Product Reviews

World War II-set Company of Heroes is the greatest real-time strategy game ever made, according to some. Its only problem is that when you play it, you could be forgiven for thinking the Americans won the war on their own. This standalone expansion pack addresses that, not only by introducing the British into the game, but by making them Company of Heroes' most enjoyable side to date.

They're not the usual stiff-upper-lipped stereotypes: these guys are made of pure grit, and express it by being hilariously foul-mouthed and incredibly resilient. While Company of Heroes' other armies are primarily

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offensive forces, the British work best as a defensive entity, digging in and weathering the Axis storm until they've enough resources to call in some truly devastating artillery.

Their opposite number, the German Panzer Elite, sacrifice heavy armour for high mobility and plenty of punch, and make life a nightmare for Allied tanks. They're not as endearing as the Brits - being Nazis, this comes with the territory - but they, too, are far from the balanced armies of the original Company of Heroes. Both new factions break with some of the traditions of the parent game and the genre to rejuvenate and rethink a classic game.

As a result, Opposing Fronts isn't as accessible as its forerunner. As the two new factions are so different from others in the genre, things get complicated very quickly. If you're not familiar with Company of Heroes, it'll take a while to get your head around this. It's made for multiplayer, but the forgettable single-player campaign doesn't entirely nail how the Brits and Panzers are best used in the intensity of an online match. Opposing Fronts is a military marvel if you enjoyed Company of Heroes, but prepare for a steep learning curve.