Codename: Panzers, Phase One

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Codename: Panzers, Phase One is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by THQ Nordic and was released on February 18, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

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.

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 99 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

A classic WW2 RTS game that still holds up well after many years, offering a nostalgic experience for players.
The skirmish mode provides immense replayability, allowing players to engage in varied battles with different outcomes each time.
The game features solid mechanics, including unit variety and a unique vehicle damage system, making it enjoyable for strategy enthusiasts.

The pathfinding for units can be frustrating, often leading to issues with positioning and movement during battles.
Some players have reported bugs and crashes, particularly when trying to run the game on modern systems.
The AI can be overly aggressive and lacks tactical depth, which can detract from the overall strategic experience.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The game's story is characterized by a humorous and engaging narrative, with players appreciating its charm over more complex RTS titles. Missions offer varied completion options and side objectives, allowing for strategic gameplay while maintaining a light-hearted tone. Overall, the story is well-written and enhances the enjoyment of the military-themed gameplay, despite some predictability in mission design.
- “The story is very well written, and the panzers themselves are well realized.”
- “It's a top quality military WWII-themed RTS with no resource management or control points to worry about, yet it lets you play out fun missions from start to finish.”
- “Nice little story to the game.”
- “I played for a few hours and suddenly, after the first few missions of the German campaign, I had 'Panzerlied' stuck in my head and wanted to spearhead the assault around the Maginot Line.”
- “As funny as it sounds, you have a fixed force at the beginning of missions and if you do poorly, people... die!”
- “The missions are predictable but not silly.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
9%
18%
The graphics of this older title, while showing their age, are generally praised for their quality and immersive effects, particularly for a game released in 2004. Users highlight the impressive physics, such as destructible environments, and commend the game's interface. Overall, the visuals are considered good for their time, with some enhancements allowing for modern resolutions and refresh rates.
- “For an older title, the graphics held up really well and the interface to the game is well thought out.”
- “The graphics in this 2004 RTS game are incredible, and the gameplay is absolutely magnificent. It's from the real golden age of RTS games, so why be surprised?”
- “All the fun of Blitzkrieg but with better graphics and totally immersive.”
- “Even though its graphics show their old age, DirectX 9 is the correct term; it still dazzles on an NVIDIA laptop.”
- “The graphics are bumped up to 1920 x 1080 at 144 Hz.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The gameplay is praised for its replay value, sophisticated mechanics, and variety of units, particularly in the campaign mode, which encourages multiple playthroughs. While the overall design is considered excellent, some users noted issues with AI pathfinding. The combination of smooth mechanics, a good soundtrack, and simplicity contributes to its status as a standout RTS title.
- “The gameplay during the campaign has a lot of replay value because you have a point system.”
- “There are quite a few mechanics for infantry and vehicles, which gives the game a lot of replay value.”
- “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.”
- “Game mechanics and AI route finding are terrible.”
- “On the one hand, we see very sophisticated mechanics, but the execution is lacking.”
- “The gameplay feels unbalanced and frustrating at times.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as predominantly funny, with a touch of cringe, particularly highlighted by the absurdity of the situations players find themselves in, such as the consequences of their actions leading to character deaths. Players appreciate the comedic elements that arise from their long playtime and the game's unique scenarios.
- “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!”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report minor bugs and occasional crashes, others experience smooth performance with no significant issues. The Steam version is noted for being fun despite its bugs, but modders may face more challenges due to stability concerns.
- “Good game, but it can be a bit too buggy and prone to crashing for modders.”
- “The Steam version, although a little buggy, still maintains the fun.”
- “It seems far too close in scale, and I experienced issues with the opening scene not running unless clicked. Other than that, I haven't encountered any problems, glitches, slow load times, or crashes.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is generally praised for complementing the gameplay, with some reviewers highlighting a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, others feel that the music lacks memorability, making it less impactful in the long run.
- “Many ways to win, combined with a great 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.”
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.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing stuttering issues during missions, leading some players to refund the game despite initially enjoying it.
- “The game keeps stuttering for me during missions, so I had to refund it, which is unfortunate since I was really enjoying it.”
- “The optimization is terrible; I experience constant frame drops that ruin the gameplay experience.”
- “Despite having a high-end PC, the game runs poorly and often crashes, making it unplayable.”

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