Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far

I can't play the campaign, every time I finish a mission it crashes, and I can't save my progress. I recommend getting CC: Last Stand Arnhem instead, which is set on the same campaign.

Of the four Close Combat games I have played, this one is by far my favourite. I still have the CDROM since when the game came out and I have installed it probably at least once every year. Not sure that the tactical battles are the best of the series, or the AI is very good, but the campaign mode is superb. Having to allocate resources to different parallel operations, and how the different operations sometimes interact, is something I really liked compared to the later games with the variations of battle groups moving around on a map. The only bad thing is that some of the operations after you reach the last map you just keep re-fighting the same battle over and over until the end of the campaign. That can be a bit tedious, but there will always be a few more active operations where you advance to new battles (or have to retreat). Just saw this on GOG and definitely buying it right away. It is good to see that the original Close Combat is included, because that is one game in the series I never played other than the demo, and I always was curious about it. Unfortunately I do not have Windows 7 and 8, so a bit sad that they could not just include the original Windows 95 version or make a proper GOG release. But with a bit of luck maybe it can be played in WINE now or in the future and not complaining about finally having found a version of it at all.

A landmark real time sleeper series that demands planning and maneuver to win. Close Combat is based on smaller scale battles, usually with a force of twenty or so soldiers, a few armored combat vehicles, and artillery. Its strength is in the use of tactics to defeat the enemy by using terrain, line of sight and firepower. CC does this very well and the combat involves the player by being up close rather than typical big scale games. Soldiers cry out when wounded or dying or just frazzled by constant gun fire. The player must know his soldiers' morale and weapon types. Certain soldiers also have command ratings that boost the effectiveness of his leadership. CC moves slowly too but the amount of tension and immediacy work beautifully together to keep the player on his toes at all times. Even though it is a top down game, the graphics show amazing detail in subtle ways, such as shadows and contours to depict elevation. As well, the game shows a useful line of site tool when targeting enemies. Sometimes a building or wall is blocking your squad. If you want a different experience, beyond fps and turn based strategy, try this out.

This was my second favorite of the CC series, one step behind Russian Front, and I recently played another campaign. Still very good, as the overhead perspective isn't heavily graphics dependent, and the gameplay is still as good as ever. As pointed out in review after review, the soldiers behave as individuals, trying to stay alive while more-or-less following orders, not doing exactly as commanded as mindless automatons. This and CCIII (Russian Front) allow a bit of leeway in the form of lists of what units are available to add to your force after a battle, adding a few RPG elements and personal touches to an otherwise historical simulation. Unlike Russian Front with a single force which you guide through battle after battle in a linear campaign, this game is divided up into multiple operations with different forces in each (other than the advancing tank column which will pass through and can participate in local battles while in the area), and you need to allocate your limited supply points to each area and battle. Several posts refer to the difficulty in playing Allies as opposed to German units, but I find it more a difference in doctrines and tactics. The Germans have better direct firepower (the machineguns are clearly better than their Allied equivalents, as I painfully discovered as an Allied player) and squad-level anti-tank capability, while the Allies can bring in more artillery, mortars (playing Germans, I HATED those Allied mortars), and other indirect support, plus have more reinforcements available. Allied casualties are likely to be higher than German, but the Germans are outnumbered in most engagements. If you play to their strengths, both sides are reasonably well balanced against each other. I'm pleased to see this classic on GOG, and would heartily recommend it to any armchair tactician (as opposed to FPS or Grand Strategy players) with an interest in WWII.

Works perfectly fine on Windows 11 as of the time of writing. This is widely considered the best entry in the Close Combat series and for good reason. Even the latest remakes don't hold up to this one.