Company of Heroes 3 – Straight down in the shit with Deutsches Afrikakorps

The biggest Company of Heroes so far ”will be a kind of hybrid between classic real-time strategy and strategic conflict play by a more advanced school. FZ got the chance to test a mission in the North African campaign, where the German was pitted against the British.

“A lot has been looked at Total Warseries here “

When we almost exactly a year ago got our first hands-on with the third part in Company of HeroesThe series was all about the big news in CoH3, the dynamic campaign map and everything that happens there. On the campaign map, you organize your armies, manage logistics, build airports and much more. You can tinker around or take on story assignments, a little at will. And what happens here partly affects how the battles look in the classic rts mode. Both whether the battle is a generic skirmish (there are reportedly ten different such scenarios) or a scripted and hard-worked part of the story campaign. They have glanced a lot Total Warseries here, but still seems to have managed to build something unique and unique. It’s definitely not a World War II skin Total War we see, without anything distinct Company of Heroes. (Read all about the dynamic campaign in Johan Olander’s text from 2021.)

“More specifically, you get the command of the Deutsches Afrikakorps”

During this second session, we moved away from Italy, which is one of two war scenes in the game, and from the overall campaign. Instead, we had to dive straight into the sand and take part in a series of missions belonging to the North African campaign. And so we got to play like Germany in the desert war, something that has also been in demand by fans for a long time. More specifically, you get the command of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). The CAD was first sent to reinforce the Italian possessions in the region, and they fought between 1941 and 1943. This, perhaps not forgotten but somewhat hidden part of World War II, evokes images of large armor, sand, the “Rommel desert fox” and British officers who sipping gin on the verandas of beautiful villas in the great colonial empire that North Africa still was at that time.

The Germans in North Africa were clearly more mechanized during this period, and although it may not be reflected in the missions I got to play, it is said that it will be felt properly during the game. The missions were tutorial-like, where we were sort of led into the game’s various functions and elements. Which was actually good. I have not played CoH to some extent since the second in 2013. You are thrown into the hot air and will with infantry and some armor support Italians who have gotten into trouble outside a village.

After some fumbling with the controls, it struck me that again it is not possible to zoom out as much as I want. It is difficult to get an overview of the battlefield, and the angle feels quite narrow. Line of sight (called truesight i CoH3) should be a guarantee that you should not get too much superiority despite proper zooming out, and despite smooth rides I did not feel that I could find really good camera placements.

Flanking is a given, but of course the game still wanted us to test it. I discovered that it was a little tricky to get their men to take shelter exactly where I wanted, despite the plops that will show where each soldier will place himself. The colors of the plops show, as usual, what kind of protection you will end up in. On the whole, it really felt like covering actually played a role – the alternative would have been a partial breaker for me.

“I blew up a well-placed neighbor in a taller house with my tank”

Occupying and / or destroying buildings and fortifications is also an important part of the war. The squad had some trouble listening to my orders here, but once it worked I was able to test many different strategic moves and tactics. I blew up a well-placed nest in a taller house with my tank, and was then able to circle it with infantry. (I did not have time to evaluate the destruction of buildings further, but it is said that it should have received a proper upgrade with CoH3.) Some then fired sustained fire at the next fortification while my armor slowly moved forward to exterminate surrounding units. After occupying the building and thus gaining a good overview of the battlefield, I ventured forward to tackle the anti-tank weapons that would otherwise have been a real headache. Slowly I took strategic point after strategic point.

In the meantime, my maintenance was in full swing by first restoring (one button) the extended armor and then repairing it (with another button). For someone who likes authenticity, it felt a little clumsy of course, but CoH has always been more about classic rts than attempts at re-creation. An interesting new feature is that troops now have the opportunity to ride on top of armor, in addition to the unit that actually steers the vehicle. This opens up for quick disembarkations and an easy way for infantry to get around in congested environments.

“Air strikes and Italian support troops”

During the missions, as usual, resources are collected by conquering certain strategic locations. Points are then used to summon reinforcements – either regular soldiers or vehicles that you normally build in your base, or as special units. From my session I remember air strikes, as well as Italian support troops. I must admit that I did not have time to get a complete overview of the resource management during the hours I played, but I can say with certainty that it will be quite similar to the one in previous games.

For a single player player, and one who likes to take their time, think and plan, the introduction of the tactical break is very welcome. In for example Total Wars battles, it is often convenient and stimulating to be able to press a key to completely put the events in stasis. And as the game elements become more numerous and the possibilities expand, it becomes extra important to be able to get this overview as a desk general. Although I often forgot to use the function – the rts nerves are deeply rooted – I came to appreciate it more and more towards the end of the game. I also found myself restarting the missions several times to succeed in exactly that maneuver, flanking or circumventing movement. Half the fun of semi-authentic war games is still getting those perfect battles.

“I love how Relic took the fighting to the areas around the Mediterranean”

Two, three hours is a short time, especially if you are going to judge the next part in a classic rts series. But with Johan Olander’s campaign preview and my deep dive into the dirty and tangible, I can at least hope that the whole thing can become a real journey. I love how Relic took the battles to the areas around the Mediterranean, here Italy, and North Africa. It’s a war scene that I remember most from old movies, and that is rudely unused in games. Playing as Deutsches Afrikakorps adds many dimensions and gives breadth. I have high hopes, but the third in the series is a departure from what Relic has previously proven to be able to perform masterfully.

The studio comes back again and again to say that they have listened to the fans – but how will this hybrid be received by those who have played and love the first two games and its expansions? Clearly dear children must be allowed to grow up, but it hurts when buds fail.