Codename: Panzers Phase Two

Codename: Panzers Phase One was a solid RTS game for the PC released in 2004 that captured the attention of gamers with great graphics and gameplay. With Phase Two, gamers can look forward to a sequel with some significant updates. There are two changes not to the gameplay but to the aesthetics of the game that the publisher hopes will improve the overall game. The first change is the storyline was written by two writers from Hollywood that previously had written for Law & Order and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The next change was the hiring of professional actors for the voiceover work, with Peter Weller (Robocop) doing the voiceovers for one of the main generals in the game.

The graphics are being updated as well with more emphasis being on the day & night cycle and lighting effects. There will be night missions that allow you to use vehicles in the game with headlights. However if you use the headlights then you can discover where the enemy is hiding. But at the same time the enemy can see you from farther away with the headlights on. The graphics on the first version were already great for an RTS game so there won’t be any significant changes in the graphics.

There will be three campaigns to complete in the game with locations from the battles that occurred in World War II. An online multiplayer mode will also be included that could give players mission based objectives instead of the standard “destroy the other troops.” A new feature in the sequel will be the introduction of a mission editor. The mission editor will allow you to create your own missions with scripted key events, modifications to the maps and to the units if desired by the gamer.

Codename: Panzers Phase Two should be an excellent title when it’s released. The excellent graphics, variety of gameplay, new emphasis on the storyline and voice acting should help create a great game. The mission editor could give players an almost unlimited amount of gameplay along with the multiplayer mode. However how many more WWII games do we really need? I guess the first game sold well enough that the answer is “more.”

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