Short...but oh so sweet. Welcome to the new CoH.
But I wouldn't be wagging fingers at Relic for this, as it is THQ who decides how it should be published and how much it should cost. So THQ, you slipped up there. It IS way over-priced.
But then what new release isn't at the moment? Compared to the Soviet Assault 'expansion' to World in Conflict (5 missions and that's it), this is a RTS God-send. Then there's the full-fledged games like Demigod (really a MP-only game) and Stromrise that both are very disappointing in their own ways.
This is also aimed at Dawn of War II gamers, who flushed with the thrill of this new Action/RPG want to see more in CoH. As a Stand-alone, you get everything in MP that all owners have at their disposal and a few neat additions.
Relic appear to be testing the waters with this one. The first two Campaigns really are tutorials, as GS rightly puts them, and the third is a real grind-fest that will give little time for strategic thinking. I have a feeling CoH II is in the works and we've been given a tasty teaser of what is to come.
The graphics are still top-rate, and unlike many RTS's the engine has aged remarkably well. The online community also remains very strong, and there's always a battle to be had on many a map.
No true CoH fan will pass this one up, even just to complete the collection, but I felt more duped and ripped-off with the final installment of DoW (Soulstorm), than with this. At least Relic made it, and didn't pass it off to a company soon to go belly-up.
Bottom line: Buy it if you'd like to try the new approach to play that Relic is offering. Buy it if this is your first CoH title and you really just want the MP aspect in full. Buy it if you enjoyed DoW II and want to see more of Relic in a WWII setting. Buy it! Just don't hurry into doing so...wait for the right price and then go to war.