Codename: Panzers Phase 2
Posted October 19, 2005
When CDV released Codename Panzers: Phase One, based on the name alone it was inevitable that a follow-up would be coming out, and sure enough Phase Two is upon us. For those unaware of the series, Codename Panzers is a real time strategy game based on WWII with some changes on the standard RTS formula. Phase Two doesn't offer much different than the Phase One campaign other than a new playing field (Africa, The Mediterranean and The Balkans). Phase Two has you take control of either the Axis or Allies to begin, with a third faction unlocked once you accomplish the goals in the first two acts.
Gameplay:
To rehash a little more on the series, Codename Panzers doesn't take the generic approach to RTS games, and eliminates the need for you to mine/harvest resources and create units; instead you’re allocated a set number of units per mission, with heroic deeds in previous missions allowing you to obtain additional units in future missions. So when you lose a unit because of some bonehead move you tried (like taking out a tank with light infantry), that unit is gone for good. To some this may take out some of the fun with an RTS, but it really works well for a game steeped in one of the largest battles in the history of mankind.
Within each mission, you control a hero character that helps drive the story along as you progress, but the story was not one of the strong points of Phase One, nor is it in Phase Two; but I'll admit that it was a lot more cohesive this time around. Also, don't fear being lost in the storyline because you neglected to pick up Phase One; this game stands alone without building on things that take place in the first, so you won't be missing out on a large portion of back story. The heroes also help out in building experience for your units, the more a unit is used in battle the higher its experience gets, and consequentially it earns upgrades to things like firepower and armor.
Controls are your standard RTS scheme with the mouse taking on the majority of the work here. You can select multiple units and logically organize them into groups and assign hot keys to them for ease. Instead of blasting your way through the levels however, you'll need to rely on some strategy to organize your units to take out the opposing forces, because some units are much more effective at taking out certain types of unit than others. Imagine taking on a trio of Panzerjagers with light infantry, it won't work so well so you'll want to reserve your aerial bombers and tank killers for those tasks instead of the grunt work.
One great feature in the gameplay is the ability to heal units while they are in the field and even under attack. Doing this however, puts your mechanical units in harms way and could prematurely end its ability to keep your units healthy enough to survive the mission. Again, strategy takes a huge role in this very well constructed game and should be a very attractive option for players who'd like a little more to their RTS than a "zergling rush".
Other methods of play aside from the single player campaign mode are multiplayer through Gamespy, a LAN, or direct IP connection, as well as a single player "skirmish" mode. Skirmish mode is a great way to help you become more familiar with the game and the different units and their abilities before taking on the campaign modes or other highly skilled people online. Skirmish is essentially an emulated multiplayer mode, where you can set the AI and play in modes normally reserved for playing online like Team Match, and you can also customize everything from the era of the war you'd like to fight in to the amount of units each team can purchase before the match begins. Multiplayer options offer the same level of customization and game types as the Skirmish mode, but only against human opponents. Expect to spend a fair amount of time playing, because when you actually find a good group of people to play with, you'll want to keep on playing.
Another great feature is the mission editor that comes with Phase Two. You've got the ability to create missions, modify terrain, and even share these maps with the rest of the world via Gamespy. I honestly did not spend much time with this feature, as I rarely have much interest in modding games or creating my own maps; usually out of a lack of creativity.
Graphics:
One thing about reviewing graphics for PC games that I find difficult is that everyone will use a different setting when they play the game. One person may rant and rave at how spectacular graphics are, while another will look at the same game, see sluggish performance, jagged edges and an all around poor level of graphical detail. That being said, I tried various graphical options when playing Phase Two, and for the most part I was satisfied with the way the game looked. At its highest setting, the graphics were sharp and everything was greatly detailed, but the performance took a big hit on my dated system, so I was forced to play with the graphical tweaks turned down low. But even then, when I zoomed in on the action, the attention to detail that the developers put into the game was very nice; Infantry were nicely animated, treads on tanks rotated, and explosions were vivid. Zoomed out however, things tended to get a little more blocky and weren't as nice to look at, but the game moved smoother and I was able to enjoy it that much more.
Audio:
The audio was somewhat of a mixed bag, varying from the powerful punch of tank mortars and percussive blasts of machine guns, to the unpolished voice acting during cut scenes. The musical cues throughout the mission mode were quite good, adding to the intensity of the game when the action onscreen heated up. Of course, those with decent speaker setups on their PCs will have a much better audio experience than those with the basic speakers, and no subwoofer.
