Microsoft's Close Combat is quite the innovative real-time strategy game. It is a historically based war game in that it takes place on the shores of Normandy in 1944. Spanning a six-week timeframe, you control either the German or American forces and try to win the war.

What makes this game so innovative is the computer AI. Your units are actually affected mentally by the things that surround them such as cannon blasts and the environment. If you send a rookie unit into battle for the first time, they will most likely be very nervous and miss their targets. If one of your units is in the heat of battle too long, they'll get stressed out. At times, it will seem like you're controlling a unit of wimps because they are too afraid to go into battle or are so stressed out that they cannot do much of anything.

You have the option to turn off the realistic actions and behaviors. While it is much easier this way (your troops feel nothing and therefore can attack on command), you really acquire an immersive feeling with the AI turned on. As such, it is up to you to make the right decisions in management and protect your troops in battle. Also, the more a unit fights, the more battle experience they will get. Each unit has a level of experience that increases through action and improves their morale and effectiveness as the battles rage on.

Controlling Close Combat and navigating the menu system is very simple. To move a unit, click on it and tell it what to do and where to go. If you want to move a bunch of units as one force, then group them together. If you have the AI turned on, you should be careful as to how and where you move them. Coming up with a decent strategy is necessary for victory.

The realism of the battlefield is outstanding. When a soldier gets hit, he will scream in agony. The developers really put a lot of effort in creating realistic war scenarios. Environments are carefully constructed to resemble forest terrain, beach and sand, water, bridges and so forth. When a unit attacks, you'll see the smoke from the freshly fired weapon. Cannon blasts go soaring through the air leaving a trail of smoke in the sky and a massive explosion when the target is hit.

My only complaint is that it could have been a tad longer. There are a fair amount of scenarios but it just seems to go by too fast. Still, when you mix this level of realistic battle tactics and environments and an ingenious AI system, you've got a great game. Close Combat is all this and more.

About This Game Close Combat: Gateway to Caen is a great release in the critically-acclaimed Close Combat series. Gateway to Caen focuses on the largest, concentrated British offensive since the Normandy landings in an attempt to penetrate the German lines west of Caen and cross the Odon River to get the stalled advance moving again. Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far Review. Atomic Games has managed to create the ideal sequel: It expands and adds many features while keeping everything that made the first game a.

Graphics: The battle environments are gorgeously detailed. Everything moves realistically, weapons emit smoke and the explosions are great.

Sound: The sound effects and soundtrack are simply stunning. Units cry out in agony when they're hit and weapons sound frighteningly realistic.

Enjoyment: Because of the wonderfully done AI and scenarios, Close Combat is a very immersing and enjoyable experience. It can, however, get a bit difficult at times.

Replay Value: You have lots of gameplay options to choose from, such as playing as either the Germans or the Americans. There is also online support to test your management and wargame skills.

How to run this game on modern Windows PC?

People who downloaded Close Combat have also downloaded:
Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far, Close Combat 5: Invasion Normandy, Close Combat 3: The Russian Front, Close Combat 4: The Battle of the Bulge, Civil War Generals 2, Allied General, Panzer General 2, Axis & Allies

Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far allows units the free will to decide whether or not to follow an order. Unlike games such as Command and Conquer where wave upon wave of your brave little soldiers will rush headlong into a mammoth tank (taking one for the team, so to speak), A Bridge Too Far's troops may flat-out tell you: 'No!' Fortunately, as it can become seriously frustrating, this option can be turned off in the game's preferences, though it does make for an interesting concept.

A Bridge Too Far is based on the Allied operations in Holland, shortly after D-Day code-named Operation Marketgarden. Intended to take five strategically located bridges which, essentially, would have opened the road to Berlin, the action was a disaster for the Allies as poor planning and stronger-than-expected German resistance led to serious casualties. The game faithfully recreates events on three fronts and a multitude of unique environments, including everything from house-to-house on-your-belly crawls to outright tank-versus-tank battles.

Game flow is dynamic as your forces can push or be pushed back across the map. Battles contain objectives and, while controlling them individually will not actually win the scenario, the results of taking them can induce victory. The result of every battle affects the overall outcome of the campaign and you may find yourself fighting over the same piece of land, more than once. Usually, if the AI takes a major beating, it will retreat off the map leaving you the victor of that section.

Players may choose to play as the Allied or Axis forces. As the Allies, you'll be playing to secure the bridges along the route to Arnhem while attempting to reinforce before the Germans can counterattack. As the Germans, your job is to delay as long as possible, biding your time until massive reinforcements arrive.

For the most part an excellent game, Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far has a few minor faults. Battlefields are often too large so that keeping track of individual units is difficult. Units and tanks in particular will often do the most annoying things like not use the right weapon at the right time. Seeing your infantry attack a panzer with a knife is always frustrating.

Also, the AI sometimes seems to be a bit too accurate. For example, you may expend all your ammo firing at an open target and never hitting it while the computer will unfairly score a hit almost immediately. Other than that, A Bridge Too Far is a highly entertaining, historically accurate war-simulation, It will fight bravely against you and the AI is on the ball, probing, scouting and waiting to ambush you at every turn. You will play it for weeks.

Graphics: Beautiful landscapes, though troops animations are a little small.

Sound: Outstanding--players scream, yell, and shout out status reports clearly.

Enjoyment: Absolutely addictive and enjoyable.

Replay Value: You will definitely play it through at least twice. Also there is a scenario editor and Internet play.

People who downloaded Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far have also downloaded:
Close Combat 5: Invasion Normandy, Close Combat 4: The Battle of the Bulge, Close Combat 3: The Russian Front, Close Combat, Civil War Generals 2, Panzer General 2, Axis & Allies, Command & Conquer: Generals