- Historical inaccuracies and bias (weight 0.35): The game is criticized for its portrayal of the Eastern Front, particularly the Soviet army, as caricatured, stereotypical, and historically inaccurate. Players highlight issues like misrepresented dynamics, unrealistic plot decisions, and a perceived anti-Soviet bias.
- Frustrating RNG and matchmaking (weight 0.3): Randomness in gameplay (e.g., hit/miss mechanics) and poor matchmaking lead to unfair and frustrating experiences. Players report long wait times, mismatched opponents, and outcomes decided by luck rather than skill.
- Excessive monetization and DLC (weight 0.28): The game is criticized for its aggressive monetization, including paywalled factions, commanders, and DLCs. Players feel the base game is incomplete, with essential content locked behind additional purchases.
- Weak tank and faction mechanics (weight 0.27): Tanks are criticized for being weak, easily destroyed, and poorly balanced. Some factions (e.g., German) are perceived as underpowered, with issues like poor accuracy and durability.
- Outdated and buggy gameplay (weight 0.24): The game feels outdated, with poor optimization, numerous bugs (e.g., crashes, units getting stuck), and a lack of modern features like key rebinding. Players report frustration with clunky controls and a lack of polish.
- Broken multiplayer and servers (weight 0.18): Multiplayer is plagued by server connectivity issues, frequent disconnects, and rampant cheating. Matchmaking is unfair, with experienced players dominating newcomers and toxic behavior being common.
- Lack of localization and support (weight 0.06): The game lacks official support for languages like Chinese and Russian, disrupting immersion for non-English speakers. Players also report fear of bans for using unofficial patches and a lack of updates.

Gameplay feedback:
- Core RTS Tactical Depth (weight 0.95): The game emphasizes real-time strategy with deep tactical mechanics, including unit micro-management, terrain utilization, and combined-arms tactics. Players must adapt to dynamic weather and environmental conditions for strategic advantage.
- Unit Mechanics and Combat Realism (weight 0.91): Units (infantry, tanks, artillery) have realistic mechanics, including suppression, penetration, veterancy, and combined-arms synergy. Tank combat emphasizes positioning, weak spots, and environmental interactions.
- Multiplayer and Matchmaking (weight 0.84): Supports competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes (1v1 to 4v4), including ranked matchmaking and AI skirmishes. Players highlight the importance of balanced matchmaking and server availability for a smooth experience.
- Faction-Specific Strategies (weight 0.84): Each faction (e.g., Soviets, Germans, British) has unique units, tech trees, and playstyles. For example, Soviets rely on high-quantity units, while Germans emphasize elite armor. DLCs expand faction variety.
- Dynamic Weather and Environment (weight 0.82): Weather systems (snow, ice, fog) and destructible terrain significantly impact gameplay, affecting unit movement, visibility, and survival. The ColdTech system adds realism and strategic depth.
- Resource and Territory Control (weight 0.8): Resources are managed via control points rather than traditional gathering. Players must capture and hold territory to sustain unit production, adding a layer of strategic pressure and map control.
- Base-Building and Defenses (weight 0.78): Players construct defensive structures (trenches, machine guns, artillery) and headquarters to fortify positions. Base-building is critical for holding territory and countering enemy advances.
- Learning Curve and Mastery (weight 0.78): The game has a steep learning curve, requiring time to master unit controls, resource management, and faction-specific strategies. New players benefit from bot matches and tutorials.
- AI Behavior and Difficulty (weight 0.76): AI difficulty varies by map and mode, with some players noting inconsistencies in unit pathfinding and resource management. Expert AI provides a challenging skirmish experience.
- Theater of War Mode (weight 0.74): A scenario-based mode offering cooperative and competitive missions with limited loadouts. Missions are based on historical battles and archival documents, providing unique challenges.
- Improvements Over Predecessor (weight 0.05): The game refines mechanics from *Company of Heroes 1*, including TrueSight visibility, ColdTech weather, and faction balance. Players note enhanced tactical depth and unit diversity.

Performance notes:
- Optimization and hardware struggles (weight 0.19): The game suffers from poor optimization, requiring hardware upgrades or guides to run smoothly. Performance varies between devices, with issues persisting in large battles or intense scenes.
