Released in September 2007 by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ, Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is the first standalone expansion to the award-winning WWII real-time strategy (RTS) game, Company of Heroes (2006). Building on the dynamic and immersive tactical combat of the original, Opposing Fronts introduces two entirely new factions, fresh campaigns, and notable technical improvements to the Essence Engine that powers the game.
While technically an expansion, Opposing Fronts can be played independently or integrated with the original Company of Heroes, allowing access to all four playable factions in multiplayer and skirmish modes. It marks a significant step forward in the franchise’s development—refining mechanics, expanding content, and cementing Company of Heroes as a leader in the genre.
Setting and Campaigns
Opposing Fronts shifts the focus of WWII combat to two new major Allied and Axis operations:
1. Operation Market Garden – British 2nd Army
In this campaign, players control the British 2nd Army during their attempt to liberate the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden in late 1944. Known for its strategic ambition and dramatic failure, Market Garden was an airborne and ground assault designed to secure key bridges across the Rhine.
This campaign introduces players to the unique tactics of the British forces—heavy artillery, defensive emplacements, and a mobile command structure. The tone is gritty and atmospheric, with dynamic weather effects like rain and fog adding to the immersive battlefield conditions.
2. Operation Lüttich – German Panzer Elite
The second campaign flips the script, allowing players to control the German Panzer Elite, a fast-moving armored force tasked with executing Operation Lüttich—a counter-offensive in France following the Allied breakout from Normandy.
This campaign is unique for presenting the war from the Axis perspective. The Panzer Elite play style is focused on mobility, rapid deployment, and mechanized units, providing a distinct contrast to the defensive British.
New Factions and Their Gameplay Mechanics
Unlike traditional RTS expansions that simply add units or missions, Opposing Fronts redefines how the game is played by introducing entirely new factions with their own mechanics, doctrines, and tactics.
British 2nd Army
The British bring a defensive and artillery-focused doctrine to the battlefield. Unlike the American faction in the original game, the British are slower to establish a presence but become extremely difficult to dislodge once fortified.
Key features:
- Mobile Command Trucks: Headquarters, Support, and Armor trucks can be deployed anywhere, functioning as mobile bases.
- Emplacements and Fortifications: The British can build defensive structures such as 17-pounder anti-tank guns, Bofors AA guns, and mortar pits.
- Royal Engineers: Versatile units responsible for constructing buildings, fortifications, and repairing vehicles.
- Doctrines (Commander Trees):
- Royal Artillery Support: Focuses on long-range bombardments.
- Royal Engineers: Enhances construction and repair efficiency.
- Royal Commandos: Unlocks elite light infantry and airborne raids.
Playstyle Summary: Turtle up, fortify positions, use artillery to destroy enemies from afar, and advance methodically.
Panzer Elite
The Panzer Elite are designed for mobility, harassment, and combined-arms tactics. Their units are generally weaker in direct combat but are designed to move fast, hit hard, and exploit enemy weaknesses.
Key features:
- Half-tracks and Light Vehicles: Most infantry ride into battle on vehicles, making them highly mobile.
- Repair Capabilities: Vehicles can be repaired on the move using onboard mechanics.
- Combined Arms Synergy: Bonuses are granted for using multiple unit types together (infantry, armor, and support).
- Doctrines (Commander Trees):
- Luftwaffe Doctrine: Grants access to airborne units and defensive structures.
- Scorched Earth Doctrine: Includes sabotage tactics like booby traps and denying territory.
- Tank Hunter Doctrine: Emphasizes anti-vehicle weaponry and ambush tactics.
Playstyle Summary: Use speed, hit-and-run tactics, and tactical flexibility to outmaneuver more static enemies.
Gameplay Enhancements and Engine Improvements
In addition to new factions and campaigns, Opposing Fronts introduced significant gameplay and technical upgrades:
1. Improved Essence Engine
- Enhanced lighting and weather effects, including dynamic rain, mist, and day-night cycles.
- Improved destructible environments and building damage systems.
- Better animations for unit movement, cover usage, and vehicle physics.
2. Advanced AI and Tactical Behaviors
- AI improvements allow for more coordinated enemy behavior.
- Units now have smarter pathfinding, seek cover more effectively, and respond more realistically to battlefield conditions.
3. Improved Cover System
- The directional cover system was expanded, making the placement of infantry in relation to terrain even more critical.
- Suppression and pinning mechanics were refined, adding further tactical nuance.
4. Multiplayer Compatibility
- Players with the original Company of Heroes and Opposing Fronts could combine both games for expanded multiplayer options.
- All four factions (US, Wehrmacht, British, and Panzer Elite) became playable across modes.
Strategic Depth and Replayability
What made Opposing Fronts so impressive wasn’t just the new content, but how it reshaped player strategy.
- British players often adopt a slow push, establishing defensive lines and forward bases while bombarding enemy positions.
- Panzer Elite players need to constantly be on the move, scouting weak points, disrupting supply lines, and striking swiftly.
This asymmetry created a richer multiplayer ecosystem where players could specialize in drastically different approaches. Each faction felt unique—not just in units and visuals, but in philosophy and gameplay identity.
The Commander Trees (doctrines) also encouraged different strategies within each faction, enabling players to personalize their playstyle and adjust mid-game depending on their opponent’s composition and tactics.
Critical Reception and Legacy
Upon release, Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its bold faction design, immersive atmosphere, and refined gameplay. It maintained the high standards set by the base game while offering enough innovation to stand on its own.
Strengths:
- Unique factions with contrasting playstyles
- Atmospheric and historically grounded campaigns
- Deep strategic and tactical layers
- High production value, sound design, and visuals
- Robust multiplayer integration
Common Criticisms:
- Occasional bugs and pathfinding issues
- Some imbalance between factions at launch (later patched)
- High system requirements for the time
Metacritic Score: ~82 (PC)
The expansion solidified Company of Heroes as a franchise with staying power, influencing the design of subsequent entries and RTS games in general. It also laid the groundwork for Tales of Valor (2009) and the eventual release of Company of Heroes 2 (2013).
Conclusion: A Benchmark Expansion
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts wasn’t just “more of the same.” It was a meaningful evolution of an already groundbreaking RTS. By introducing factions with dramatically different strategies, enhancing the graphics engine, and delivering compelling new campaigns, it helped keep Company of Heroes at the top of the RTS genre.
For veterans of the series, Opposing Fronts offered refreshing depth. For newcomers, it served as a self-contained introduction to one of the most beloved World War II gaming experiences ever created.
Even today, years after its release, Opposing Fronts remains a masterclass in expansion design—balancing innovation with continuity, complexity with accessibility, and storytelling with tactical challenge.
