Codename: Panzers, Phase One

About

Codename: Panzers - Phase One is a real-time strategy game set in World War II. Command German, American, or Soviet forces across diverse missions, from desert outposts to European cities. Using tactical maneuvers and a wide range of units, overcome enemy forces and complete your objectives.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Great graphics for its time, providing a nostalgic experience for players.
Engaging gameplay that requires strategic and tactical thinking, making it rewarding for players who enjoy challenging missions.
Variety of units and campaigns, along with a solid single-player mode that offers replay value.

Outdated mechanics and AI issues, including poor pathfinding and unresponsive units, detract from the overall experience.
The game can be frustratingly difficult, with some missions feeling unfair due to enemy advantages and limited player resources.
Technical issues such as bugs, crashes, and localization problems can hinder gameplay and immersion.

story
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
72%
6%
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring a variety of campaigns with humorous and sometimes cheesy narratives that aim to enhance the gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the effort put into character backstories and mission variety, others find the storytelling bland and the cutscenes janky, with inconsistencies across different language versions. Overall, the story serves as a light backdrop to the strategic action, offering optional missions and a persistent army system that adds depth to the gameplay.
- “Finally found a gem, which has a proper single-player mode, with story and everything.”
- “The most loved panzer game also has a good story.”
- “Story is very well written, and the panzers themselves are well realized.”
- “- the storylines and cutscenes are full of jank and cheese, especially in the allied campaign.”
- “I have also heard from one of my viewers that the campaign story and characters are apparently wildly different between different languages.”
- “When you do a mission and a story character talks, it uses its own language, like a German talks in German and so on; however, in the Soviet campaign, the story characters talk in English, which is not a big deal, but sounds a bit weird compared to the other mission lines.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
37%
16%
The gameplay is characterized by spectacular moments that enhance player immersion, though it suffers from some mechanical issues and basic mechanics compared to other titles. While the campaign offers significant replay value through a point system and diverse unit management, the difficulty can be inconsistent, leading to moments of tedium. Overall, the gameplay is satisfying and well-designed, complemented by a legendary soundtrack, making it a notable entry in the RTS genre despite its flaws.
- “The gameplay during the campaign has a lot of replay value because you have a point system.”
- “Managing the mechanical stability of vehicles and machinery, making sure that ammunition and repairs are being handled, and being certain that the health of infantry is not compromised is a major aspect of commanding one's troops.”
- “Many ways to win, combined with a good soundtrack and simplicity of gameplay, make this one of the best RTS games that I can remember.”
- “It's your run-of-the-mill arcade RTS, with really basic mechanics that are easily outshined by multiple titles from the same and even prior years.”
- “Some missions are much more difficult than others, causing the gameplay to become dull and tedious because of the absurd difficulty.”
- “Game mechanics and AI route finding are terrible.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
13%
13%
The graphics of this 2004 RTS game are widely praised for their quality relative to the time of release, featuring impressive physics, destructible environments, and aesthetically rich maps. While some elements show their age, the overall visual presentation remains strong, with many reviewers noting that the graphics still hold up well even years later. The combination of good animations and a well-designed interface further enhances the immersive experience.
- “Each and every map is aesthetically pleasing and rich in attributes, showcasing villages and towns, countrysides and farms, various bodies of water, and allowing for some destructible environments.”
- “Seriously, the graphics for a 2004 RTS game are amazing.”
- “For an older title, the graphics held up really well and the interface to the game is well thought out.”
- “Even though its graphics show their old age, DirectX 9 is the correct term; they still dazzle on an NVIDIA laptop.”
- “For an older title, the graphics have held up really well, and the interface to the game is well thought out.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Overall, the game's stability varies among users; while some report a smooth experience with minimal bugs on high-end rigs, others have encountered increased issues in the latest version, including crashes and uncompleted objectives. Despite these concerns, many players still find the game enjoyable, with only minor glitches affecting their experience.
- “On my rig (AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070), the game ran very stable and mostly bug-free, which was a welcome surprise for a game this old.”
- “The game in the current version 1.25 is much more buggy than it was back in v 1.21 (e.g. objectives not completing upon completion, mortar/rocket/artillery bug).”
- “Good game, but can be a bit too buggy and has too many crashes for modders.”
- “The Steam version, although a little buggy, keeps the good fun.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as predominantly funny, with some elements of cringe, particularly in the context of the player's extensive experience. Players find amusement in the game's mechanics, such as the consequences of poor decisions leading to character deaths, adding a darkly comedic twist to the gameplay.
- “The story is mostly funny, maybe even cringe.”
- “It's funny.”
- “As funny as it sounds, you have a fixed force at the beginning of missions and if you do something wrong, people... die!”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's soundtrack is praised as legendary, enhancing gameplay and memorable moments, making it a standout in the RTS genre. However, some players feel the music lacks a lasting impact, as they struggle to recall specific tracks.
- “The soundtrack for this game is legendary; there are some really good tracks that enhance certain moments and the gameplay.”
- “Many ways to win, combined with a good soundtrack and the simplicity of gameplay, make this one of the best RTS games I can remember.”
- “Great soundtrack.”
- “The music, as part of the package, is not very stirring because I can't recall any of it at all.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable and lacks any memorable tunes.”
- “The music feels generic and fails to enhance the overall experience.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and acceptable resolution, others experience significant stuttering during missions, leading to refunds.
- “It's an old game, but it runs smoothly; the resolution is good!”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for a seamless experience even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how well the game performs; it maintains a steady frame rate without any noticeable lag.”
- “The game keeps stuttering for me during missions, so I had to refund it, which is unfortunate since I was really enjoying it.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers significant replayability due to its point system and diverse mechanics for both infantry and vehicles, encouraging players to revisit the campaign for varied experiences.
- “The gameplay during the campaign has a lot of replay value because of the point system.”
- “There are quite a few mechanics for infantry and vehicles, which gives the game a lot of replay value.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find that the grinding aspect of the game can lead to a dull and tedious experience, particularly when faced with missions that vary significantly in difficulty, making some tasks feel excessively challenging.
- “Some missions are much more difficult than others, causing the gameplay to become dull and tedious due to the absurd difficulty.”
- “The grinding required to level up feels excessive and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the experience feel monotonous and uninspired.”