Company of Heroes 3

The storytelling in Company of Heroes 3 has received mixed reviews from critics. Positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include the immersive voice acting, compelling storytelling from different perspectives, and the emotional weight of World War II depicted successfully. Critics like CGMagazine and Impulsegamer appreciated the game's exploration of the cruelty of war and the inclusion of letters from soldiers sharing their victories and defeats. Additionally, Pure Xbox praised the mix of old-school Company of Heroes gameplay with a strong narrative, including the controversial decision to have players control Erwin Rommel in North Africa. On the other hand, negative feedback regarding the story of Company of Heroes 3 includes criticisms of disconnected cutscenes from gameplay, pacing issues, and a lack of historical context. Shacknews and Digitally Downloaded expressed concerns about the game's failure to effectively address the war, with Shacknews specifically mentioning the shallow narrative style and lack of historical context, especially regarding the Jewish experience in North Africa during World War II. Metro GameCentral found the main story campaign to be dull and lacking genuinely new ideas, while PC Gamer noted that while the game attempted to balance playing as historical villains with telling less well-known stories, the storytelling ultimately lacked impact. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the story of Company of Heroes 3 is mixed. While some reviewers appreciated the variety, twists, and challenging combat scenarios offered by the story, others found issues with disconnected storytelling elements, lack of historical depth, and pacing problems. The game seems to excel in capturing the emotional weight of war and offering unique gameplay experiences, but it falls short in fully immersing players in the historical context and delivering a cohesive narrative that resonates with the war setting. Critics like GAMES.CH and TheXboxHub praised the enjoyable and varied story, while others like Screen Rant and New Game Network pointed out shortcomings in storytelling execution. Ultimately, Company of Heroes 3's story seems to have strengths and weaknesses that cater to different preferences among players and critics alike.

The gameplay of Company of Heroes 3 has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the majority of critics, highlighting various aspects that contribute to its excellence. Critics such as Movies Games and Tech, Gamer.nl, and Eurogamer Poland praise the tactical depth, cover system, and strategic essence of the gameplay, emphasizing the importance of unit positioning, weaponizing, and map control. The introduction of new mechanics like active pause, diverse factions with unique characteristics, and engaging tactical battles in both single-player and multiplayer modes, as noted by IGN Adria and Eurogamer Germany, further enhance the gameplay experience. The ability to plan moves in advance, immersive battles, and the inclusion of strategic elements like base building and territory capture, as mentioned by Cultured Vultures and Push Square, add layers of complexity and enjoyment to the gameplay. On the flip side, Worth Playing stands out as a critic who points out flaws in the gameplay of Company of Heroes 3, citing issues such as game-breaking bugs, nonsensical UI decisions, and balance problems. SpazioGames also notes struggles with unit selection and pathfinding issues, which may hinder the overall experience for some players. Additionally, GRYOnline.pl mentions the absence of certain features like tanks running over infantry, which could impact the realism and immersion of the gameplay. While these criticisms are valid and important to consider, they seem to be in the minority compared to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the majority of reviewers who found the gameplay to be engaging, strategic, and well-implemented. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Company of Heroes 3 delivers a highly enjoyable and immersive gameplay experience that stays true to the series while introducing innovative mechanics and strategic depth. The game's blend of real-time tactical battles, turn-based elements, diverse missions, and faction specialties, as highlighted by various critics such as Meristation and Shacknews, offers a balanced and engaging gameplay experience. The positive mentions of intense strategy, map design, dynamic campaigns, and the tactical pause feature indicate a high level of satisfaction and enjoyment from the gaming community. Despite a few criticisms regarding technical issues and missing features, the overall sentiment towards the gameplay of Company of Heroes 3 remains overwhelmingly positive, making it a standout title in the real-time strategy genre.

The Graphics and Visual Design of Company of Heroes 3 have received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Several reviewers praised the game for its detailed environments, impressive destruction effects, and visually stunning landscapes. Critics like CGMagazine and Pure Xbox highlighted the beautifully detailed maps and visually impressive elements, such as destructible environments and detailed vehicles. Gamereactor UK also appreciated the atmospheric graphics in villages and the engaging animations like breaching houses, enhancing the overall visual experience. The game's ability to showcase different terrains, from snow-covered towns to deserts and oasis-like city squares, was noted by CGMagazine, adding variety and visual appeal to the gameplay experience. On the other hand, some critics pointed out various shortcomings in the graphics department of Company of Heroes 3. PlayStation Universe and Screen Rant mentioned issues with blurry textures, fluctuating framerates, and lack of polish in textures and shadows. Gamereactor UK criticized the strategic map for being simple and not very visually appealing. Eurogamer Poland and Finger Guns highlighted concerns about visuals feeling last generation, lack of depth and detail, and art style that may not appeal to everyone. These criticisms suggest that while the game has its visual strengths, there are areas where improvements could be made to enhance the overall graphical experience. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Company of Heroes 3 leans towards a positive reception with some room for improvement. While the game impresses with its detailed environments, destruction effects, and immersive historical settings, there are notable drawbacks like blurry textures, fluctuating framerates, and lack of visual polish in certain areas. Critics like PC Gamer and Vandal appreciated the exceptional destruction effects and detailed units, while others like Eurogamer Poland and Finger Guns raised concerns about the visuals feeling dated. Despite these criticisms, the majority of reviewers acknowledged the game's strengths in delivering a visually engaging World War II strategy experience, albeit with some areas that could be refined in future updates.

