Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault doesn't completely shake up the whole Company of Heroes formula and turn it on its head, but instead, just like Company of Heroes 2 did to the original, it tweaks and alters the features of the core game for the better. It's a bit pricey, but you will get many hours of strategic and tactical fun from this standalone expansion.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is both a worthwhile expansion for series fans and standalone game for those new to the series. With a non-linear campaign structure and thrilling missions, Ardennes Assault earns a high recommendation.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is an adept interweaving of the strategic, tactical, and personal facets of warfare. A clever campaign with hard, meaningful decisions to make at every turn is hindered only by how zealously it insists you live with the consequences of those decisions – even if it means throwing away hours of hard-fought victories because a couple engagements went poorly. Between the punishing manpower mechanics and emotionally tinged presentation, I felt deeper sympathy for the poor bastards under my cursor command than ever before.

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There's no question that Ardennes Assault is a worthwhile addition to the Company of Heroes war chest and one that rewards investment and exploration with a tactically satisfying campaign. That said, such is the obtuse nature of its presentation of key concepts and even basic controls that new recruits should deduct a whole mark from that number below. Relic could and should look to ease the passage of those fresh-faced cadets. Help them avoid moments of unnecessary, crushing frustration and put them on the path to empowered victory, and they could nurture a new battalion of fans capable of de...

The meta-map and the elements of persistence between missions make every decision you make count to a much greater degree, whether picking which mission to tackle next to knowing when to break off an assault and retreat. Though it’s pitched as a standalone expansion pack, and one that retains the Company of Heroes 2 branding, Ardennes Assault is full of new ideas that means it can quite happily stand on its own two feet.

But perhaps I’m being a bit of a sissy. After 18 missions of blood, blood, sweat, blood, and tears, I felt like I’d achieved something. I felt like someone should be presenting me with a medal. The war was won, but at the same time I couldn’t shake the feeling I could’ve done more for my squad. If I’d flanked left instead of right that one time, maybe half of my Dog team would still be with us, collecting their medals with me. Maybe the captain wasn’t such a bastard after all.

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