Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Subscribe
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12.99
View
  • News
  • Guides
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • Deals
  • Magazines
    • About Us
    • Retro Gamer
    • Play
    • Total Film
    • Edge
    • SFX
Newsarama
Total Film
Edge
Trending
  • Starfield
  • Baldur's Gate 3
  • New games of 2023
  • Assassin's Creed Mirage

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. PC
  2. Strategy
  3. Company Of Heroes 2

New mode in Company of Heroes 2 is formidable, not for babies

By Ryan Taljonick
published 29 April 2013

Hands-on with the new Theater of War mode

  • Comments

The single-player campaign of Company of Heroes 2 promises to explore the oft-ignored battles of World War II's Eastern Front, but there are plenty of engagements that fall outside its timeline. That's where its new Theater of War mode comes in.

Here you'll find three distinct types of missions--co-op scenarios, solo challenges, and rule-driven AI skirmishes.The co-op scenarios will pit you and your friends against intelligent AI opponents, while the AI battles will allow you to hone your skills against common playstyles you'll face in the competitive scene.

We didn't get a chance to see either of these two modes in action, but we did get hands-on time with a solo challenge called Blitzkrieg, in which our small team of German troops and tanks was tasked with capturing 10 control points from the Russians. Sounds easy enough--except for we only had a few tanks and infantry squads with which to do so. Oh, plus there was no base building, troop manufacturing, or respawns, and losing all infantry meant game over. Blitzkrieg's demanding win conditions forced us to think hard about every move. Being too aggressive meant our vehicles sustained heavy damage; we could repair them with our two engineer squads, but deploying them from the safety of Halftrack transports left them vulnerable to enemy mortar strikes and snipers.

This lengthy battle was just one of the dozens of additional missions available in the Theater of War mode. While we're not sure how story heavy they'll be, they're a great way to learn the ins and outs of CoH 2's more complex tactical systems. And with the game's June 25 release date rapidly approaching, we'll need all the help we can get.

Check out the following slides for additional images and more information.

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
Tanks can cross through water, but doing so slows movement speed--bad news in this situation.

Tanks can cross through water, but doing so slows movement speed--bad news in this situation.

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
Nothing is safe from the wrath of a Katyusha multiple rocket launcher.

Nothing is safe from the wrath of a Katyusha multiple rocket launcher.

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
Holing up your infantry in nearby structures is a good way to keep them safe--until enemies set them ablaze, that is.

Holing up your infantry in nearby structures is a good way to keep them safe--until enemies set them ablaze, that is.

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
The HUD in Company of Heroes 2 is a bit cleaner than that of the original.

The HUD in Company of Heroes 2 is a bit cleaner than that of the original.

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
Upon selecting Theater of War mode, you'll have to choose the mission type you'd like to play: Co-op Scenarios, Solo Challenges, or AI Battles.

Upon selecting Theater of War mode, you'll have to choose the mission type you'd like to play: Co-op Scenarios, Solo Challenges, or AI Battles.

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
Here's where you'll select missions in the Theater of War mode.

Here's where you'll select missions in the Theater of War mode.

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
Here's the stats screen you'll see after completing each mission.

Here's the stats screen you'll see after completing each mission.

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
Here's the overview tab for end-of-mission stats.

Here's the overview tab for end-of-mission stats.

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
This stats screen provides detailed information on your infantry squads.

This stats screen provides detailed information on your infantry squads.

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
Planning a night assault? Prepare for reduced visibility.

Planning a night assault? Prepare for reduced visibility.

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
You can earn various awards and ribbons as you play to build up your personal profile.

You can earn various awards and ribbons as you play to build up your personal profile.

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
Winter plays just as big a role in Company of Heroes 2 as it did in the Eastern Front. Tanks can fall through iced-over water, while soldiers can die from the cold.

Winter plays just as big a role in Company of Heroes 2 as it did in the Eastern Front. Tanks can fall through iced-over water, while soldiers can die from the cold.

