Codename: Panzers – Phase Two
{{Short description|2005 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Codename: Panzers – Phase Two
|image = File:Codename_Panzers_–_Phase_Two_Windows_Cover_Art.jpg
|developer = StormRegion
|publisher = cdv Software Entertainment
|designer =
|engine =
|released = {{vgrelease|EU|July 22, 2005|NA|July 25, 2005}}
|genre = Real-time tactics
|modes = Single-player, multiplayer
|platforms = Microsoft Windows
}}
Codename: Panzers – Phase Two is a 2005 real-time tactics video game developed by the Hungarian studio StormRegion and published by cdv Software Entertainment. It is the sequel to Codename: Panzers – Phase One. The two games were followed by Codename: Panzers – Cold War.
Gameplay
{{main|Codename: Panzers – Phase One#Gameplay}}
Like Soldiers: Heroes of World War II and, to a lesser extent, Blitzkrieg, Codename: Panzers focuses on managing groups of troops, tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery and destroying the enemy or capturing objectives. The game abstracts concepts such as supply, repair, and air support without doing away with them entirely, and belongs to the real-time tactics genre more than the traditional wargame/simulation genre.
Story
Phase Two focuses on three campaigns: Axis (the same leader as in the first game with Dario DeAngelis, the Italian leader), Western Allied (the same leader as in the first game), and Yugoslavian Partisans (led by Farvan "Vuk" Pondurovik, sometimes misspelled as Fervan). The Axis campaign follows the Italian Dario de Angelis and the Afrika Korps through the North African Campaign to the First Battle of El Alamein. The Western Allied campaign begins at the Second Battle of El Alamein, and includes Operation Torch, the Battle for Tobruk, and the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, then finishes with the Allied campaign in Italy, including Anzio and the Battle of Monte Cassino. The Yugoslav partisan campaign focus on combat in the Balkans with Soviet assistance.
Development
Publisher cdv Software took a hard line against software piracy with Phase Two. In July 2005, the company announced a partnership with Logistep to legally prosecute pirates for every "traced and proven pirated copy as well as every illegal download and upload".{{cite web | author=Pototzki, Tim | date=July 22, 2005 | url=https://www.gamesmarkt.de/games/logistep-schuetzt-phase-two-c40172bb196439e7081c3743cb7abe1c | title=Logistep schützt "Phase Two" | language=de | website=Gamesmarkt | publisher=Mediabiz | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528090252/https://beta.gamesmarkt.de/details/184144 | archivedate=May 28, 2022 | url-status=live | accessdate=January 9, 2023}} The game was an important part of CDV's financial strategy for 2005; its predecessor, Codename: Panzers – Phase One, had been a commercial success.{{cite web | author=Pototzki, Tim | date=February 21, 2005 | url=https://www.gamesmarkt.de/games/cdv-2004-voll-im-plan-fdce1d0a32644501589947f319cf0794 | title=CDV 2004 voll im Plan | language=de | website=Gamesmarkt | publisher=Mediabiz | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528090850/https://beta.gamesmarkt.de/details/173067 | archivedate=May 28, 2022 | url-status=live | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}{{cite web | author=Pototzki, Tim | date=May 27, 2005 | url=https://www.gamesmarkt.de/games/cdv-legt-erneut-zu-c3f8e1eaa3c42a41e4238666f12c041c | title=CDV legt erneut zu | language=de | website=Gamesmarkt | publisher=Mediabiz | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528091613/https://beta.gamesmarkt.de/details/179535 | archivedate=May 28, 2022 | url-status=live | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 80/100{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/codename-panzers-phase-two/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | title=Codename: Panzers - Phase Two for PC Reviews | website=Metacritic | publisher=Fandom | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| CGM = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | title=Review: Codename: Panzers - Phase Two | magazine=Computer Games Magazine | publisher=theGlobe.com | issue=180 | date=November 2005 | page=76}}
| CGW = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Luo, Di | url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_256.pdf | title=Codename: Panzers Phase Two | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=256 | date=November 2005 | page=99 | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| GI = 8/10{{cite magazine | title=Codename: Panzers - Phase Two | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=GameStop | issue=149 | date=September 2005 | page=110}}