- High refresh rate compatibility (weight 0.05): Technical issues arise with 144/240 Hz monitors, including stuttering and display corruption. Players recommend 60 Hz, VSync, or fullscreen as workarounds.
- Persistent legacy bugs (weight 0.03): Old bugs, such as texture sticking, remain unresolved. Some players report execution issues where parts of the game are impossible to run.
- Linux/Proton and VRAM issues (weight 0.02): Compatibility problems exist for Linux/Proton users, requiring fixes for sync errors. VRAM requirements differ between *Company of Heroes 2* and *3*, causing confusion.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for hardcore RTS fans (weight 0.32): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy deep strategy, tactical challenges, and WWII themes. It appeals to fans of realistic and immersive RTS gameplay, particularly those who appreciate historical accuracy and large-scale battles.
- Best purchased on sale (weight 0.27): Many reviewers suggest buying the game during promotions or sales due to its high cost-performance ratio. This is especially true for players who are unsure about investing full price in the game or its DLCs.
- Multiplayer shines, single-player lacks (weight 0.25): The game is highly recommended for multiplayer, especially when playing with friends to avoid cheaters. However, the single-player experience is often criticized as less engaging or flawed.
- Campaign and scenarios vary in appeal (weight 0.22): The Russian Campaign and certain scenarios are recommended for their depth and challenge, while others are criticized for being less engaging. The campaign is enjoyable even without a strong narrative focus.
- Gameplay innovations enhance experience (weight 0.1): Features like TrueSight and ColdTech are highlighted as standout additions that improve the tactical and immersive aspects of the game. These innovations contribute to its uniqueness in the RTS genre.
- Technical issues affect recommendation (weight 0.05): Some players cannot recommend the game due to technical problems, such as performance instability or optimization issues. Following guides or waiting for patches may improve the experience.
- DLCs add value for specific factions (weight 0.02): Certain DLCs, such as those for British, USF, and OKW factions, are recommended for players looking to expand their gameplay options. Multiplayer in *Company of Heroes 2* is also praised for its depth.
- Mods improve balance and experience (weight 0.01): Players suggest using mods like *AKULA World at War* to address balance issues or enhance gameplay. These mods can significantly improve the overall experience for dedicated fans.

Other player notes:
- Nostalgia and long-term ownership (weight 0.03): Players express deep personal connections to the game, citing long-term ownership (e.g., 4+ years) and emotional experiences like playing during military service. This highlights the game's lasting appeal and sentimental value.
- Third-party key purchases (weight 0.03): Mentions of acquiring the game through unofficial channels (e.g., giveaways or resellers) indicate potential issues with pricing, availability, or DRM.
- Controversial historical portrayal (weight 0.02): Feedback critiques the game's depiction of historical and political events, particularly in Russia, as contentious or divisive. This reflects broader debates about representation in media.
- Internet requirement for single-player (weight 0.01): Players criticize the mandatory internet connection for offline modes, citing it as an unnecessary barrier to accessibility and gameplay flexibility.
- Game discontinuation concerns (weight 0.01): Reviews mourn the game's discontinuation, framing it as the 'last glory' of the RTS genre. This underscores fears about the decline of real-time strategy games.
- Community-driven content value (weight 0.01): Positive feedback emphasizes the role of mods, tournaments, and player-created content in extending the game's lifespan and engagement.
- Comparison to other RTS games (weight 0.01): Players draw parallels to titles like *Foxhole* and *Company of Heroes*, often to critique or praise mechanics, depth, or innovation in the genre.
- Disappointment in franchise legacy (weight 0.01): Players feel the game fails to live up to the high standards of its franchise, expressing frustration over unmet expectations tied to the series' reputation.
- Team dynamics and matchmaking (weight 0.01): Feedback highlights frustrations with arranged vs. random team balance, suggesting improvements for fairer or more strategic matchmaking systems.
