Close Combat

Close Combat Review

The real-time aspect of Close Combat makes this a fascinating game. You give the orders as you go, then see what happens. The scenarios force you to think on your feet. If you make bad decisions, the frighteningly realistic screams of your dying troops will unnerve you. The chatter and roar of guns on the battlefield can increase your stress level as well as that of your men. The Artificial Intelligence shows flashes of brilliance, and can turn your men into heroes as well as cowards.

Close Combat looks slick. At first the numerous panels on the main display may seem confusing, but the well-designed tutorials show you how to use them effectively. The control is of the drag-and-drop approach; you select troops, give them basic commands, then tell them where to go. The battlefield is incredibly detailed - muzzle flashes, smoke rounds, and the bodies sprawled in the rubble give you an idea of your progress. I strongly encourage you to read the excellent manual, which provides invaluable information on the tactics and history of the Normandy invasion, before plunging into combat.

Microsoft and Atomic Games have set a new standard for games in this genre. Real-time combat, troops that think, and an option for network play provide gamers with an opportunity to discover what kind of commanders they really are. Will they be the next Patton... or the next Saddam Hussein? Close Combat might benefit from additional scenarios, but everything else in the game is just fine.

Gamespot