Very good game at its current state. It had its issues at launch, but now it is pretty clearly superior to COH2. Unit movement is less clunky, the visuals are better (post-Onyx Shark), and everything is just more thoughtfully designed for competitive play. If you remove nostalgia from the equation and play the two back-to-back today, COH3 is the clear winner. I'm very impressed by what Relic has managed to achieve since its rocky launch just one year ago.

I think what I really love about COH3 is how it taps into that old-school RTS magic, where every moment presents a set of decisions to make, and a solid strategy (and counter-strategy) reigns supreme. In true old-school fashion, there is very little "chaos" in COH3, as what effect or ability a unit may have is always predictable (e.g., a grenade never damages more than three units at once). This means games are often won or lost based on skill, knowledge, and strategy, rather than random chance. As a result, most matches come down to build order, unit timings, tech & upgrade choices, fortifications, and intel/mind-games. Having light armor out at 6 minutes can be a world of difference from 8, and being able to skip to L4 tech can lead to a blowout if the enemy player does not adequately prepare for a tank dive.

In COH3, you are always making decisions and 'bets' on what the enemy is planning or thinking. Because matches are relatively short (17 to 35~ minutes for 1v1), you can never do "everything" in a match. In the same vein, a loss of a single unit can be absolutely devastating. Therefore, every mine placed, every MG nest, and every fluke unit kill can make or break a match. This all adds up to brilliant, fast-paced competitive RTS gameplay that hasn't been seen in decades.

I highly recommend watching some competitive matches on Youtube, by the way. There's a ton of high-level strategy and counter-strategy and it's great fun to watch.

Very good game at its current state. It had its issues at launch, but now it is pretty clearly superior to COH2. Unit movement is less clunky, the visuals are better (post-Onyx Shark), and everything is just more thoughtfully designed for competitive play. If you remove nostalgia from the equation and play the two back-to-back today, COH3 is the clear winner. I'm very impressed by what Relic has managed to achieve since its rocky launch just one year ago. I think what I really love about COH3 is how it taps into that old-school RTS magic, where every moment presents a set of decisions to make, and a solid strategy (and counter-strategy) reigns supreme. In true old-school fashion, there is very little "chaos" in COH3, as what effect or ability a unit may have is always predictable (e.g., a grenade never damages more than three units at once). This means games are often won or lost based on skill, knowledge, and strategy, rather than random chance. As a result, most matches come down to build order, unit timings, tech & upgrade choices, fortifications, and intel/mind-games. Having light armor out at 6 minutes can be a world of difference from 8, and being able to skip to L4 tech can lead to a blowout if the enemy player does not adequately prepare for a tank dive. In COH3, you are always making decisions and 'bets' on what the enemy is planning or thinking. Because matches are relatively short (17 to 35~ minutes for 1v1), you can never do "everything" in a match. In the same vein, a loss of a single unit can be absolutely devastating. Therefore, every mine placed, every MG nest, and every fluke unit kill can make or break a match. This all adds up to brilliant, fast-paced competitive RTS gameplay that hasn't been seen in decades. I highly recommend watching some competitive matches on Youtube, by the way. There's a ton of high-level strategy and counter-strategy and it's great fun to watch.