Close Combat (series)

Close Combat

The official logo of the franchise as used in the third game of the series
Genres Real-time tactics
Developers Atomic Games
CSO Simtek
Strategy 3 Tactics
Publishers Microsoft
Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Matrix Games
Creators Keith Zabalaoui
Platforms Microsoft Windows, Mac, Xbox, Wii
First release Close Combat
January 1, 1996

Close Combat is the name of a series of real-time tactical (RTT) computer games by Atomic Games. In the Close Combat RTT games, the player takes control of a small unit (platoon or company sized) of troops and leads them in battles of World War II from a top down 2D perspective.

History

Close Combat was developed as a computer game version of the acclaimed Avalon Hill board game Advanced Squad Leader (ASL). The primary consultant for the morale model was Dr. Steven Silver, a specialist in combat-related trauma. Atomic Games had already developed several games for Avalon Hill, such as Operation Crusader, and Stalingrad. However, with Avalon Hill embroiled in a financial crisis that would ultimately lead to its demise, Atomic Games took what work they had completed, severed ties with the board game franchise and completed the game's development for Microsoft. The first three Close Combat games were notable, at the time, for being among the few games published by Microsoft. The final two games in the original series were, however, published by Strategic Simulations, Inc (SSI).

Close Combat I and II were distributed for both Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS. Later versions were released for Microsoft Windows only. In 2005, Atomic Games was bought by Destineer. Destineer licensed the game to Matrix Games to develop three more Close Combat titles. Matrix Games hired first CSO Simtek and later Strategy 3 Tactics to develop these titles.

The five original Close Combat games were real-time tactical (RTT) war games, with a top-down perspective and two-player capabilities. Each was set in a different European theatre of the Second World War. Each game included a mixture of infantry and armoured units, whilst the later games also included artillery, mortars and air support. Although viewed from a top-down perspective, the later games modelled terrain elevation, and included buildings with multiple floors and viewable sides. The overall tone emphasised realism, and modelled the emotional or physical state of the soldiers and equipment which included, panicked, berserk, burning, incapacitated, pinned and many others.

Games

Year Game Platform Notes
1996 Close Combat Windows, Mac OS First Close Combat game released. Set in Operation Cobra
1997 Close Combat II: A Bridge Too Far Windows, Mac OS Set in Operation Market Garden
1998 Close Combat III: The Russian Front Windows Set in the whole Eastern Front (1941-1945)
1999 Close Combat Trilogy Windows, Mac OS Compilation of the first three Close Combat games
1999 Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge Windows Set in The Battle of the Bulge
2000 Close Combat V: Invasion Normandy Windows Set in Operation Overlord
2004 Close Combat: Marines Windows First modern day Close Combat game. Only available to members of the USMC
2004 The Road to Baghdad Windows First commercial modern day Close Combat game
2005 Close Combat: First to Fight Xbox, Windows, Mac OS X, Wii First and only game to be a first person shooter.
Cancelled Close Combat: Red Phoenix Windows, Xbox Based on the Red Phoenix novel by Larry Bond. Planned for release in Q4 2005 but got cancelled
2006 Close Combat: RAF Regiment Windows Modern day Close Combat game. Only available to members of the RAF
2007 Close Combat: Cross of Iron Windows Remake of The Russian Front
2007 Modern.Tactics Close Combat: Modern Tactics Windows Remake of Marines and last commercial modern day Close Combat game
2008 Wacht.am.Rhein. Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein Windows Remake of Battle of the Bulge
2009 The.Longest.Day Close Combat: The Longest Day Windows Remake of Invasion Normandy
2010 Last.Stand.Arnhem Close Combat: Last Stand Arnhem Windows First non remake by Matrix. Set in Operation Market Garden
2012 Panthers.in.the.Fog Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog Windows First game to feature 32-bit graphics. Set in Operation Luttich
2014 Gateway.to.Caen Close Combat: Gateway to Caen Windows First release on Steam. Set in Operation Epsom
TBD Close Combat: The Bloody First Windows Upcoming title. First 3d game in the series. Set in the Tunisia Campaign, Operation Husky, and Operation Overlord

Innovations

There were many innovations in the Close Combat games compared to previous titles, which combined to make Close Combat more realistic than most RTT and real-time strategy (RTS) computer games:

Tactics

The factors above meant that the game required realistic military tactics, such as careful placement of troops in cover, ambush, advancing under cover and using terrain or smoke-screens to cover advancing troops. Effective management, such as keeping teams near their officers, not sending green recruits on assaults and maintaining fire discipline so as not to run out of ammunition were also necessary for the player to prevail.

Players also have to make effective use of combined-arms tactics to be successful in Close Combat. Infantry assault require support from machine guns, tanks, and mortars, to suppress enemy fire. Armor units also require screening from infantry units. Although they possess superior firepower, tanks are vulnerable to ambushes from bazooka or panzerschreck units, especially in close quarters such as a town or forest, where the ambushing infantry can wait to have a shot at a tank's vulnerable flank or rear armor. Tanks are also vulnerable to fire from concealed anti-tank guns, or ambushing tanks, which may wait to fire until the enemy presents his flank or rear.

Mods

Since the initial release of the first Close Combat, tools to create mods have been made available, allowing for the creation of user-made mods. Generally, the mods can change things such as weapon types, vehicles, soldiers, terrain and ammo as well as other attributes. Some mods change a specific aspect of the game, while other mods focus on changing the underlying data.

Multiplayer

All versions except Close Combat: Modern Tactics offer only one vs one multiplayer. Modern Tactics offers three on three and Close Combat: Marines offers four on four, although these versions added more multiplayer ability.

Remakes

Four of the five original games, A Bridge Too Far, The Russian Front, The Battle of the Bulge and Invasion Normandy have since been remade with new units and maps, updated graphics (maps and sprites) and sound, updated map editors, menus, as well as fixing the compatibility issues that the older iterations of each game had with modern operating systems. Each remake, with the exception of Last Stand Arnhem, also includes the original version of the game that can be played without any of the additions included in the remake.

Next generation

In Historicon 2013, Matrix Games announced Close Combat: The Bloody First. This new game will depart from the strategic map of the previous installments in favor of a campaign similar to that of Close Combat III, although more dynamic. In the single player grand campaign the player will be carrying a force of the US 1st Infantry division through three campaigns: Tunisia, Sicily, and Normandy.

Reception

In the United States, Close Combat III sold 45,438 copies during 1999.[1]

Close Combat IV was a finalist for Computer Games Strategy Plus's 1999 "Wargame of the Year" prize, although it lost to Panzer Campaigns I: Smolensk '41. The editors wrote of Close Combat IV, "Atomic Games’ innovative series finds a new home but retains its high-quality gameplay."[2] The game was also a runner-up for Computer Gaming World's 1999 "Wargame of the Year" award, which ultimately went to Sid Meier's Antietam![3] The editors wrote that Close Combat IV was Antitam!'s only "serious competition" for the award, but was hampered by "AI quirks and mysteriously reincarnating units".[3]

References

  1. Staff (April 2000). "PC Gamer Editors' Choice Winners: Does Quality Matter?". PC Gamer US. 7 (4): 33.
  2. Staff (March 6, 2000). "The Computer Games Awards; The Best Games of 1999". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on March 24, 2005.
  3. 1 2 Staff (March 2000). "The 2000 Premier Awards; The Very Best of a Great Year in Gaming". Computer Gaming World (188): 69–75, 78–81, 84–90.
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