Close Combat

Of all the video games I've wasted my life on, without doubt, the Close Combat series of Real-Time Strategy titles remains the best; despite its 15-year vintage. Developed by Atomic Games back in '96, its top-down  World War 2 action set during Operation Market Garden, remain largely unsurpassed in their ingenuity and tension.

A true tactical strategy challenge, it is still my favourite online game, despite the arrival of newer, more technically advanced rivals. 

The original box art following the game's original launch back in '97 when it was published by Microsoft.

The action is viewed via a rudimentary non-scalable screen, with units - squads, tanks and artillery etc. handled by sprites. Morale, unit cohesion and experience levels are all modelled and play an integral part in the battle.

The deployment screen where the player can select reinforcements and force composition prior to, and after, battle where surviving units are carried over with increased experience levels. 

   

The game is now published by Matrix Games, but still retains its fundamental mechanics, despite various tweaks and is laptop -friendly, so can go anywhere - perfect. It has now moved into the modern area of conflict, but has never been better than when slugging it out against the Hun.

So, if you've never had a blast on this classic, give it a go and see how compelling it (still) is...

That's it for now!

Monty