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Company of Heroes pc Game Reviews
Company of Heroes
Critic Score
Metascore: 93 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.9 out of 10
based on 55 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 260 votes
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Rate this game

A real-time strategy game set in World War II, Company of Heroes brings to life, in full cinematic detail, the greatest war mankind has ever known. Company of Heroes is built on Relic's next-generation Essence Engine and also utilizes the Havok Physics engine, delivering cinematic visual detail in a world completely driven by realistic physics. Gamers will experience the journey of the brave men of Able Company in a deep single-player campaign that begins with the invasion of Normandy through their fight across Europe, all set against the most dynamic battlefield ever seen in a game. Company of Heroes' completely destructable environment means no two battles ever play out in the same way. Advanced squad AI delivers startling new realism and responsiveness, bringing soldiers to life as they interact with the environment and execute advanced squad tactics to eliminate the opposition forces. [THQ]

PUBLISHER: THQ
DEVELOPER: Relic
GENRE(S): Real-Time Strategy, Action
PLAYERS: 8
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: September 11, 2006

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Yahoo! Games
In Company of Heroes, destruction is a component of the game in a way that we haven't seen since "X-Com" let us root out sectoids by bringing down entire farmhouses.
Read Full Review
100
1UP
Company of Heroes seizes the bloated WWII genre by its tail and wags until years of excess bunkum sloughs off -- what's left is lean, mean, and a triumph for company-level tactics. The more you dig in, the more it gives back, and the less you care that it's another bout of Allied vs. Axis action.
Read Full Review
100
GameSpy
It's a brilliant combination of incredibly deep real-time strategy, beautiful presentation and innovative features that make it one of the best gaming experiences of 2006 to date.
Read Full Review
100
Games Radar
You've never seen a strategy game with combat as intense as Company of Heroes.
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100
EuroGamer
It's beautiful, though that's entirely the wrong word. This is a war game, so the word should be "visceral" or something. Models are hugely detailed for an RTS, physics implemented impressively and so on. But relevantly, it's a functional sort of beauty (or - er - viscerality).
Read Full Review
100
Computer Games Magazine
This is where we've been waiting Relic to take us, and with Company of Heroes, the company has confirmed what many folks suspected after "Dawn of War". This is a developer whose name belongs alongside Blizzard, Ensemble, and EALA(nee Westwood)when it comes to real-time strategy games. [Nov. 2006, p.71]
100
Times Online
It’s a gritty Second World War caper that loads the gaming experience to the hilt, leaving players battered, bruised and thoroughly stirred.
Read Full Review
100
Armchair Empire
An evolutionary leap not just in RTS, but for video games in general.
Read Full Review
100
Sydney Morning Herald
One of the best strategy games yet: intense, atmospheric and tactically deep.
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100
GameShark
Don't pass on this one; it's the definition of the phrase instant classic.
Read Full Review
100
G4 TV
It takes the WWII setting and applies it to the kinds of game-related stuff we want to see and do. It’s a game about superior use of tactics and terrain, not overwhelming firepower. In short, it’s an excellent strategy game.
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98
Game Chronicles
Building upon the impressive Warhammer engine and tweaking it for historic warfare, Company of Heroes is easily the best strategy game of 2006 and sets the bar extremely high for future RTS titles.
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98
Gaming Target
Few games can revolutionize an entire genre of gaming, but ‘Company of Heroes’ is one of them. From the high-quality next-gen graphics to the unique style of RTS gameplay, Company of Heroes should be hailed as the definitive RTS game.
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96
Gaming Illustrated
One of the best RTS games in PC gaming history - no doubt about it.
Read Full Review
96
PC Gamer
Company of Heroes should be on the must-play list of every RTS fanatic out there, even those tired of WWII settings. It's just that good. [Oct. 2006, p.70]
96
GamingExcellence
Easily one of the best real-time strategy games on the market to date. With a heavy emphasis on tactics, cover, and unit management, playing means thinking strategically and not just sending in units to perish.
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96
Cheat Code Central
Company of Heroes is an amazingly fun RTS game that doesn’t sacrifice depth for entertainment. It’s fast-paced, rivaling some action adventure games.
Read Full Review
96
Gamers' Temple
World War II finally gets the epic strategy game it deserves.
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95
GamePro
Put simply, Company of Heroes is a masterpiece. Its dedication to realistic battle concepts and tactical warfare is enough to make it a high watermark for the RTS genre but its excellent graphics and physics, along with an intensely enjoyable single-player campaign and multiplayer options, help make this an instant classic.
Read Full Review
95
Worth Playing
Company of Heroes is without doubt a fun and addictive game. In many ways, it has done for real-time strategy what the "Battlefield" franchise did for first-person shooters.
Read Full Review
95
PALGN
Simply a remarkable game that hasn’t been witnessed for years. The amount of detail and care that was put into this game shows, resulting in one of the most fascinating experiences for any platform.
Read Full Review
95
IC-Games
The learning curve in this title may put some people off, certainly later in the missions, but there is enough to make the game enjoyable to green strategists while the veterans will find these same late missions give them something to think about.
Read Full Review
94
Computer Games Online RO
You only need to take one look at the producer recommended specs (3Ghz CPU, 1GB RAM and a 6800 series graphics card or better with at least 256 Ram) to get chills down your spine.
Read Full Review
94
PC Gamer UK
This is the finest WWII strategy game I've played. Hell, I'm having real trouble thinking of any strategy game that's this spectacular, this intense, this fun. [Oct 2006, p.70]
94
IGN
The transformation from a idyllic little town into a heap of crushed buildings and burned out husks of vehicles can be shocking. Seeing and hearing major explosions that cause bodies (and bits of bodies) to fly across the screen along with rubble from a nearby building simply puts you more into the battle than any RTS in memory.
