Considering how many real-time strategy games I’ve played in the past, the franchise Company of Heroes was never one of them. Reviewing Company of Heroes 3 brings a realisation that I have truly missed out. Developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sega, Company of Heroes 3 is highly recommended. Whether you are a real-time strategy connoisseur or an occasional visitor to the genre, Company of Heroes 3 is worth your time.

Company of Heroes 3 offers two separate stories, with both being set during World War two, but they cover two different locations. The Italian and North African stories are also approached in different ways. The Italy-based story is about the campaign to retake Rome. Through this telling, you will control forces in both a tactical real-time strategy and a turned-based overworld map.

The second is based in North Africa and is told as a more authored story, based on mission objectives to be completed. With multiplayer and co-op options available you could skip the stories entirely. Although the stories are not overly engaging, they are entertaining enough, and I would recommend giving them a go.

With gameplay, let’s start with the real-time strategy components as they are part of both stories. You will begin with an explanation of the objectives to complete to win the scenario. At your command base, you will have some soldiers and/or vehicles to begin. The different soldiers and vehicles come with additional equipment in order to assist you with victory. These can be accessed by a handy tactical wheel with descriptions, and as your army advances, you can take control of territories.

These territories will provide resources to your base so you can expand, manufacture, or even recruit more soldiers and vehicles for your army. Through conflict with the enemy, your army will also earn experience points that will allow them to earn skill points and become more proficient in their tasks, and these points can then be spent on upgrades to make them more efficient in battle. There will also be bonus objectives made available as you play which will earn you more experience.

With so much going on, the tactical pause is a godsend, allowing you to plan thoroughly before proceeding. The overworld map gameplay is turn-based, and you begin by making selections from moving, attacking, bombarding, and more. It is all dependent on what you have available on the field as to what tasks you can perform. Once you have completed your turn the enemy takes their turn. Any interactions between your army and the enemy’s army will commence an engagement as a skirmish, allowing you to fight with an objective given for victory, and these can also be auto-resolved if you just want to stick to the main story battles. An in-depth tutorial system will help you the entire way, so nothing becomes overwhelming.

The graphics are phenomenal and the attention to detail in the realism is truly remarkable. Being able to zoom in and see all the fine details is a true delight – the look of the soldiers, weapons, uniforms, vehicles, buildings, you name it, the craftsmanship is truly outstanding, but just looking good isn’t where Relic Entertainment stopped. The animations meet the phenomenal look as well. All the movements have been captured with delicate precision.

If it wasn’t for the fact I was holding a controller in my hand, what I was seeing could have easily been mistaken for a movie, but again, Relic Entertainment didn’t stop with just the look and movement they pushed just a little bit more. Crafting an environment that not only matched the aesthetic of the region but tailored it to react to what everything else on the field was doing to it.

The dynamic changes made to the environment as it becomes battle-worn are truly remarkable, be it from grenades exploding, bullets ricocheting, vehicles running over things, and flamers blasting, it is a perfect addition to round out the visual immersion. The only complaint I have was the tutorial windows, which, unfortunately, were too small. They could have done with at least a 25% bump up in size to make them easier to read.

The sound has not been forgotten when it comes to being as immersive as its visual partner. The effort spent on sound is just as exceptional, and nothing has been left out, be it a shot from a gun, the explosion from a grenade, or the lapping of waves at the beach, it is all divine, but don’t think they’re just sound grabs dropped in to fill a void. The effort taken to capture each individual sound and its uniqueness is spectacular.

Regardless of the weapon firing, the vehicle being driven, or the soldier speaking, each sound is true to its historical roots and is exactly what you’ve come to expect. The music is unintrusive, and if I didn’t stop to listen to it, I would never have noticed, as it blends so seamlessly.

Company of Heroes 3 is extremely fun, bringing feelings of playing with plastic toy soldiers but in a more sophisticated way. At the risk of repeating myself, if you enjoy real-time strategy games, or you are a veteran of the genre, you will not be disappointed.

Written by: Ashley Barnett-Cosgrove