• - Windows 98 OSR1 Beta 2
• - Epox KP6-BS Dual P2 400 mainboard
• - 256 MB of 100 Mhz SDRAM
• - ASUS V3400 TNT
• - Diamond Monster II 3D SLI
• - Western Digital 6.4 GB
• - ViewSonic 21" G810
• - Monster MX300
• - MS Digital Sound System 80
• - 24X Creative CDROM
• - Thrustmaster HOTAS

In my January preview of Microsoft's Close Combat III (CC-III) I described, with typical pre-release enthusiasm, my impressions of the new features to the third installment of this classic game. Since that preview, I've obtained the retail version and have been playing it for some time with a more sober disposition. Were my expectations met? Will this re-fit maintain my long-lasting, mutually redemptive relationship I've been enjoying, or will I soon be cruising the game aisles at the all-night computer store looking for more exotic fare? In this first part of this review, I'll start with a bit of history, then move onto some of the highlights of preparing for battle and gameplay.

Fig. 1. Requisition of the troops and equipment. This screen is the most important part of what you will be doing in CC3 short of fighting the battle itself. Click for larger.

The second installment in the series was based on Operation Market Garden: codename of the largest (and unsuccessful) Allied airborne operation of WWII. This follow-up to the successful original introduced new player modeling; updated buildings for true line-of-sight; a new supply system for both sides (for reinforcements); plus gorgeous graphics and loads of new tanks, troops and weapons. A very tough act to follow, indeed. Close Combat III not only lives up to the great expectations of its predecessors, it once again sets the pace for innovative, exciting, and immersive RTS gameplay.

Both Close Combat and Close Combat II were based on battles between the Germans and Americans. In CC-III the Americans are out and the Russians are in, fighting the Germans in what became the bloodiest Operation of WWII: Operation Barbarossa.

Operation Barbarossa was the German invasion of Russia during the summer of 1941. The Germans believed that their surprise Blitzkrieg power-rush into Russia would be successfully concluded well prior to the onset of winter. This rather haughty assumption on the German's behalf caused them not to prepare or pack anything that might prove useful in a protracted winter operation!

History proved this to be a grave miscalculation as the war dragged-on into December of 1941. The Germans, with their light clothing and improperly prepared vehicles and equipment, had to face not only the Russians themselves but also the brutal Russian winter. When it was all over, it was the Russian weather that beat the Germans as much as the Russian people.

In CC-III, you can play as either the Germans or the Russians. Not surprisingly, Atomic Games has added loads of new troops, weapons, and armor to accommodate the game's addition of this new Russian / Eastern Front. Throw in increased resource allocation, improved AI, and maps with a range of resolutions topping out at 1600 X 1200, and even the most experienced veterans of the series will think they are playing an entirely new game.

D:>/setup.exe. HIT [PLAY]:
Installation of the game is a snap. Choices for install range from 60 Megs to 400+ Megs. Once installed, you'll find, if you've played CC-I or CC-II, that the player interface menus have been redesigned for greater ease of use. New functionality has been added that will allow you more control over how you wish the battlefield to be shaped (Fig. 1). In CC-III you can even choose whether you want your troops to speak their native tongue or English. At the start of the game, you are asked to choose between commanding the Germans or Russians. After choosing a single battle, or an entire campaign, you are briefed and allowed to select which troops and weapons you wish to employ upon your entry into the war.

Fig. 2. A Russian flamethrower is making the Germans feel a little toasty while a Russian Medium Battle Tank (MBT) stands ready to bring about his own form of destruction. Click for larger.

As an aside, as your game moves forward in time, the AI models the actual developments in WWII weapon technology. This modeling of technological advancements will determine your choice of weapons at various stages in your battle. For example, at the outset of your campaign the Russians will not have the T-34 tank. As time moves forward in your game you'll find that the T-34, not available at the start, will have made its appearance---and not just one model, but several variants based on real-life enhancements!

The maps are outstanding. As the map comes up the game pauses so that each side may arrange its troops on the battlefield. Once ready for war, you click the "ready" button and time begins. One of the new features is that each battle can end in three different ways: by reaching a pre-defined time limit; by one side's capture of all the strategic points on the map; or by one side wiping out the other's entire force. You can also surrender your troops or withdraw them from the map: either action will cause the battle to end.

Improved AI
If you are a veteran campaigner, you may find yourself, as I did, playing with the time limit feature ON. For the uninitiated, in the previous versions of the game, the side played by the computer would not surrender a map if it still had even one man left alive (as if he alone, Audey Murphy style, had a chance to destroy all my tanks and troops!). I have noticed, however, that in the final build of the game the computer, rather than hold out until all its troops have been destroyed, is much more willing to give up a map. This is an indication of improved AI in that your computer opponent seems to consider the entire campaign and not just about the current battle.

Fig. 3. Here you can see the influence range of the Russian Commander in red and the secondary Command Vehicle in green. Notice how the vehicle, with the greater value and cost in requisition, also commands a larger influence ring than the Commander. Click for larger.

Commander Persona
Another welcome revitalization from the original, but left out of CC-II, is the Commander Persona. During the game install, you select a name, or persona, for the Commander of your troops. Your Commander's persona will be the source from which your troop's morale and obedience to leadership will grow and strengthen. Keep your Commander close to his troops and they will receive his leadership, moral influence, and keep shooting and moving forward; let the troops stray away from the Commander, however, and they will become disheartened, scared, and more likely to run from any conflict.

