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A lot like WW2, but with a pause button...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 33 / 37
Date: July 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Ingredients:

1 cup Blitzkrieg
2 tsp A Bridge Too Far
Mixed statistics and HE shells
Big dollop of history

For anyone who ever wanted to click their way through World War 2, this latest real-time-strategy game from CDV may be just the thing. Players take on the role of German, British, American and Russian commanders, boldy leading platoons of little polygonal troops to death or glory. And it's really rather cool, n'all.

Viewed from above the battlefield, players can rotate, pan and tilt the camera to get the best view of the action, zooming out for a wider look at the field, or zooming in to watch individual soldiers take aim. 'Panzers boast an impressive variety of units, all highly detailed and distinctive, so you'll have no trouble telling them apart once things get frantic. Its quite a thrill to see infantry squads taking cover behind meticulously modeled walls and hedgerows, machine gun crews going prone and setting up their weapon bipods and the grit and decals clearly visible on armored units.

Like CDV's other RTS, Blitzkrieg, players must carefully manage and defend their units, since every squad that survives the mission will be carried forward to the next battle. In addition, battle-hardened troops gain experience that boosts their accuracy and mobility, so it's worth playing smart. To bolster your ranks you can purchase additional troops or vehicles before each mission. The game currency is 'prestige', earned principally by completing missions. It's possible to recieve a prestige bonus by completing a mission with few casualties, inflicting lots of damage on your foes or by finishing in record time, and there is immense replay value in trying to gain maximum points. Naturally, the practical payoff of careful planning will be more units to command next time around. Each completed mission concludes with a report from the battle, grading your performance, and this can be a real help in taking on the next challenge, seeing what you can do better etc.

There are lots of options to play around with on the battlefield; all units can be commanded to alter their behaviour, responding aggressively to threats or remaining passive (great for ambushes). In addition, infantry can be instructed to move crouched, or to crawl, which adds another dimension to your strategy. Infantry units can also occupy buildings and take control of captured vehicles - like Blitzkrieg, it's possible to take out a gun crew, for example, and then make off with the weapon, swelling your combat effectiveness mid-game. It's even possible to gently persuade tank crews to bail out by super-heating their ride with flamethrowers or molotov cocktails! Many units have alternate weapons, including grenades, landmines and rubber boats, so there's almost always more than one way to complete your objective. Battlefield support is often available in the form of bombers, recon planes or artillery. Like in Blitzkrieg, planes can't be directly controlled, rather, given a starting objective, so you need to use them wisely.

Everything in the game is rendered in loving detail, and the maps are no exception. There's an astonishing amount of attention paid to buildings (which can be reduced to shattered shells with sustained fire), and plenty of wonderful ambient details - grass and trees that sway in the wind, birds that flap lazily about, and the water effects are among the best I've ever seen in a strategy title. It's a pleasure to lead your troops through such varied locations, from the hedgerows of France to the frozen streets of Stalingrad. There's even a working weather - (in pouring rain your heavy armor may find itself bogged down) and a functioning day/night cycle that throws up new gameplay possibilities - why not wait until darkness falls to sneak your platoon right down the enemy's throat?

Mid-game cut sequences, using the game engine, occur periodically to highlight objectives or spotlight a particular event. Its a simple but effective way of introducing story elements into the game, and makes the whole sha-bang feel all the more personal. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a game speed button - it's possible to compress time for those long trips, or pause the action. The real boon of the pause function is that you can still rotate the view and issue orders in this mode. Large battles become a lot more manageable as a result, since you can pause the game, rattle off intructions, and then unpause and see how it all plays out. The fog of war, a common RTS element is present and correct, but 'Panzers throws the factor of sound into the mix...visual icons represent when your troops can hear, but not see, enemy troops or vehicles. There's a great sense of tension as you and your men hear the rumble of approaching armor, waiting to see what emerges from the fog...a platoon of tiger tanks anyone?

Any downsides? Well, you'll need a decent computer to get the most from all the graphical effects, although my P.4 handles it smoothly enough at 1280x960. CDV is a German publisher, and its pretty clear that all the English language, spoken and written, was translated from the original - non-sequiters and strange phrasings pop up in the mission briefings, and some of the soldier chatter is rather iffy. Still, there's so much charm on display here that it matters nought. Also, much like the WW2 action game Call Of Duty, it's a rather scripted experience - that is, you'll be facing the same enemy components each time you play a given mission. Still, battles seldom play out the same, and there's lots of room to make your own variety through tactics and troop selection. It's also difficult to recommend this title to anyone who was on the fence about Blitzkrieg. It doesn't offer anything radically different enough to truly seperate it from that title. Indeed, I think it's pretty fair to say that 'Panzers plays much like the plucky younger brother of Blitzkrieg, expanding on many ideas and refining others. Basically, if you liked that game you're gonna love this.

Armchair generals take note...this title represents a new wave of WW2 strategy, and would be a worthy medal to add to your collection.

A step forward for the RTS genre

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 20 / 20
Date: October 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

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.

I read all reviews before puchasing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 16
Date: April 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is the BEST ground based WW2 game on the market hands down. The details in the vehicles is stunning and accurate. The germans speak german, russian speak russian, etc. The missions are enjoyable with some very tough ones. The cut scenes are wonderfully done bringing in the characters the game portrays. Check out the longer reviews and in more depth as they are right on the money and its money well spent on this game.