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
  • Comments
Ryan Taljonick
Ryan Taljonick
Social Links Navigation

Ryan was once the Executive Editor of GamesRadar, before moving into the world of games development. He worked as a Brand Manager at EA, and then at Bethesda Softworks, before moving to 2K. He briefly went back to EA and is now the Director of Global Marketing Strategy at 2K. 

TOPICS
Sega
More about pc
Lies of P

I've played a billion Soulslikes and Lies of P is officially the best one – now I want FromSoftware to steal from it

Todd Howard Starfield reveal

Todd Howard says expectations for Starfield changed because everything is an RPG now: "I can't look at a game that doesn't have XP and leveling"

Latest
Starfield Batman ship

Todd Howard didn't expect your Starfield ships to go so hard: "If you give the people the tools, they will surprise you so much"

See more latest ►
See comments
Most Popular
I'm ready for Venom to be a terrifying monster again

By George MarstonSeptember 28, 2023

Meta Quest 3: Everything we know about price, upcoming games, release date, and more

By Duncan RobertsonSeptember 28, 2023

I visited the Alan Wake 2 live-action set and it blew my tiny mind

By Josh WestSeptember 28, 2023

Gareth Edwards and John David Washington talk new sci-fi epic The Creator

By Jamie GrahamSeptember 28, 2023

Super Mario Bros. Wonder captures the fun of my favorite 17-year-old Nintendo platformer, and makes it even more magical

By Hope BellinghamSeptember 28, 2023

Shohreh Aghdashloo on her role of Roshan in Assassin's Creed Mirage: "What a great example for women today"

By Heather WaldSeptember 28, 2023

Star Wars’ reluctance to recast Luke and Leia is holding the franchise back

By Bradley RussellSeptember 28, 2023

Gareth Edwards’ new sci-fi epic The Creator is here to revolutionize how blockbusters are made

By Fay WatsonSeptember 28, 2023

Saw X director on Jigsaw's chilling return and his new torturous traps

By Megan GarsideSeptember 27, 2023

I've found the perfect Barbie movie follow-up TTRPG

By Katie WickensSeptember 27, 2023

I haven't felt this way about a fighting game since I knocked myself out on a Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet at a bowling alley 30 years ago

By Joe DonnellySeptember 27, 2023

Load Comments
Recommended
Mortal Kombat 1 review: "An exceptional, confident fighting game"
Starfield review: "The best thing Bethesda's done since Oblivion"
  1. Cocoon screenshot showing quiet world exploration
    1
    Cocoon review: "An utterly spellbinding puzzle platformer"
  2. 2
    The Lamplighters League review: "a plucky competitor to the strategy juggernauts"
  3. 3
    EA Sports FC 24 review: "Kicks off the post-FIFA era with precision, power, and panache"
  4. 4
    Payday 3 review: "Competently crafted, yet stubbornly old-school"
  5. 5
    Witchfire review: "Enters Early Access with a bright future ahead of it"
  1. Fair Play
    1
    Fair Play review: "A gripping, sleek, and impressive debut feature"
  2. 2
    Saw X review: "Tobin Bell's comeback isn't sufficient X-cuse to resuscitate the series"
  3. 3
    The Creator review: "A stunning snapshot of the future"
  4. 4
    The Expendables 4: "What was once a fun OAP action series is now DOA"
  5. 5
    Cassandro review: "Should earn Gael García Bernal plenty of Oscar buzz"
  1. Our Flag Means Death
    1
    Our Flag Means Death season 2 review: "Taika Waititi's pirate comedy finds its sea legs"
  2. 2
    The Continental episode 2 review: "Feels too much like a prelude to the main event"
  3. 3
    Castlevania: Nocturne review: "Could be more fearsome than its Netflix big brother – if it shows more bite"
  4. 4
    Gen V season 1 review: "A hot mess but a damn good time"
  5. 5
    Ahsoka episode 7 review: "Won't be your favorite episode, but feels like archetypal Star Wars"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.