Company of Heroes 3 (Premium Edition)

Company of Heroes 3 (Premium Edition) is a real-time strategy game set across the Italian and North African theaters of World War II, offering players dynamic campaigns, tactical combat, and faction-based storytelling. Developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sega, this premium edition includes the base game, the ‘Devil’s Brigade’ DLC, exclusive cosmetics, and physical collectibles like a metal case, double-sided map, service medal, and embroidered patch. New mechanics such as the Tactical Pause system and enhanced environmental destruction add strategic depth to the series’ acclaimed gameplay.

Company of Heroes 3 (Premium Edition): Review

Introduction

The Company of Heroes franchise has long stood as a titan of the real-time strategy genre, revered for its cinematic approach to World War II combat and innovative blend of tactical depth and squad-based storytelling. With Company of Heroes 3 (Premium Edition), developer Relic Entertainment and publisher Sega sought to redefine the series’ legacy by transporting players to the sun-scorched battlefields of the Mediterranean—a theater brimming with untold stories and strategic possibilities. Building on its predecessors’ foundations while introducing bold new systems, CoH3 is both a love letter to longtime fans and an ambitious bid to modernize the RTS genre. Yet, as this exhaustive review reveals, the journey to tactical supremacy is marred by initial missteps, ultimately redeemed through relentless post-launch refinement.

Development History & Context

Studio Vision & Challenges

Relic Entertainment, having honed its craft over two decades with seminal titles like Homeworld and the original Company of Heroes (2006), entered CoH3’s development with a clear mandate: evolve the franchise without alienating its core audience. The studio leaned heavily on its proprietary Essence Engine 5.0, aiming to push destructible environments, dynamic lighting, and large-scale battles further than ever. However, technological constraints arose, particularly in balancing visual fidelity with performance across PC and its first-ever console ports (PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X|S).

The Mediterranean Gamble

The choice to pivot from the Eastern and Western Fronts to the Mediterranean theater—specifically Italy and North Africa—was deliberate. As revealed in developer diaries, Relic sought “environmental diversity” and “verticality” to revitalize moment-to-moment tactics. Early player council feedback (comprising modders and competitive veterans) overwhelmingly favored this setting over the Pacific, citing historical novelty and terrain-driven gameplay.

Release Landscape & Pressure

Launching in February 2023 amid a resurgent RTS market (Age of Empires IV, Men of War II), CoH3 faced sky-high expectations. Its protracted development cycle, including a delay from November 2022 for polishing, hinted at underlying turbulence. The Premium Edition’s packaging—bundling the base game, Devil’s Brigade DLC, and lavish physical extras (metal case, double-sided map, collector’s book)—targeted collectors but couldn’t mask a rushed launch riddled with technical shortcomings.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Campaigns: Ambition vs. Execution

CoH3 delivers two distinct campaigns reflecting contrasting design philosophies:
– Italian Dynamic Campaign: A sandbox-style operational layer reminiscent of Total War, where players command Allied forces across a turn-based strategic map. Choices—like liberating towns or sabotaging supply lines—ripple through a branching narrative. Characters like the brash General Norton and partisan leader Valeria Rossi add flavor, though their arcs suffer from inconsistent pacing and underdeveloped voice acting. While innovative, the campaign’s AI unpredictability and disjointed objectives (pre-2.0 patch) diluted its emotional impact.
– North African Operation: A linear, mission-driven tale pitting the British “Desert Rats” against Rommel’s Afrikakorps. Tightly scripted and historically grounded, it excels in set-piece battles (e.g., El Alamein) but falters in character depth, reducing adversaries like Hauptmann Meier to stereotypical “cunning Germans.”

