Much like fame, success is a double-edged sword. Do well and you're sure to attract a legion of die-hard fans, but beware. Those same fans will expect more and more from your next game, and when you don't deliver, you're sure to hear about it. Such is the case for Sega's Company of Heroes 2. While the sequel does a lot well, and manages to reproduce everything that made the original so addicting, it really doesn't add anything to the franchise. As an expansion, it would be an instant recommend, but as a full-priced, stand alone game - it's a bit harder to recommend, especially to those who are still playing the original feverishly. That being said, Company of Heroes remains of the most stellar RTS experiences to date, and Company of Heroes 2 delivers more of that same experience - -expansion or sequel.

"...that doesn't mean that there are no innovations here."

Yes, Company of Heroes 2 looks, sounds and plays mostly like the original, but that doesn't mean that there are no innovations here. Most key to gameplay is the new line of sight feature, which allows you to use the buildings and forts that you build to break a unit's line of vision. It may not seem like a big deal, but it goes a long way in the heat of battle. A well placed obstacle not only breaks up your battlefield but challenges your opponent that much more. Sure, vision barriers is nothing new, especially in RTS games but fighting to control vantage points and building watch towers feel incredibly organic and rewarding here.

Company of Heroes 2's other major gameplay change can be found in its setting. Since the game takes place during the Russian Winter, the game changes the map based on weather effects and terrain stability. That path near the body of water frozen over? You may want to think twice about taking tanks through it. Soldiers can also be weakened and even die as a result of the cold, so you're going to want a good medic team as well as a good stable of engineers to construct quality bases. While these new additions to gameplay are fun, they seem to happen not nearly enough to be a game changer.

Company of Heroes 2 is essentially the same risk VS reward gameplay of the original with a few extra features. This is extremely apparent in the game's campaign mode. You're bound to get frustrated in the beginning, especially if you're new to the series as you risk your troops to achieve victory. Though your troop numbers are limited, your infantry soldiers will feel incredibly expendable since there are just so many of them. This encourages you to experiment with your strategies but also gives you a false sense of security when the difficulty skyrockets later in the game.

"...it's not a gut-wrenching story by any means."

While the campaign does offer your best chance to play with the game's mechanics, it's not a gut-wrenching story by any means. Though the voice acting is well done, the writing and characters are so hammy and heavy-fisted that it does nothing but takes you out of the game. I spent most of my time in the theatre of war mode, which is admittedly a bit thin at first, but Sega has admitted plans to add content for.

Unsurprisingly, where Company of Heroes 2 shines most is where you'll also be spending the vast majority of your time. Much like its predecessor, Company of Heroes 2's multiplayer mode is incredibly stellar. There's not much new in the modes, but it's so well done that its hard to put down. It also helps that the match making is remarkably well done and always seemed to select a balanced match everytime.

Company of Heroes 2 is a great and deeply satisfying game. The score is incredible and the graphics are (mostly) well done. It's also incredibly similar to the previous game. While it's similarities aren't a terrible thing as the original was a great game in its own right - it's hard to justify a full priced purchase to those still playing the original game. That being said, you're going to find a lot to love here, especially if you're a fan of the genre at all.