Read Full Review
94
GameTrailers
The sound design is spectacular and really pulls you into the battle, from the first gunshot being fired in the distance to the barrage of armored forces rolling over a war torn city.
Read Full Review
93
AtomicGamer
There's just the right amount of micromanagement to start without feeling like you're "fixing" bad AI by controlling every single movement.
Read Full Review
93
Gaming Nexus
Simply an awesome game that really takes the WWII RTS to a new standard. Just make sure you have a nice machine to run the game.
Read Full Review
93
PC Zone UK
There have been lots of World War II RTS games, but this is the one that finally gives the subject matter its due - it's nothing short of brilliant. [Nov 2006, p.78]
Read Full Review
93
ActionTrip
I may not be the biggest fan of WWII strategy games, but this one just goes way beyond anyone's affinities towards a certain historical period.
Read Full Review
93
Gamezilla!
This game can be a complete frustration, requiring careful, specific, and tactical gameplay. However, it is more than worth the effort to learn. If you are willing to slug through that, you’ll find an excellent title that will likely end up being one of the year’s best.
Read Full Review
93
Jolt Online Gaming UK
The new flag-bearer of a genre. Superbly paced with a supreme balance of thoughtful strategy and frantic firefights, the game stands up to repeated play even if you never touch the multiplayer or skirmish modes.
Read Full Review
93
GameZone
Company of Heroes couldn’t be any safer of a purchase than investing all of your money into your child’s bank account for college. Wait, take out $50 to buy this game and then invest the rest.
Read Full Review
93
Ferrago
Company of Heroes is superb; a perfect blend of intelligent strategy and powerful visceral action, delivering such a natural World War II experience you'll be left wondering if you're even allowed to enjoy it as much as you do.
Read Full Review
92
Games Master UK
A new high-water mark in strategy gaming, for both veterans and newcomes alike. [Nov 2006, p.71]
92
PC Format
At once familiar and surprising. A monster slice of historical strategy fun. [Nov 2006, p.100]
92
Strategy Informer
This human quality and depth of gameplay is what sets CoH apart from RTS games where your units are all expendable. In CoH nothing is expendable.
Read Full Review
92
Next Level Gaming
With all the World War II games out there, it is hard to stand apart from the crowd and make a game that people will notice, play and talk to their friends about. Company of Heroes is one of those rare treasures.
Read Full Review
92
Gamer 2.0
To put it in the simplest terms, this is an example of real-time strategy done right. It’s a blast to play, and a game whose merits any gamer or WWII buff can appreciate.
Read Full Review
92
GamerNode
The gameplay is widely addictive and chaotic in Company of Heroes, and that's something you don't see very often in RTS titles these days. Relic continues to redefine themselves as a top RTS developer, and with two solid franchises under their belt, they're up there with Blizzard as the masters of the genre.
Read Full Review
91
Pelit (Finland)
Company of Heroes has one downside: no German campaign. We have seen Allied heroes far, far too many times. [Oct 2006, p.72]
90
GameDaily
Company of Heroes should be described as a work of RTS art.
Read Full Review
90
Edge Magazine
It may produce an experience which is as gruelling as it is compelling, but that’s a badge of honour the game wears with pride. [Nov 2006, p.86]
90
GamingTrend
While I'm certain that battlefield commanders from that era didn't have such instant information and control over the units under their command, the game does a wonderful job of limiting you to a WWII level of information. Combine that with the well thought out interface, and you have a winner!
Read Full Review
90
GameSpot
Technically remarkable and features some novel twists that make it unique among real-time strategy games. Yet while it's easy to get into, it's not just difficult to master but also rather difficult to manage, partly because the game does such a good job of evoking the sheer chaos of frontline WWII battles.
Read Full Review
90
Game Informer
Anyone who owns a gaming PC will be well served by this outstanding effort. [Oct. 2006, p.108]
90
2404.org
Company of Heroes delivers on its promise of excellence. But it’s not without its downsides that I hope to make you aware of before you buy this game.
Read Full Review
90
Game Almighty
Company of Heroes has revitalized the concept of what an RTS can be, positioning it as a contender for game of the year. Strategy gamers rejoice!
Read Full Review
90
VideoGamer
Company of Heroes reinvigorates the sub-genre of the World War II real-time strategy game, and its confidence in its own excellence is aptly demonstrated in the very first few minutes of play.
Read Full Review
90
netjak
The somewhat short single-player campaign does have a few missions that aren't quite as good as the others, but the others are undeniably great, and certainly stand out among all the RTS games I have played.
Read Full Review
90
AceGamez
For once, Company of Heroes feels less like a game attempting to sell itself on a popular theme that seems guaranteed to make a buck, and more like a great game that just happens to use a tried and tested point of history for its setting.
Read Full Review
88
Game Over Online
A good game, but not a great game. It’s not the second coming; depending on your personal spin it’s probably not the best RTS ever; it’s not the game that is going to re-energize the RTS genre. I keep coming back in my mind to the phrase “evolutionary not revolutionary” no matter how overused and hackneyed it sounds.
Read Full Review
83
Game Revolution
While it sports some classic RTS flaws, the speedy gameplay and dynamic strategy really push things forward. With Company of Heroes, Relic shows us once again that war is hell, but it makes for gaming heaven.
Read Full Review
80
games(TM)
It’s testament to Relic’s experience, expertise and endeavours that it has managed to make Company Of Heroes so distinctive from any other wartime RTS. [Nov 2006, p.100]
75
WHAM! Gaming
Not surprisingly, some liberties were taken to reconcile logistics with gameplay. Call in the airborne and your paratroopers arrive immediately, with no need to plan the air drop in advance. But that is where the suspension of disbelief ends.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 260 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Archangel M. gave it a10:
Fantastic gameplay,superior graphics,no pixalation, no popups, top of the line in warcraft, spending 22 years in the marines and entering service back in 73, id say this has all the action of a real conflict,and the only thing missing was bodybags,the initial sequence at the beach was so lifelike and so very devastating, amazing work, and the control choices could include joystick, other then that id rate it 100.

