Codename: Panzers - Cold War
- May 6, 2009
- Stormregion
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Codename: Panzers - Cold War" is a real-time strategy game set in a divided post-World War II Europe. The game's storyline revolves around the fictional "Tempelhof Incident," which triggers a full-scale conflict between the Western powers and the Soviet Union. Players can command forces from both sides, participating in battles across land, air, and sea in an intense struggle for global supremacy. Experience the tension of the Cold War turned hot in this immersive and action-packed strategy game.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great graphics and special effects that enhance immersion.
- Engaging WW2 strategy gameplay with multiple choices in upgrades and equipment.
- Fun and nostalgic experience for fans of the Codename Panzers series.
- Frequent crashes and performance issues, making the game unplayable for many users.
- Poor AI and pathfinding, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Lack of historical accuracy and depth in the storyline and unit variety.
- story40 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in "Codename Panzers: Cold War" has received largely negative feedback, with many players describing it as cringe-worthy and poorly executed compared to its predecessors. The narrative is criticized for being generic and lacking depth, often feeling like a simplistic portrayal of American ideals against the USSR. Additionally, the game's presentation, including minimal cutscenes and amateur voice acting, detracts from the overall immersion and engagement with the storyline.
“Interesting fact, the game itself is good with an interesting storyline and missions.”
“Set in an alternative timeline where things have been developed much earlier than our own, it still has a very good plot that brings about World War 3 and possibly nuclear armageddon.”
“This is a pretty good game with a storyline fit for any freedom-loving person.”
“The story in the first Panzers game was cringe and funny, the story in the second was lighthearted and alright, the story here is cringe and just plain bad.”
“Then there's the story, which is so ridiculous that it becomes more painful to watch the longer you play.”
“The ending of the plot doesn't make any sense, mostly because it's hastily wrapped up in a final cutscene that plays more like a quick-cut montage.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics are praised for their quality and special effects, especially considering the game's age, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up well. While some performance issues may arise at higher settings, the visuals are generally described as impressive, contributing positively to the gameplay experience. The game's graphics, combined with interesting physics effects and well-programmed AI, enhance the alternate history narrative set during the early Cold War.
“The graphics and special effects look great.”
“The game's graphics and effects are really good for its age, with well-programmed AI (for example, if you want to shoot a repairing truck, it will try to go behind its allied tank to avoid hits).”
“You should definitely give it a try; the graphics are awesome, and the gameplay is incredibly good.”
“The game graphics were decent, but they felt outdated and lacked the polish expected from modern titles.”
“The graphics are underwhelming and do not do justice to the game's potential.”
“While the controls are fine, the graphics leave much to be desired and detract from the overall experience.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it barebones and lacking complexity, while others appreciate its fun and challenging nature, particularly for fans of RTS and strategy games. The graphics are praised, and the fast-paced action between factions adds excitement, though some feel the learning curve may deter newcomers. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable, it may not meet the high expectations of seasoned players.
“Simple premise, not many complicated mechanics, nothing not to love.”
“You should definitely give it a try; the graphics are awesome, and the gameplay is incredibly good.”
“Awesome RTS with Dawn of War 2 style, very good graphics, and fast-paced gameplay. Two factions, Soviets and Allies, go to a third world war in 1949.”
“The gameplay is very barebones and boring.”
“However, learning the gameplay required more time than those who have not already played RTS and strategy games would probably enjoy.”
“As for gameplay, I'm coming off of the COH franchise, so my expectations are rather high.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game suffers from notable optimization issues, particularly on modern systems, leading to light stuttering and occasional crashes during quick loads. While the graphics are appealing for its release period, players are advised to avoid high settings to mitigate performance problems, including audio glitches between missions.
“First, let's talk performance.”
“I will say it has some performance issues, so try not to go too high on graphics settings (they do look quite nice considering when it was made).”
“I will say, it has some performance issues, so try not to go too high on graphics settings (they do look quite nice considering when it was made).”
“Ran the game on Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with light stuttering every now and then and a very rare crash during quick loads.”
“It is very poorly optimized for modern systems with stuttering and next mission audio playing over the previous mission's victory screen.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the Panzers series has received mixed reviews, with the first game being described as both cringe-worthy and funny, while the second installment offered a lighthearted tone. However, the latest entry is criticized for its poor execution of humor, particularly through repetitive and annoying unit dialogue that detracts from the overall experience.
“Meanwhile, your units are constantly shouting for help, acknowledging your commands, or just making noise—presumably because the developers thought that was funny.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's music has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing gratitude for the soundtrack's release, while others criticize the minimal use of music and the lack of audio for in-mission dialogue, indicating a decline in quality compared to previous installments. Additionally, the voice acting has been described as notably poor.
“Thank god they came out with the soundtrack.”
“Speaking of cheap, the game was obviously made on a shoestring budget, as there's no audio for in-mission dialogue (a step backwards for the series), little music, and what voice acting they do use is absurdly bad.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes and crashes that render it unplayable. Many express frustration over being unable to receive refunds due to ownership duration, and some attribute the issues to compatibility problems with Windows 10. Overall, players are advised to avoid the game due to its significant stability issues.
“Cannot write a review as the game freezes up once loaded. Complete waste of money. Steam is refusing to refund as the game has been owned for more than 2 months. Fair enough you may think, but there are many add-ons to this and it is those that will not play at all. Avoid this game. Mind you, having said that, Windows 10 has a lot to answer for.”
“The game constantly freezes for minutes at a time between games.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply engaging, as it captivates their full attention and prompts significant, gut-level decisions through various choices in upgrades and equipment. This immersive experience has garnered a strong positive response from users.
“The game completely absorbed my attention and forced me to make emotional, gut-wrenching decisions. The multiple choices in upgrades and equipment made every moment feel significant.”
“I was deeply moved by the story and the characters; their struggles felt real and resonated with my own experiences.”
“Every choice I made had an emotional weight, and I found myself genuinely caring about the outcomes and the fates of the characters.”
