Summary

Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor offers an immersive extension to the storied franchise, blending historical narratives with strategic gameplay. Its episodic adventures introduce fresh challenges and deepen the player’s engagement with the strategic complexities of war.

Release Year: 2009
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Developers: Relic Entertainment
Publishers: THQ, Zoo Corporation

Introduction

Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor builds on the legacy of its predecessor, offering players an enriched experience with new missions, multiplayer modes, and abilities. It stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the RTS genre, combining historical accuracy with engaging gameplay.

Synopsis

“Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor” is a stand-alone expansion pack to the real-time strategy video game “Company of Heroes”. Released on April 9, 2009, it introduces new units, additional maps, and further multiplayer modes.

The game features three single-player episodes, each with its unique plot:

1. **Tiger Ace**: This campaign is inspired by the historical exploits of Tiger ace SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann in Normandy. Set in Villers-Bocage, the narrative is a backstory of Kampfgruppe Lehr commander Major-General Maximillian Voss and Hauptmann Josef Schultz from the original. In the campaign, the two are members of a Tiger I tank crew as they penetrate the town. They are forced to abandon the tank when it was immobilized by an anti-tank gun and try to escape British forces in the area. The tank crew returns the following day in one of two new Tigers, spearheading a Panzergrenadier assault on the town. In the end, it is revealed that Voss was promoted to major-general and sent to Holland, setting the stage for the Opposing Fronts campaign. Schultz stayed in France and died during the defense of Autry.

2. **Causeway**: This episode follows a company of paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division as they try to secure the La Fiere causeway for other Allied forces to pass through the Normandy beaches. The campaign focuses on Sgt. Wilson and Sgt. Frank Craft. After the 82nd’s airdrop goes badly, Wilson’s Able Squad links up with Baker Squad and assemble paratroopers to send to the town of Cauqigny. After the two squads take Chef du Pont on the other side of the causeway, the paratroopers at Cauquigny fall back due to heavy German resistances. The airborne forces retake the town and Wilson is run down by a German tank.

3. **Falaise Pocket**: This episode features a unit of SS Panzer Grenadiers and Wehrmacht stationed in the town of Trun, that they must defend against an Allied assault while other German forces try to escape through the area.

In addition to the single-player campaigns, “Tales of Valor” includes multiplayer modes such as ‘Stonewall’, where the player commands a small number of troops against waves of increasingly difficult enemies, and a feature called “direct-fire”, where the player ‘Points and shoots’.

The game offers special units as rewards for completing a campaign and can be used to replace certain deployable units in multiplayer games. For the Allies, the US faction receives the M18 Hellcat and T17 armored car, while players using the British faction gets the Kangaroo carrier and the Staghound (T17E1) armored car. Wehrmacht players can make use of the Schwimmwagen Type 166, the H39 Geschützwagen (a conversion of captured Hotchkiss H39 tanks into light self-propelled tank destroyers), and Voss’ special Tiger I, while the Panzer Elite will receive the Schwimmwagen Type 139 and the Hotchkiss H35.

“Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor” provides an immersive experience that allows players to delve into the intensity of World War II from different perspectives. Its rich narrative and strategic gameplay make it a standout title in the real-time strategy genre.

Characters

While focusing on unit and squad-based strategies, Tales of Valor brings to life the stories of individual heroism and the collective effort of armed forces. Players encounter a variety of characters, from decorated leaders to the unsung heroes of the war, each contributing to the unfolding narrative of valor and sacrifice.

Gameplay

Tales of Valor enhances the Company of Heroes formula with new units, abilities, and improved mechanics. Players must adapt to the evolving tactics of warfare, utilizing direct unit control and dynamic battlefield conditions to outmaneuver their opponents. The expansion’s focus on tactical gameplay encourages players to think critically and act decisively.

Conclusion

Though Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor may not redefine the RTS genre, it successfully builds upon the solid foundation laid by its predecessor. With its engaging episodic content and strategic depth, it provides a compelling reason for veterans and newcomers alike to revisit the battlefields of World War II.