Fresh New World War 2 RTS Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: October 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

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.

Reminds me of an all-time favorite

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: August 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

As a long time wargamer (I've been involved in the hobby more than 30 years), I've come to appreciate a wide range of games. In the end, "is it fun?" should be the most important question asked, and Codename Panzers responds with a resounding "yes!"

While there is something to be said for hardcore simulations and games that stick to the historical record on every details, such games can be a chore to play and beyond the opening setup, one really isn't replicating history anyway. Of all the computer wargames I've played (and I've played almost all of them over the years), my favorite was probably the highly-abstracted, "lite" wargame, Panzer General by SSI.

Codename: Panzers has a number of elements that bring back fond memories of this old classic. As one moves through the campaigns, "prestige" earned by winning battles can be spent to purchase more troops for one's force. Units that acquit themselves well in battle earn experience, making them more effective in combat. While it is most definitely a strategy game, these elements help develop an attachment to particular troops not unlike characters in an RPG. Finally, the player's alter-ego can earn medals by accomplishing his missions well.

Graphically, the game looks terrific. Codename: Panzers is among the games defining the new standard in graphical excellence when it comes to realtime strategy games. Virtually everything in the environment is destructable, adding greatly to the immersion factor that provides a compelling cinematic experience.

The missions, not unlike Panzer General, start easy and progressively become more difficult. Early on, one can get by using armor alone, but as the missions become more complex, combined arms operations are needed.

Codename: Panzers is a fair degree closer to historically accurate modeling than Panzer General, but those harboring high requirements in this regard should look to another CDV-published series, Combat Mission, for a better account. Some targets respond predicably when hit with certain weapons, others, however, require "attrition" to finally eliminate them. It wasn't tens of hits that destroyed powerful tanks - it was often one properly-placed shell immobilizing the unit or destroying it outright. Lines of sight are too short, as are engagement distances, particularly with armor. On the flip side, however, A Tiger tank takes very little damage to a head-on shot by a Sherman. The comparitive features and abilities of the units feels authentic, even if the implementation of the game system leans toward the abstract. The net effect is a fun game to play, and I approve of the results.

Mind boggling

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: February 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is the most realistic Tank Sim, I've seen to date period. Any time you can actually see the tracks on a tank moving, like real life, a lot of enthusiam had to go into it. The tanks look realistic, and everything else. If a gamer cannot appreciate the time and effort the company put into this game he,or she is not a true gamer. The soldiers run and walk,and crawl, like they do in real life. The tanks move and sound like they do in real life. If anyone is having trouble getting through a mission, feel free to e-mail me at ,,,,rome3rn@msn.com. However there are a few cheats out there that one can use to help them. You know.....MRHILTER....can give you support if you need it. When I write a review,about a game, you had better believe the game is worth it. Thank you ....A Disabled vet

Better than expected!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: April 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

What a fantastic game. I was shy about buying it after reading early reviews, but pleasently supprized. The overview map movement is the best feature, being able to watch the battlefield from any side, and zoom in on units or points on the map. The unit detail is outstanding and the troop movement is realistic. That being said, the cut scenes were silly and childish and the plot is so so. However the overall game is fun, and the unit selection is wide. If you loved Sudden Strike or Blitzkrieg you will LOVE this. I do!

Nice RTS for those who don't like to micromanage

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: September 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I played the previews, and got a full copy of this recently. Personally, I love it. The fact is, it's a solid RTS that doesn't have you spending all day micromanaging. I'm really tired of resource gathering RTS's, and thank heavens, this has none of that in it. You get allocated Prestige Points at the beginning of each round to spend on extra units. This lets you decide what sort of tactical mix of units you're going to need for the job.

The units are both complete and detailed. They are based on real-world historical units, though they did seem to throw in some extra units (like the Tiger Tank) for fun, I could be wrong though, I'm not a history major.

I'm a graphics junkie, so it's nice to see the cool visuals in Panzers. You can zoom in real tight and see all kinds of nice detail, from patches on uniforms to dented tank armor. I wouldn't try playing this game from the close-in zoom yet, it's a bit too "in your face" at that level. But it is cool to check out a tank ripping up terrain at ground level. Also, even at the highest settings, Panzers doesn't cripple your PC and slip into single digit framerates.

Overall, the gameplay is easy to pick up and understand, the graphics are great and the online co-op mode makes it really cool online. Love it.

Surprisingly fun strategy game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: September 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

While it might not be as complex or in-depth as other strategy games, it's also a lot more fun. The action moves fast, and you get to spend your time completing missions, rather than having to keep track of resources and troop building. I also like that the AI isn't too difficult, it's not easy, but it's also not painfully difficult to progress through the missions.

You can play as Germans, Russians or the US/Britain, which lets you test out all their vehicles and troops to see what you like best. The graphics for all the units are tight, with lots of detail. And there's a nice variety of units, and it's not just the same unit with different skins to make you think it's something else, but then it has the same attack and defense levels as the enemy's tanks.

The only thing I wish it had were some more online options, but that's a minor nitpick, since the single player is really good.

Great Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: December 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game has it all. When you were playing with toy soldiers in the sandbox this is what you were hoping for.Take the easy format for move and shoot, add all the stuff from Squad Leader and some great 3D graphics like tanks knocking over trees and buildings caving-in and you got this game.

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