| GSpot = 8.3/10{{cite web | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=August 8, 2005 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/codename-panzers-phase-two-review/1900-6130554/ | title=Codename: Panzers, Phase Two Review | website=GameSpot | publisher=Fandom | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050811031758/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/codenamepanzersphasetwo/review.html | archivedate=August 11, 2005 | url-status=live | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| GSpy = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web | author=Peckham, Matt | date=November 1, 2005 | url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/codename-panzers-ii/663386p1.html | title=GameSpy: Codename: Panzers Phase Two | website=GameSpy | publisher=IGN Entertainment | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114060619/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/codename-panzers-ii/663386p1.html | archivedate=January 14, 2006 | url-status=dead | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| HCG = 4/5{{cite magazine | author1=Shin, Thomas "Arlieth" | author2=Brothers, David "4thletter" | url=https://archive.org/details/hardcore-gamer-magazine-v1i5/page/n35/mode/2up | title=Codename: Panzers Phase Two | magazine=Hardcore Gamer | publisher=Prima Games | volume=1 | issue=5 | date=October–November 2005 | page=68 | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| IGN = 8.5/10{{cite web | author=Butts, Steve | date=August 9, 2005 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/09/codename-panzers-phase-two | title=Codename Panzers: Phase Two | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| PCGUS = 85%{{cite magazine | title=Codename: Panzers - Phase Two | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Future US | volume=12 | issue=11 | page=85}}
| XPlay = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web | author=Stevens, Tim | date=September 6, 2005 | url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/52519/Codename_Panzers_Phase_Two_Review.html | title=Codename: Panzers, Phase Two Review | website=X-Play | publisher=G4 Media | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051114214341/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/52519/Codename_Panzers_Phase_Two_Review.html | archivedate=November 14, 2005 | url-status=dead | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| rev1 = The Sydney Morning Herald
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news | author=Hill, Jason | date=August 18, 2005 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/absorbing-challenge-20050818-gdlw2r.html | title=Absorbing challenge | newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald | publisher=Fairfax Media | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200630/https://www.smh.com.au/news/games/absorbing-challenge/2005/08/16/1123958066850.html | archivedate=September 24, 2015 | url-status=live | accessdate=January 9, 2023}}
| rev2 = The Times
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news | author=Wapshott, Tim | date=July 23, 2005 | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/codename-panzers-phase-2-wjvtcscqp9v | title=Codename Panzers: Phase 2 [sic] | newspaper=The Times | access-date=January 9, 2023}}{{subscription required}}
}}
The game received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
=Sales=
In the German market, the initial sales results for the game were positive; GameZone.de reported that it was "selling well" after "a few weeks" of availability.{{cite web | author=Sosinka, Michael | date=August 17, 2005 | url=https://www.gamezone.de/Codename-Panzers-Phase-Two-Spiel-20176/News/Codename-Panzers-2-Es-erscheint-bei-10tacle-920359/ | title=Codename: Panzers 2: Es erscheint bei 10tacle | language=de | website=GameZone.de | publisher=Computec | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528092155/https://www.gamezone.de/Codename-Panzers-Phase-Two-Spiel-20176/News/Codename-Panzers-2-Es-erscheint-bei-10tacle-920359/ | archivedate=May 28, 2022 | url-status=dead}} The game received a "Gold" award from the aDeSe, for sales in Spain above 40,000 units during its first year.{{cite web | url=http://www.adese.es/pdf/Dossier_de_prensa_Galardones_aDeSe_2006.pdf | title=Galardones aDeSe 2006 | language=es | website=Asociación Española de Distribuidores y Editores de Software de Entretenimiento | date=July 2006 | pages=7–8 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823074607/http://www.adese.es/pdf/Dossier_de_prensa_Galardones_aDeSe_2006.pdf | archivedate=August 23, 2006 | url-status=dead}}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/windows/codename-panzers-phase-two}}
{{StormRegion}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Codename: Panzers - Phase Two}}
Category:CDV Software Entertainment games
Category:Embracer Group franchises
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Real-time tactics video games
Category:Video games developed in Hungary
Category:Video games set in France
Category:Video games set in Germany
Category:Video games set in Hungary
Category:Video games set in Poland