- Demand for Blitzkrieg mechanics (weight 0.01): Calls for faster-paced or more aggressive gameplay styles (e.g., 'blitzkrieg') reflect desires for tactical diversity or historical authenticity.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.31): Players experience frustration primarily due to technical and performance issues, such as poor optimization, crashes, and server connectivity problems. Additionally, gameplay mechanics like imbalanced matchmaking, toxic online communities, intrusive monetization, and unrealistic AI behavior (e.g., pathfinding, unit disobedience) exacerbate the negative experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Disappointment stems from the game failing to meet expectations set by its predecessor, including outdated mechanics, weak unit balance, and excessive monetization (e.g., DLCs, microtransactions). Players also criticize the campaign's storytelling, historical inaccuracies, and the overall decline in quality compared to earlier installments in the franchise.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players feel satisfied when the game delivers challenging yet rewarding strategic gameplay, improved mechanics, and well-balanced multiplayer experiences. The single-player campaigns, tactical depth, and realistic simulations of conflicts also contribute to a positive experience, especially when overcoming difficult scenarios.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's connection to personal memories, such as playing earlier versions of the series or recalling childhood experiences with RTS games. The portrayal of WWII and the enduring appeal of the franchise's classic mechanics also trigger fond recollections of past gaming sessions.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement arises from the game's dynamic and cinematic battles, immersive strategic depth, and addictive multiplayer mechanics. Players appreciate the tension of permadeath, the variety of factions, and the satisfying execution of tactical decisions, such as airstrikes and unit deployments.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Admiration is directed toward the game's realism, tactical depth, and enduring quality, particularly in its portrayal of historical conflicts. Players praise the physics, atmospheric campaigns, and the balance between factions, as well as the game's ability to remain engaging and polished over time.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's immersive mechanics, such as TrueSight and ColdTech, as well as its detailed gameplay and strategic depth. The modding community, atmospheric design, and the game's lasting impact on the RTS genre are also frequently highlighted as strengths.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment is derived from the game's engaging multiplayer and campaign experiences, particularly when playing with friends or exploring faction-specific mechanics. The WWII atmosphere, competitive gameplay, and long-lasting appeal of the title contribute to a fun and rewarding experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Amusement stems from the game's humorous or absurd moments, such as bugged achievements, exaggerated voice lines, or satirical takes on war simulation. Players also find entertainment in the game's Hollywood-style historical inaccuracies and over-the-top gameplay scenarios.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's addictive strategic depth, immersive effects, and rewarding gameplay loop. Players express excitement about the variety of factions, the improvements brought by mods, and the long-term engagement the game provides.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): Disgust is directed toward the game's monetization practices, perceived greed, and poor portrayal of historical events. Players also express strong negative reactions to the campaign's storytelling and the overall decline in quality compared to earlier titles.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger arises from perceived developer exploitation, cheating in multiplayer, toxic community behavior, and imbalanced faction performance. Players are particularly frustrated by AI cheating, unfair matchmaking, and the prevalence of pay-to-win mechanics.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Approval is given for the game's strong tactical depth, authentic gameplay, and balanced faction design. Players appreciate the variety of playstyles and the technical improvements that enhance the overall experience.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is expressed for future updates and improvements, with players believing the developers can address existing issues. The game's unique mechanics and strong community also inspire optimism about its potential for growth.
- Caution (weight 0.01): Caution is advised regarding the game's steep learning curve and potential for excessive playtime. Players recommend purchasing the game only at a discount to mitigate the risk of dissatisfaction.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is felt over wasted time or money, such as spending excessive hours on the game or paying too much for a title that later became free. Players also express regret for not appreciating the game earlier, given the lack of quality WWII strategy games since.
- Challenge (weight 0): The game is seen as challenging due to its skill-based gameplay and the presence of experienced players. Mastering the mechanics and competing in multiplayer require significant practice and strategic thinking.
- Joy (weight 0): Joy is derived from the game's action, historical immersion, and the drama of WWII conflicts. Players also express happiness when using mods or sharing the experience with friends.
- Surprise (weight 0): Surprise comes from discovering the game's value over time, particularly when DLCs or mechanics exceed expectations. Players are pleasantly surprised by the affordability and enjoyment of additional content.
- Impressed (weight 0): Players are impressed by the game's strategic depth, historical accuracy, and unique mechanics. The addictive gameplay loop and the quality of content, such as campaigns and factions, also contribute to a strong positive impression.}