Mike H. gave it a9:
The visual effects are stunning not to mention the gameplay it is like gold coated chips.

Jesse O. gave it a10:
I actually installed Windows again (I'm a crazy Linux nut) just for this game. It is quite simply the best "RTS" game I've ever played.

Matt L. gave it a9:
This game is very complex, and if you want to move into the online gaming grounds you'll have to prepare yourself to lose a few times without even making a dent. Many people have come to expect to play the game, and it to be a point a click. Unfortunately for them, it's not. Every unit has a purpose, and IF USED CORRECTLY is a formidable foe throughout the entire game, rather than these "Get most tech, win" games. The only thing that holds it back are online connectivity issues, which have mostly been resolved. The majority of people you'll be hearing complaints from are those that didn't bother to read the game's minimum specifications, and those that expect it to be like any other "move squad, attack squad" RTS. It's not, you have to constantly think as the game is more a battle of intelligence than anything else. And in that respect the game is so far unique.

Raffaele S. gave it a1:
Very sad game. Coming straight from playing Homeworld 2 (a couple years ago), all three Dawn of War Expansions (which were reasonable and decent games to themselves that I enjoyed) I purchased this game with high expectations that were soon destroyed. I find that the gameplay, game interface and AI took a sharp nose dive since DoW. Many annoying and fatal errors with basic units and overall gameplay. Infantry Squads told to stand behind cover randomly decide to pop out of it completely and get destroyed. MG Squads randomly choose which windows they garrison and can be easily picked off due to poor angles of some. Snipers are one hit kill factories though are worthless in a tower since the enmy can clearly see your garrisoned buildings before a shot is fired. The fog of war in this game is unrealistic (being able to see behind walls/trees) thus you have time to avoid ambushes or see what is coming and retreat before a shot is ever fired. Tanks when told to retreat, instead of simply reversing will instead do a U-turn in front of enemy Tanks and AT guns... Axis experience system is purchased while Allied is earned... The list goes on, the balance issues are compounded in the expansion pack and the very laggy online play (even when the high ping players are filtered out or kicked). During very important micro manage battles when a unit does not respond or register your command its game over since once the front line is lost along with most of the key resources the battle is already over (unless you take advantage of many exploits of certain units and doctrine abilities). No matter how pretty the graphics/sound they can never salvage poor gameplay.

Derek S. gave it a10:
Amazing graphics, and hours of fun playing time!

Takeshi J. gave it a9:
Awesome game, probably the best thats out theres. As an avid strategy game player, this game has graphics and sound that easily creme any other rts on the shelfs today. The game play is Relics crown with squads instead of single units. From starcraft to Company of Heroes rts has come a long way. And the only reason that I gave it a 9 is because it lacks certain units (like artillery) and the AI starts to suck once you get good, but that's where multiplayer comes in!

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