Codename: Panzers Phase One
by CDV Software
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Video Game Reviews of Codename: Panzers Phase One
Customer Review: It's sucks
Summary: 2 Stars
Totally agree with mark. After games like Soldiers: Herous of WWII, Blietzkrig - this game is totally unrealistic. Just another arcade. Forgive me for my bad english.Customer Review: A step forward for the RTS genre
Summary: 4 Stars
Codename: Panzers is a nice break from the traditional build-and-destroy RTS games. It's an action-oriented strategy game, ignoring all aspects of economy and focusing on the strategy and tactics of warfare. This game delivers on its gameplay promises and then some.
The presentation of this game is simply astounding. There has never been a RTS game with as lush and immersive visuals as this game. It features a fully-3D environment with highly detailed environments and units. The level of detail and interactivity is impressive. Trees waver in the wind and can be knocked down by your tanks or artillery fire and power lines can be broken and knocked down. Explosions and special effects are done well and realistic and the level designs and textures are fantastic. The developers wasted no expense in making the levels as accurate as possible, mimicking german towns or russian cities down to the last detail. It really helps to create an immersive environment and it truly does feel like you're back in 1939, whether in wide-open fields or in bombed-out cities. The audio is also well-incorporated and you can literally feel the blast of artillery fire as it rips through the battlefield. The sound of advancing enemy tanks also helps create a feeling of tension before each major battle.
The units were also great and varied. The tanks are modelled well and are accurate for the most part and the infantry are highly-specialized, ranging from riflemen to mortar teams to flamethrowers. There are a lot of different strategies and tactics you can adopt for any given situation, making the game more than just a run-and-shoot game. Tank blitzes are always fun but you can also choose to bombard enemies from long range with siege weapons or soften them up with bombing runs. You can also have infantry occupy buildings for cover and support. The real focus of the game is around tanks and large-scale tank battles are the real selling point for the game. They are what I crave for in every mission and for most of the missions they deliver. However, using infantry to incapacitate lone tanks (or even take them over) can also be fun and rewarding.
The story and characters haven't been neglected either. The story is told through cutscenes and journal entries and they show the state of the war and the personal thoughts of the commander you are playing. There are three heroes, one for each of the three campaigns and you get to know them very well by the end. Your role as the commander hero is prevalent and in fact I felt such an empathy with them that I wanted them to succeed in all their missions, even though I knew they wouldn't from history. You also form a bond with your men as you maintain relatively the same array of units from level to level and they won't be replaced in-game. It gets to the point where a single unit killed is a major blow. This is a definitive break from economy-based RTS games where you can simply replace lost units and the true reward of a mission is coming out with all your men alive.
Of course every game has its ups and downs and this game is no exception. There are a number of gripes I have with the game. I personally found the AI severely lacking. Often times enemies will simply stand there while you pummel them with artillery and they don't use any real strategies. Moving units can also be a big hassle, especially tanks. They seem to take up more space than they do visibly and they often times get trapped or cut off others, forcing them to shuffle around unnecessarily to get into position. These issues aren't anything new for RTS games and in fact I have encountered them in almost all RTS games. They don't ruin the game by any means but it would be nice to see enemies using coordinated attacks and units moving in logical formations. The game also could have used some background music and some more varied unit voice-overs. All the heroes seem to say the same thing. The game also isn't too realistic in its gameplay, although no one wants to play a game that's too real. I wouldn't really consider it a flaw as just about every game foregoes realism for the sake of gameplay (first-person games wouldn't be much fun if you died by a single gunshot ;)).
Overall I would give this game a 85% rating. No game is perfect but this game comes close considering its goal. In a genre dominated by build-and-destroy Warcraft or Command and Conquer games Codename: Panzers is something different that sets itself apart from the masses and succeeds. It is truly a step forward in RTS games and it's nice to just get into battles and fight. It features unparalleled graphics, fast-action gameplay with large tank battles, and good warfare elements. It's easy enough for the average gamer to get into yet provides enough complexity and strategy elements to satisfy the hardcore RTS gamer. If you're a fan of World War 2 games or action-oriented RTS games then this game will be perfect for you. It is certainly worth playing if you're into the genre at all.
Customer Review: Fresh New World War 2 RTS Game
Summary: 4 Stars
Codename: Panzers is a WWII RTS game with small snippets of turn-based gameplay. Unlike other RTS game, it doesn't require you to manage resources. You don't have to keep your economy thriving in order to build and train more units. It concentrates on tactics, not unit production, which is a great direction to take this type of game. You control groups on solders, not individual units which in my opinion, almost every other RST game should have so you can think in terms of groups, and not stragglers. Playing through this game with a friend via the internet or LAN is another experience all RTS games should ship with. Lots of fun.
Graphics in this game are un-matched. From the texture detail on each unit, to the realness of the environments, this game has eye candy up the you know what. Explosions are better looking then any game i have played, in any genre.
Sound really shines as well. It supports EAX3.0 (Codec sound driver from Creative that adds advanced crispness and sound positioning). Music is great but the voice acting is pretty lackluster.
Overall, an awesome game, one that I can recommend to RTS game fan. You should be happy with your purchase, i know i am.
Customer Review: Lovely to look at, but totally un-realistic in play...
Summary: 2 Stars
Firstly PC wargames seem to fall into 3 catagories:-
Firstly the first-person shoot-em up variety
- and there have been some fantastic games in this genre recently, including front-line command and incredibly atmospheric calll-of-duty command.