Consequently, if your Commander persona gets killed, the morale of your troops might collapse also. As in the first two games, each troop has his own emotional state. This state is constantly monitored to determine if a troop will continue with a heated fight, or run and hide from absolute fear, or even surrender outright. A troop's emotional state is not a byproduct of the Commander's persona alone, however. Rather, it is the result of a wider calculation based on the experience of the unit, the morale of the troop when brought to the front line, and the individual troop's health and leadership skills.

I Need Air Support!
One feature that Atomic Games has not developed for the game is air power. I believe we should be allowed to allocate points, through the resource screen, for pre-planned air force bombing runs---a method available in the game with off-shore artillery. I foresee purchasing a bomber formation to drop ordnance on the map during a certain battle. For example, in the resource allocation screen, the purchasing unit could be presented as follows:

Let's say we chose this option, a large formation of Ju-88 bombers would execute a bombing run at a random time during the battle. The bombers would have been given a specific ground reference point, but accuracy would not be guaranteed.

To continue with this hypothetical scenario, once the battle began, bombers would be on their way. Perhaps we could also be given updates on the ETA of the formation so we would know the approximate time of their arrival. Naturally, where the bombs eventually landed would be out of our control, and in some cases could even fall on our own troops! (After all, errors did occur in real-life battles). Carpet bombing, where a random portion of the enemy's map would be selected, might also be an option and would certainly add more depth to the game.

Fig. 4. Up close and personal: Click For a larger image and detailed explanation.

Miscellany
The sound in CC-III has been enhanced over the last version. There are many more sounds over all, and they have more feeling to them. 3D sound is still not in the game, which is unfortunate. I would like to see added support for my Diamond MX300 A3D, or for the Creative Labs EAX (environmental) extensions.

The mission builder, "Battlemaker," has been enhanced to accommodate more features and allows greater customization than the last version. Making your own battles has never been easier with the plethora of new troops, tanks and weapons.

Multiplayer is supported on the Microsoft Gaming Zone (MGZ) on a modem, via Direct Cable Connection or LAN. Two players is the maximum for multiplayer. I found multiplayer to be stable and fast on both the MGZ and LAN, and playing another human is the ultimate Close Combat experience!

The manual is well written and offers tons of history, as well as explaining the inner workings of the game. Whether you are a new or experienced player of the series, you will appreciate the effort that went into its creation.

[Esc] . . . Doh! One change that drives me insane is the remapping of the [ESC] key. In CC-II, I could cancel a planned, but not yet executed, firing order or movement by hitting the [ESC] key. In CC-III, when I hit [ESC], the game asks me if I want to quit the current battle! I HATE THIS! During the beta test phase, many testers complained about this change in the newsgroup but to no avail. Alas, this "feature" made it into the final code of the game. [Ed., Now, how does that old proverb go? "You can't teach an old dog . . ." ]

Summary
Close Combat III: The Russian Front is a worthy addition to the series and is sure to become another instant classic. What started out as a straight-forward battlefield management game has now matured into a full-blown battlefield management simulation. If you have never before played a Close Combat game, you will undoubtedly find the interface complex, and at times, overwhelming. My advice is to be patient; give yourself time to become familiar with the interface. Eventually, it will begin to make sense and you'll really begin to appreciate the planning and workmanship that went into its design.

Graphics: 90%
While not 3D accelerated, it has the best 2D graphics I have seen to date. The faster 2D speed is essential for higher resolutions!

Interface: 90%
The interface has become more sophisticated yet remains very friendly. Icons can be a bit confining on the map and spacing isn't always the best but is done well, overall. Change that ESC button (I call it a bug) please!

Fig. 5. The Historical Grand Map. Click for enlarged image and detailed explanation.

Sound: 90%
Sound has been improved over the first two games. Troops not only sound off about what they are seeing, but also feeling! This chatter adds to and amplifys the sense of immediacy during battles. Sorry, no 3D sound yet.

Artificial Intelligence: 95%
Overall, the AI is very good. Tanks sometimes don't always choose the best way to implement the orders you give, but overall it's nicely done.

Stability: 99%
Look, Ma! No crashes! Kudos to the beta testers!

Multiplayer: 95%
I experienced virtually no hiccups on the Gaming Zone with a 56K modem. The 100mbs LAN was simply outstanding: no hesitation at all.

Overall Rating: 95%
Excellent simulation/strategy game. In a class of its own.

System Requirements:

• - Windows 95/98
• - Pentium 133 Mhz computer or equivalent
• - 32 MB RAM
• - 60 MB hard drive space
• - SVGA Video card supporting at least 800*600 resolution
• - 4X CDROM
• - 28.8 modem for online play at Microsoft Gaming zone
• - Network card for LAN play for 2 players

Recommended:

• - Windows 98
• - Pentium 233 (Pentium 2 to run high resolutions)
• - 64 Meg RAM
• - 500 MB HD space
• - 3DFX Banshee chipset, Matrox G200, or NVidia TNT chipset for good, fast, crisp high resolution scrolling.
• - 12X CDROM
• - 56K Modem or higher
• - 10/100mbs Network card for LAN