Marechal_Ney's Full Review: Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far for Windows
Having bought this about two years ago, I can still honestly say that it is the best game in my possession. I know there have been the two sequels in this series, but both of them deviated somewhat from CC2's game engine. CC3, for instance, is far more linear, going off in the direction of Command and Conquer style strategy, where one must pass a particular map to progress.
If CC2 or CC3 had stuck to the same game engine, but improved e.g. the graphics (already quite good in CC2), playability, and campaign depth, CC2 would clearly have been superseded. As it is, though, they didn't, and I still reckon CC2 beats both of them.
CC2 is about as real-time as you can get, with the soldiers under your command completely self-reliant. If you "forget" to give a unit orders, they are still able to fend for themselves (to a limited extent). For example, a hiding bazooka unit will automatically fire at a tank if it comes close enough. This makes for an altogether more realistic gaming experience.
Realism is the key here. The maps are done in exquisite detail, with 30 something Dutch maps to do battle across. There are scores of unit types as well, each with their own weapons, pros and cons. It is a joy simply to look at the massive list of available weaponry, and read the short descriptions provided in the Requisition Screen.
The combat is also highly realistic, with units composed of individual soldiers. You can clearly see each private (unlike most wargames where one man on the screen means so many actual men), and can accurately determine exactly what they're doing (e.g. routing, crawling, firing, loading, etc.). This is as close to the real thing as you'll get in the near future, with morale playing a large part in the fortunes of battle.
The computer AI is quite good, among the best I've seen in a wargame. Even when you do win, it is never through a ridiculously stupid tactical blunder by the computer, which so often was the case in earlier games of this genre.
This program does very well to integrate the maps into the gameplay, using issues of cover, elevation, and concealment to heighten the realism. As in real-life, it is possible for you to see the enemy but for them not to see you. Thus, ambushes play a large part in determining the fortunes of the day, and are often the only reasonable way to take out certain targets.
Great gameplay aside, one only really begins to notice the effort put into making the game historically accurate when one visits the help file. All the weapons in the game are described in great detail. Each one also has a sample corresponding to the sound they make when fired during the game. Of little practical use to the casual player, but veterans will be able to identify each gun during battle, and realize what is going on nearby, in areas just out of view. It is these little touches which turn a good production into a marvellous game.
Tanks play a major part in CC2. Too large a part, one may feel, but then again this game is meant to be historically accurate. I wouldn't agree with a game of this sort that sacrificed realism in order to make the gameplay a little easier.
Overall, a superb game in all senses of the word, almost guaranteed to last a long time. Especially now that it has drastically gone down in price, now is the time to get it. The campaigns are extremely detailed, with tons of configurable options. Further adding to its longevity, once you finish the Grand Campaign as both the Allies and the Germans (no mean feat), you can use BattleMaker to create your own battle situations. Not to mention Multiplayer possibilities over the internet.
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