Secondly there a the more strategic games - like suddenstrike and blitzkreig - which (especially with mods) seemed like a much more stragic view of combat - where you control cool-looking groups tanks and soldiers into combat....moving and positioning all your troops for a killer attack...
Its in the third new group that code-name panzers falls, trying to mix the latest of 3D graphics with WW2 RTS, with an emphasis on tactics/strategy...
While I truly love this genre of game, this game is a very mixed effort with often very good graphics (although looking a little unrealistically shaded at times), and lovely effect scenere...
What unforgivable is the total lack of realism...
making the exact same mistakes that many of its predicessors make; only making them far-worse...(in part no doubt due to its detailed close-up graphical engine that does'nt really lend itself to long-distance panoramic shots of combat...)
Firstly the graphical are often a feast to look at....
Tanks drive, well pretty much like tanks would!
troops move more the way you'd expect, and it looks like one of the nicest graphical engines Ive seen for sometime in this genre...
Whats really disapointing is its almost total lack of realism...
The top German tanks (the king-tiger) can no-longer take out allied tanks with one hit [even on the easiest level!], heck they can barely shoot half way down a city block...?
Even worse your prized example of German engineering are vunerable to relativly weak enemy tanks....
(when anyone who's even watched footage knows just how deadly and almost invunerable these tanks were...!)
Mobilile artilery barely sends a shell any further,
when in reality it ought to be able to shoot miles away
(or at least to the edge of the screen please!)
but now seems strangely innefective...
The famed german anti-aircraft/tank guns, the 88 (see it in the series "Band of Brothers"!) which could destroy almost any tank at long-range with a single shot...now it can barely shoot half way down the block, and strugles to kill trucks at close range!!
Air-support might be 1940s era, but strangely it seems to arrive within seconds (something not even modern US airpower has mastered!) so one wonders if these chaps couldnt teach the US govt a thing or two..!
Heavy Artilerly is incredibly accurate (it sure wasnt in reality, it killed masses of our own troops!) and impotent
(a large arty shell on a tank could really ruin your day!)
I could go on and on, but it would seem in there relentless drive to make it fab looking they've forgotten about why we play these games...
Those who dont care at all about history can play Warhammer 40000, but those who do love the feeling of been able pretend for a minute "what if I was there..." - but with this game I get the feeling from the go that Im just playing a nice-looking arcade like game...
No-one expects a game to model reality too exactly (being hit at 2km wouldnt be much fun either!) but this is truly ridiculous... unless someone comes out with a reality mody I cant even be bothered playing this game...
Until then I guess I'll have to dust off SuddenStrike and
waiting for Wartime Command to come out...
IN the video that looks fab and apparently they've focussed more on the realism front...(which wouldnt be hard!!)
Overall - 2 stars, although I was tempted to give it one for making so many elementairy mistakes...
Imho - for the war-game RTS player...avoid for now...
Customer Review: Only tried the Demo so-far, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
If there was a lot missing from the Demo in terms of interface and ability, then that was a poor marketing decision by the developer - They always say First-impressions are EVERYTHING.
What I saw and tried to use was not at all as good as I expected. I've only played the Demo, however; The game has been out in Europe for a bit now, and they could have improved/updated the Demo if it didn't reflect the actual game's quality and functions.
Newcomers to the RTS WW2 game may find this title very enjoyable. It IS different from most RTS titles out there in both good and bad ways. But the only way to fully appreciate this fact is to play as many others as possible. There ARE RTS games I would consider better regardless of Codename: Panzers merits. Saying that, this game is an excellent "starter", though seasoned RTS fans may find the same flaws I did once the "Eyecandy-Wows!" wear off.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this game is "Phase One" meaning that it's sure to become a series like many others have. These games usually evolve and improve with each build. I have read some very reasonable criticisms of the first Blitzkrieg game and they seem to have listened and made dramatic improvements with the sequel, "Blitzkrieg - Burning Horizon", and the follow-up, "Blitzkrieg - Rolling Thunder" should follow this trend.
PROS:
- Lush 3D landscapes - They really put a lot of time and energy into this part.
- Better than average Sound, maybe better with high-end Sound Cards and Speakers. Sound FX seemed decent to say the least.
- Well done "Dead". The blood wasn't bright red but a more realistic crimson. And the corpses seemed more random than in other games which repeatedly use the same figure in the same "dead" pose.
- Adequate visual detail to vehicles. Adheres to the standards presented by other games. It may exceed them but it's hard to tell off hand.
- Figures seemed to move realistically, though the Prone shooting postion was incorrect (legs close together, not spread- out)
CONS:
- Limited array of voices for the characters and figures. This may be a limitation of the Demo, but still. First-impressions and all...
- Inconsistant uniform details (at least in game-play): If you're gonna' brag about it, follow-through all the way. The US characters would make any Re-enactor/Living History buff livid.
- Difficult to see and understand GUI. Seemed overly-simplistic and vague. Critical buttons/menus not well-placed if extant.
- Settings options limited - compares poorly to Blitzkrieg or Combat Mission.
- Minor anachronistic details, such as a Cross ball-point pen (1947 and not yet in a matte finish), etc.
BOTTOM LINE:
Not a complete waste of time or money. Entertaining for some, disappointing for others. Those on tight budgets who want a game to bite into may want to try the demos of this and other RTS games first.
This is just my own opinion and observations on this game like any review, mind you. And again, I have only played the Demo version so-far, thus my opinions and observations may be inaccurate.