Company of Heroes
A World War II real-time strategy series by Relic Entertainment.
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Company of Heroes is a series of real-time strategy games from Relic Entertainment, all set in World War II. The first title launched on September 12, 2006, in North America and on September 29, 2006, in Europe. An iPad version arrived on February 13, 2020, as a port to iOS.
Two stand-alone expansions followed: Opposing Fronts came out on September 25, 2007, in the US and September 28 in Europe, while Tales of Valor released on April 9, 2009.
Company of Heroes Online
Company of Heroes Online was a free massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game from Relic, published by THQ. Its open beta began on September 2, 2010, but the game was canceled on March 31, 2011. Unlike earlier entries, it was a stand-alone title with no link to the original multiplayer system, though it used the same graphics engine. Relic also produced Chinese and South Korean versions; the Chinese version was co-developed with Shanda, while WindySoft published the South Korean version, which Relic developed entirely.
The Korean and American versions included the full single-player campaign from the retail release, but the Chinese version did not. Gameplay emphasized varying cover and destructible terrain, and resource income depended on controlling sectors. A unique feature was the large number of combinations of hero units, special abilities, and doctrinal abilities.
Company of Heroes 2
Company of Heroes 2 launched on June 25, 2013, in North America and Europe. It introduced the USSR’s Red Army and follows the Eastern Front campaign from Operation Barbarossa to the Battle of Berlin. It runs on the Essence 3.0 engine, which adds environmental effects, a "True Sight" system for unit line of sight, and "ColdTech" for weather like snow, mud, and blizzards.
Company of Heroes 3
Company of Heroes 3 was announced by Relic and Sega in July 2021. Set again in World War II, it takes place in Italy and parts of the North African Campaign, releasing on February 23, 2023.
Lore & Background
The Company of Heroes series began with its first game released in 2006, followed by two stand-alone expansion packs: Opposing Fronts on September 25, 2007, in the US and September 28 in Europe, and Tales of Valor on April 9, 2009. A free massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game, Company of Heroes Online, entered open beta on September 2, 2010, and was cancelled on March 31, 2011.
It was a stand-alone game using the same graphics engine as the retail release, with Chinese and South Korean versions; the Korean and American versions included the entire single-player campaign from the retail release, while the Chinese version did not. A sequel, Company of Heroes 2, was released on June 25, 2013, featuring the USSR's Red Army on the Eastern Front. Company of Heroes 3 was announced in July 2021 and released on February 23, 2023, set in Italy and parts of the North African Campaign.
Reader's Guide
The Company of Heroes series is notable for its emphasis on cover mechanics and destructible terrain, departing from traditional real-time strategy resource models by linking resource income to sectors under a player's control. Company of Heroes Online introduced a large number of combinations of hero units, special abilities, and doctrinal abilities, allowing for diverse strategies.
The series' second installment introduced the Essence 3.0 engine with environmental effects, True Sight line-of-sight simulation, and ColdTech weather systems. The series has maintained a consistent World War II setting across its main entries, with the third game expanding to the Italian and North African theaters. The cancellation of Company of Heroes Online in 2011 marked a brief foray into free-to-play online gaming before returning to the traditional retail model with Company of Heroes 2 and 3.
More in Real-Time Strategy Games of the 2000s
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Company of Heroes (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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