Codename: Panzers - Cold War | Game Brain

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"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 186 reviews

story8 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

The game features a fun RTS style with a rock-paper-scissors mechanism and engaging gameplay that captures attention.
Graphics and special effects are well done for its age, providing a visually appealing experience.
The option to modify and upgrade tanks and vehicles adds depth to the gameplay, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, making it frustrating to play.
AI pathfinding and unit control are problematic, leading to clunky gameplay and difficulty in managing units effectively.
The storyline and character development are weak, with amateurish cutscenes and voice acting that detract from the overall experience.

story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
88%
3%
The story in "Codename Panzers: Cold War" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it poorly executed and lacking depth compared to its predecessors. Set across 18 missions, the narrative is described as generic and often cringe-worthy, focusing on a simplistic theme of American freedom versus the USSR, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the absence of voice-overs and limited cutscenes contribute to a feeling of disconnection from the plot, making it less engaging for players.
- “Set in an alternative timeline where things have been developed much earlier than our own (Object 279 / Troyanov being completed before 1950), it still is a very good plot that brings about World War 3 and possibly nuclear armageddon.”
- “This is a pretty good game with a story line fit for any freedom-loving person.”
- “Story is easy to follow, but could be a bit more motivating to play.”
- “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.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
18%
11%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their quality, especially considering its age, with many noting impressive special effects and detailed visuals. However, some users report performance issues at higher settings and mention that certain animations and effects feel unfinished. Overall, the graphics receive a solid rating, often around 8/10, highlighting their appeal in the context of the game's gameplay and historical narrative.
- “The graphics and special effects look great.”
- “The in-game graphics are incredibly detailed.”
- “The graphics are good (for a 2009 game) and I enjoyed it as a slightly more relaxed alternative to Company of Heroes or Men of War.”
- “Everything seems so unfinished, starting from the unit animation, effects, sounds, visuals - I sadly could write a long list about this...”
- “The game graphics were decent and the physics effects were interesting.”
- “Graphics.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it barebones and simplistic, 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 is highlighted, but the learning curve may deter newcomers. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable, it may not meet the expectations of those accustomed to more complex mechanics.
- “You should definitely give it a try, the graphics are awesome, and the gameplay is incredibly good.”
- “Gameplay is fun and challenging.”
- “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 gameplay wise, I'm coming off of the COH franchise, so my expectations are rather high.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
37%
50%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on modern systems, leading to light stuttering and occasional crashes during quick loads. Players are advised to lower graphics settings to mitigate these performance problems, despite the visuals being commendable for its release period. Additionally, audio glitches, such as overlapping mission sounds, further detract from the experience.
- “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).”
- “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.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
The game's music, while fitting the overall atmosphere, is described as monotone and lacking in variety, reflecting a low-budget production. Additionally, the absence of in-mission dialogue audio and poor voice acting further detracts from the overall audio experience.
- “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.”
- “The music is a bit monotone but fits in.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the Panzers series has received mixed reviews, with the first game being described as "cringe and funny," while the second was seen as lighthearted. However, the latest installment's humor is criticized as "cringe" and "plain bad," with excessive unit chatter intended to be humorous but often falling flat.
- “Meanwhile, your units are constantly shouting for help, acknowledging your command, or just making noise (presumably because the makers thought that was funny).”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is severely criticized, with multiple users reporting frequent freezes and crashes, rendering 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 strongly advise against purchasing the game due to its instability.
- “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.”
- “The game constantly freezes for minutes at a time between games.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game highly engaging, noting that it captivates their full attention and prompts deep, instinctive decision-making. The variety of choices in upgrades and equipment further enhances this emotional investment, making the experience more immersive and impactful.
- “The game absorbs total attention and evokes emotional, gut-wrenching decisions, with multiple choices in upgrades and equipment. I loved it!”
- “The game captivates players with its emotional depth, forcing them to make gut-wrenching decisions that impact their journey.”

60%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

Buy Codename: Panzers - Cold War

2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Codename: Panzers - Cold War

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Codename: Panzers - Cold War review