M

8,8

2007-09-28

“Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts,” developed by Relic Entertainment and released in 2007, is a standalone expansion to the acclaimed real-time strategy game “Company of Heroes.” This expansion introduces two new factions—the British 2nd Army and the German Panzer Elite—each with unique units, abilities, and campaigns, enriching the World War II strategic experience.

Gameplay and Features
• New Factions:
• British 2nd Army: Emphasizes defensive strategies with robust emplacements and artillery support. Key units include the versatile Infantry Section and specialized officers like the Lieutenant and Captain, who enhance troop effectiveness. The British command trees offer distinct strategic paths:
• Royal Canadian Artillery: Provides powerful artillery capabilities, including creeping barrages and access to the Priest Self-Propelled Gun.
• Royal Commandos: Enables deployment of elite commando units adept at infiltration and sabotage, along with the light Tetrarch tank via glider insertion.
• Royal Engineers: Grants access to Churchill tank variants and enhances defensive structures, bolstering battlefield resilience.
• German Panzer Elite: Focuses on mobility and armored assaults, utilizing a variety of half-tracks and specialized vehicles. Panzergrenadiers serve as the core infantry, capable of operating heavy weapons from within vehicles. Their doctrinal choices include:
• Scorched Earth Tactics: Allows for environmental manipulation, such as booby-trapping points and deploying the Hummel Mobile Artillery Platform.
• Luftwaffe Tactics: Introduces air support and elite Fallschirmjäger units, along with the construction of Flak emplacements.
• Tank Destroyer Tactics: Provides formidable anti-tank options, including the deployment of Jagdpanther and Hetzer tank destroyers.
• Campaigns:
• Liberation of Caen: Players lead the British forces in their effort to liberate the French city of Caen, engaging in missions that emphasize strategic defense and coordinated assaults.
• Operation Market Garden: Commanding the Panzer Elite, players aim to repel the Allied airborne invasion during this pivotal operation, focusing on rapid, aggressive tactics.
• Enhanced Graphics and Physics: Utilizing an upgraded version of Relic’s Essence Engine, the game supports DirectX 10, offering improved visual fidelity, dynamic weather effects, and realistic destructible environments, enhancing the immersive experience.

Steam Integration

“Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts” is available on Steam as part of the “Company of Heroes” package, which includes the base game and all expansions. This integration offers several benefits:
• Unified Platform: Players can access all factions and campaigns from a single installation, streamlining the user experience.
• Multiplayer Support: The Steam version utilizes Steam’s servers for multiplayer matchmaking, ensuring continued online play.
• Modding Community: Steam Workshop support facilitates easy access to user-generated content, including custom maps and mods, extending the game’s replayability.

Critical Reception

“Opposing Fronts” received positive reviews for its compelling additions to the original game:
• GameSpot: Praised the expansion as a “satisfying follow-up,” highlighting the intense World War II real-time strategy action it delivers. 
• IGN: Noted that with multiplayer back in full force and two brand new factions to master, “Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts” is a solid addition to the franchise. 
• Metacritic: The game holds a score of 87/100, indicating generally favorable reviews. 

Conclusion

“Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts” enriches the original game with new factions, campaigns, and enhanced features, offering players a deeper and more varied World War II strategy experience. The Steam version ensures continued support and accessibility, making it a valuable addition for both new players and veterans of the series.

For a visual overview, you might find this gameplay trailer insightful:

Valve Steam

PC Only

4005209097215

Germany

256-bit

Download

1

Slip Sleeve

~$20.00

2024-07-05

2018-07-03 12:24:45