Themes & Authenticity

Thematically, CoH3 grapples with resistance, sacrifice, and the fog of war. The Italian campaign’s reliance on partisans underscores guerrilla warfare’s moral ambiguities, while North Africa’s desolation mirrors the existential stakes of desert combat. Yet, the writing often leans on WWII clichés, lacking the narrative heft of Band of Brothers-inspired moments from earlier entries.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Combat: Refined Yet Familiar

At its heart, CoH3 retains the series’ signatureReal-Time Tactics (RTT) DNA:
– Four Factions: The US Forces, British Commonwealth, Wehrmacht, and Afrikakorps each boast unique rosters and playstyles. The Afrikakorps’ mechanized mobility contrasts sharply with British defensive emplacements.
– Innovations:
– Tactical Pause: A game-changer for solo play, allowing players to freeze time, queue commands, and orchestrate complex maneuvers.
– Breach Mechanics: Infantry can storm garrisons dynamically, flushing out enemies with grenades or flamethrowers.
– Destruction 2.0: Buildings crumble in stages, creating emergent cover or flattening into open terrain.
– Height & True Sight: Verticality impacts line-of-sight and accuracy, rewarding high-ground control.

Battlegroups & Progression

Replacing CoH2’s Commanders, Battlegroups let players customize armies via unlockable abilities (e.g., airborne drops, artillery strikes). While adding strategic flexibility, initial balance issues plagued multiplayer—US Forces’ versatility often overshadowed Axis factions until post-launch patches.

Multiplayer & Endgame

Despite a rocky start (missing replays, leaderboards), CoH3’s PvP evolved into a highlight. Four factions, combined arms synergy, and destructible maps foster frenetic, cerebral skirmishes. The console port’s controller adaptation surprised critics, though the lack of crossplay remains a sore point.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Visuals: From Flawed to Flourishing

Launch-era criticism targeted CoH3’s “flat” textures, inconsistent animations, and baffling color grading. The 2.0 update overhauled these elements, delivering crisp unit models, realistic explosions, and lush Mediterranean vistas—Italian cliffside villages and North African dunes now pop with atmosphere.

Sound Design: War’s Symphony

Early sound issues (muted gunfire, absent suppression cues) were rectified post-launch. Weapons now crack with bass-heavy authenticity, while orchestral swells punctuate key moments. Voice acting remains uneven—Norton’s bravado grates, but Rossi’s resilient murmurs resonate.

Setting as Character

Italy’s rugged topography and North Africa’s expanses aren’t mere backdrops; they dictate tactics. Mountain passes demand cautious advances, while desert plains reward flanking maneuvers. The Premium Edition’s physical map reinforces this immersion, inviting players to strategize beyond the screen.

Reception & Legacy

Launch Turbulence

Metacritic scores reflected a divided response: 81 (PC) vs. 70 (PS5). Critics lauded the core combat (IGN: “Spectacular RTS”) but skewered the Italian campaign’s janky AI (PC Gamer: “Fundamentally broken”). Player outrage centered on missing QoL features and a functional microtransaction store at launch—a sour contrast to the unfinished base game.

Redemption Arc

Relic’s post-launch support mirrored No Man’s Sky’s turnaround. The 2.0 update (May 2025) fixed AI, rebalanced factions, and revamped the Dynamic Campaign’s progression. Community goodwill surged, buoyed by expansions (Hammer & Shield) and a thriving mod scene via Steam Workshop.

Industry Impact

Though overshadowed by Age of Empires IV’s polish, CoH3’s Tactical Pause and hybrid campaign map influenced contemporaries like Men of War II. Its nomination for Best Sim/Strategy at The Game Awards 2023 signaled industry respect, even if it lost to Pikmin 4.

Conclusion

Company of Heroes 3 (Premium Edition) is a study in contrasts: a flawed masterpiece that stumbled from the gate yet clawed its way to redemption. Its Mediterranean theater breathes new life into WWII strategy, while innovations like Tactical Pause and destructible environments set a high bar for the genre. The Premium Edition’s extras—particularly the collector’s book and historical paraphernalia—delight history buffs, though they can’t fully offset the base game’s rocky launch.

Two years post-release, CoH3 stands as a testament to Relic’s perseverance. It may lack the narrative punch of the original or the grim austerity of its sequel, but its refined mechanics, robust multiplayer, and dynamic campaigns cement it as a vital chapter in RTS history. For series loyalists and strategy aficionados, this is a campaign worth enlisting in—preferably on sale, with patience for its scars. 8/10 – A Tactical Triumph, Earned Through Fire and Steel.