News

Company of Heroes 2 formally announced by THQ
Posted: 07.05.2012 17:08 by JonahFalcon Comments: 11
THQ has formally announced Relic Enterainment is developing Company of Heroes 2, which will be hitting PC in early 2013. The game will take place on the Eastern Front where players will experience "some of history’s most brutal and devastating conflicts on the Eastern Front, challenging players to take command of the iconic Red Army and repel the Nazi invaders from the very gates of Moscow."

Some of the innovations of the real-time strategy game will include Relic's proprietary Essence 3.0 Engine which features not only innovative visuals and destructible environments, but the "Dynamic Battle Tactics" artificial intelligence.

According to the official description, "It is 1941 and the beginning of what will become the most brutal conflict of World War II, as Germany launches a full-scale invasion of the frozen tundra of the Soviet Union which would result in over 14 million military casualties. Take command of the iconic Soviet Red Army in brutal frontline warfare to free Mother Russia from the invading Nazis. Your strategic skills and tactical expertise hold the power to tip the very balance of this conflict... Engage in visceral tactical combat that will define you as a military leader and challenge you to wield the might of the Soviet Empire as you smash your way to Berlin."

Relic promises that Company of Heroes 2 will be a "true successor" to the original game. Producer Greg Wilson promises the game will include "a new front, new protagonists and new technology while retaining the unique mix of strategic gameplay and competitive multiplayer that made the original Company of Heroes such a success."

The official site, www.companyofheroes.com, has been updated to include additional info about the sequel.

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POLL:

Which is more exciting about Company of Heroes 2? 33 votes

The setting of the Eastern Front

VOTE

The updated graphics and technology

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The improved AI

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Comments

By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on May 07, 2012
SirRoderick
Can I vote for all of that? :D
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on May 07, 2012
herodotus
I'd vote for all three too (sounds weird), but as "CoH" set a new standard for the RTS genre in cutting edge graphics and visual gameplay (the use of destructive environments was and remains a landmark) I plumped for the second option. The AI in the first, and with every teak since is already exceptionally good....and hard.

"CoH 2", "DoW III" (I hope) and "C&C: Generals 2" - 2013 could be a very good year for RTS enthusiasts. Now all we need is "Homeworld 3" to be even hinted at and the proverbial will happily hit the fan!
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on May 07, 2012
SirRoderick
The AI wasn't that good really. On normal it was too easy and on hard it cheated the crap out of itself.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on May 08, 2012
herodotus
Even on Easy I found some missions to be more than challenging for the casual player, and required a higher degree of forward planning and often replaying than other RTS's. But I know the AI was far from perfect, particularly pathfinding for vehicles which could be as maddeningly frustrating as "Close Combat 4". Many a time I'd call for tank support only to have a Sherman spinning it's tracks confused.

"CoH 2" might be a good one for a future SI gaming group, provided we all have beefier machines to run the thing by then.
By the_fourth_horseman (SI Veteran Member) on May 09, 2012
the_fourth_horseman
Glad they turned their attention eastward this time. I somehow hope we're allowed to play as Fritz as well.
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on May 09, 2012
JonahFalcon
If there's multiplayer, sure.
By Kres (SI Elite) on May 10, 2012
Kres
Improved AI! But that's wishful thinking....
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on May 11, 2012
herodotus
I'd agree Kres, as no matter how many EP's and patches there were for "DoW II" the AI still has many and varied problems, not the least of which was bottle-necking in particular missions. This would lead to hand-holding individual units around one another and a waste of precious time.
By Kres (SI Elite) on May 10, 2012
Kres
I'm totally disappointed by progress of AI in games in general. Total War, pathetic AI. Civilization, pathetic AI. RTS's... Shooters... It is obviously an awfully difficult and money consuming thing to be doing before & after the release. And just bloody disappointing that that is the case. We're almost playing God there, but it surely can be at least better, to some extent.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on May 11, 2012
herodotus
Lazy game programming with "borrowed" and unoriginal AI algorithms. It's all cut & paste now.
By FoolWolf (SI Elite) on May 11, 2012
FoolWolf
Best bots ever were the Quake bots, they were nasty, mean and damned accurate ;)

In general I agree that AI is a problem. The biggest problem is that AI isn't learning and on harder difficulties they "cheat" or take advantage of a much better calculating of figures rather then playing "intelligently".
I guess Star Craft with the rushing MP bots have it fairly well made though since they are devastatingly effective at taking advantage of their units and make a devastating rush on you within minutes..
I would like to see more flavour to the AI. So that there is a difference between enemies in CIV and how they all behave because you can beat them all using the very same strategy. I would prefer to have more of a challenge in the way that you need the right keys to battle each opponent..