The Sound Design and Music of Company of Heroes 3 have garnered praise from several critics for various aspects. CGMagazine commends the impressive sound design, noting the minute detail in every sound, outstanding voice acting, and characters portrayed with weight and emotion. Player 2 also highlights the immersive audio design, mentioning hilariously dark-humored squad banter, booming explosions, and panicked calls for help. Additionally, Cultured Vultures and Softpedia appreciate the phenomenal soundtrack that adds to the immersive experience, with Softpedia specifically mentioning how the music emphasizes narrative beats and the grandeur of engagements. On the other hand, some critics have pointed out certain drawbacks in the Sound Design and Music of Company of Heroes 3. PlayStation Universe criticizes the voice acting as cringeworthy, mentioning that units sound too cheerful given the warzone setting. Gamereactor UK, in their PC playthrough, notes that the background music can be repetitive at times, with a limited selection of suspenseful tunes, which may detract from the overall experience. Pocket-lint also criticizes the music for being overly bombastic and overblown at times, suggesting that it might not always complement the gameplay effectively. Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards the positive side regarding the Sound Design and Music of Company of Heroes 3. Critics like Push Square and COGconnected praise the exemplary sound design and terrific sounds of the battlefield, respectively. TheXboxHub specifically mentions the rousing war music score. While there are some criticisms, such as those from PlayStation Universe and Gamereactor UK regarding voice acting and music repetition, the majority of critics appreciate the immersive audio elements that enhance the gameplay experience. The diverse range of sounds and fitting music, as noted by Vandal, further contribute to enhancing the overall gaming experience, making Company of Heroes 3 a standout title in terms of its audio design and music.

The voice acting in Company of Heroes 3 has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from multiple critics. TheXboxHub commends the voiceover as brilliant, full of character, and superbly acted throughout, setting a high standard for the game. Checkpoint Gaming also highlights the emotive and realistic voice acting that adds to the immersive atmosphere of the game, enhancing the player's experience. Gamer.nl appreciates how the voice acting adds personality to the units, making them more than just numbers in the army, showcasing the depth and attention to detail in the character portrayals. While the majority of critics praise the voice acting in Company of Heroes 3, there is a lack of negative feedback regarding this aspect of the game. No critic explicitly mentions any issues or drawbacks related to the voice acting, indicating a consensus among reviewers that this element of the game was well-executed and successful in enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the voice acting in Company of Heroes 3. CGMagazine notes that the voice acting in the campaign was immersive and not over-the-top, suggesting a balanced and well-integrated approach to character portrayals. COGconnected describes the dialogue and acting as well-written and engaging, emphasizing the quality of the voice performances in enhancing the narrative and player engagement. Movies Games and Tech's praise for the voice acting and dialogue further solidifies the positive reception of this aspect of the game. In conclusion, the voice acting in Company of Heroes 3 is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the immersive and engaging nature of the game, garnering widespread acclaim from critics across different platforms.

The technical performance of Company of Heroes 3 on the PS5 seems to have garnered positive feedback from several critics. God is a Geek mentions that the PS5 version is stable with fewer technical issues compared to the PC version. Impulsegamer highlights that the game on PS5 is relatively bug-free, with consistent framerates even during intense moments. MeuPlayStation also praises the smooth performance on PS5 without any reported performance issues or crashes. Eurogamer Germany notes that the performance mode on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 is stable, even in larger battles. On the flip side, some critics have pointed out technical issues on different gaming platforms. Push Square mentions technical hiccups on the PS5 version, including unstable shadows and frame drops. Pure Xbox reports performance issues on Xbox Series X, with stuttering problems in quality mode and visual artifacts in performance mode. Finger Guns notes decent performance on PC but highlights issues with visuals and art style. Eurogamer Poland and GamingTrend mention frame rate drops and AI pathfinding problems on the PC version, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the PS5 version of Company of Heroes 3 seems to offer a stable and smooth performance according to critics like Impulsegamer and MeuPlayStation, there are still technical issues present on both the Xbox Series X and PC platforms. Critics like Push Square and Eurogamer Poland have pointed out specific issues such as frame rate drops, AI problems, and pathfinding issues that affect the gameplay experience. Despite some positive feedback on performance from critics like Vandal and PC Gamer, the consensus among reviewers suggests that technical issues, including bugs, glitches, and AI problems, persist across different gaming platforms, impacting the overall enjoyment of Company of Heroes 3. Additional patches and updates may be necessary to address these concerns and enhance the technical performance of the game.

The Replay Value of Company of Heroes 3 is widely praised by critics, with many highlighting the diverse gameplay options that contribute to its longevity. Critics such as Gamereactor UK and MeuPlayStation appreciate the multiple campaigns, skirmish mode, and competitive multiplayer, providing players with hours of gameplay and unpredictable battles. Player 2 and Pure Xbox commend the customisable company skill trees, diverse tactical options, and deep Co-Op and PvP online play, enhancing the replayability of the game. Additionally, Cultured Vultures and Gamer.nl mention the distinct factions, engaging campaigns, and varied map designs that cater to both veteran and new players, adding to the overall replay value. On the other hand, some critics point out certain drawbacks that may impact the Replay Value of Company of Heroes 3. CGMagazine notes that the AI in skirmish mode lacks proper difficulty ramping, which can lead to frustrations impacting replayability. Finger Guns mentions that while the game has a solid foundation, it may feel tedious in certain aspects, and GameSpew expresses concerns about the game feeling too similar to previous entries, potentially diminishing its replay value. Vandal also highlights AI issues that detract from the experience, which could hinder the overall enjoyment and replayability of the game for some players. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Company of Heroes 3 offers substantial replay value through its diverse gameplay modes, deep strategic options, and engaging campaigns. Critics such as Eurogamer Germany and IGN Italia praise the competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes, mod support, and various map options that enhance replayability. Despite some criticisms regarding AI challenges and lack of innovation, the majority of reviewers acknowledge the game's extensive content, strategic depth, and potential for long-term engagement, making it a recommended choice for fans of the genre seeking a rewarding and immersive gaming experience.