Conclusion:
Lately it seems that WWII is a huge deal when it comes to games, with a slew of games covering the period. While most are FPS, lately some have turned to the RTS genre, and thankfully CDV has pulled out a nice follow-up to the critically well received Codename Panzers: Phase One. While not really adding too much in terms of new features or functions, Phase Two is a solid follow-up for the same reason that a lot of sequels get hammered; it's more of the same. Recommended.
Gameplay:
To rehash a little more on the series, Codename Panzers doesn't take the generic approach to RTS games, and eliminates the need for you to mine/harvest resources and create units; instead you’re allocated a set number of units per mission, with heroic deeds in previous missions allowing you to obtain additional units in future missions. So when you lose a unit because of some bonehead move you tried (like taking out a tank with light infantry), that unit is gone for good. To some this may take out some of the fun with an RTS, but it really works well for a game steeped in one of the largest battles in the history of mankind.
Within each mission, you control a hero character that helps drive the story along as you progress, but the story was not one of the strong points of Phase One, nor is it in Phase Two; but I'll admit that it was a lot more cohesive this time around. Also, don't fear being lost in the storyline because you neglected to pick up Phase One; this game stands alone without building on things that take place in the first, so you won't be missing out on a large portion of back story. The heroes also help out in building experience for your units, the more a unit is used in battle the higher its experience gets, and consequentially it earns upgrades to things like firepower and armor.
Controls are your standard RTS scheme with the mouse taking on the majority of the work here. You can select multiple units and logically organize them into groups and assign hot keys to them for ease. Instead of blasting your way through the levels however, you'll need to rely on some strategy to organize your units to take out the opposing forces, because some units are much more effective at taking out certain types of unit than others. Imagine taking on a trio of Panzerjagers with light infantry, it won't work so well so you'll want to reserve your aerial bombers and tank killers for those tasks instead of the grunt work.
One great feature in the gameplay is the ability to heal units while they are in the field and even under attack. Doing this however, puts your mechanical units in harms way and could prematurely end its ability to keep your units healthy enough to survive the mission. Again, strategy takes a huge role in this very well constructed game and should be a very attractive option for players who'd like a little more to their RTS than a "zergling rush".
Other methods of play aside from the single player campaign mode are multiplayer through Gamespy, a LAN, or direct IP connection, as well as a single player "skirmish" mode. Skirmish mode is a great way to help you become more familiar with the game and the different units and their abilities before taking on the campaign modes or other highly skilled people online. Skirmish is essentially an emulated multiplayer mode, where you can set the AI and play in modes normally reserved for playing online like Team Match, and you can also customize everything from the era of the war you'd like to fight in to the amount of units each team can purchase before the match begins. Multiplayer options offer the same level of customization and game types as the Skirmish mode, but only against human opponents. Expect to spend a fair amount of time playing, because when you actually find a good group of people to play with, you'll want to keep on playing.
Another great feature is the mission editor that comes with Phase Two. You've got the ability to create missions, modify terrain, and even share these maps with the rest of the world via Gamespy. I honestly did not spend much time with this feature, as I rarely have much interest in modding games or creating my own maps; usually out of a lack of creativity.
Graphics:
One thing about reviewing graphics for PC games that I find difficult is that everyone will use a different setting when they play the game. One person may rant and rave at how spectacular graphics are, while another will look at the same game, see sluggish performance, jagged edges and an all around poor level of graphical detail. That being said, I tried various graphical options when playing Phase Two, and for the most part I was satisfied with the way the game looked. At its highest setting, the graphics were sharp and everything was greatly detailed, but the performance took a big hit on my dated system, so I was forced to play with the graphical tweaks turned down low. But even then, when I zoomed in on the action, the attention to detail that the developers put into the game was very nice; Infantry were nicely animated, treads on tanks rotated, and explosions were vivid. Zoomed out however, things tended to get a little more blocky and weren't as nice to look at, but the game moved smoother and I was able to enjoy it that much more.
Audio:
The audio was somewhat of a mixed bag, varying from the powerful punch of tank mortars and percussive blasts of machine guns, to the unpolished voice acting during cut scenes. The musical cues throughout the mission mode were quite good, adding to the intensity of the game when the action onscreen heated up. Of course, those with decent speaker setups on their PCs will have a much better audio experience than those with the basic speakers, and no subwoofer.
Conclusion:
Lately it seems that WWII is a huge deal when it comes to games, with a slew of games covering the period. While most are FPS, lately some have turned to the RTS genre, and thankfully CDV has pulled out a nice follow-up to the critically well received Codename Panzers: Phase One. While not really adding too much in terms of new features or functions, Phase Two is a solid follow-up for the same reason that a lot of sequels get hammered; it's more of the same. Recommended.