The Wargamer

New planes, vehicles and assorted other graphics

A handful of plane and vehicle samples seen in

Close Combat: The Longest Day.

Besides the two dozen new maps we've created for your enjoyment of the Close Combat: The Longest Day Grand Campaign, historically accurate planes and vehicles that are replicas of exact color schemes and designs of the theater.  Painstakingly researched and drawn down to the very last detailsto immediately identify if a connection to adjacent maps is in fact possible whereas in previous versions of Close Combat there was limited feedback other than trial and error.

Comes with all new 60+ battles, operations and campaigns

To get players started we've created and included single battles for each and every one of the 64 tactical maps as well as operations and campaigns intended to simulate historical actions in Normandy.  Only time for one battle?  You can then sample any one of the 64 beautifully hand drawn maps.  But for players interested in an immersive extended operation or campaign you can either play against the AI or versus another human player and partake in operations or campaigns.  During these campaigns  you can track your units’ progress and be in command of Allied or Axis forces at Normandy.

Features carried over from Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein CC4 rebuild

Expanded strat layer to 64 maps

 

Close Combat: The Longest Day strategic
map reduced to fit on the page.

Close Combat 5 allowed for a total of 44 tactical maps on which battles were played.   Close Combat: The Longest Day allows for 64 maps total which is 21 new maps over the original.  We've created two dozen new maps as well as incorporated handsomely drawn maps from two popular community mods (Gold, Juno, Sword, and Bloody Omaha) with their gracious permission. You'll recognize many Utah landing maps from the original Close Combat 5 game and seem many never seen before across the entire grand campaign area.

No longer requires 3^rd party utilities for modding

            As part of the scope of the rebuild projects we've allowed for all data files to be edited using a basic spreadsheet program of any type.  Also many details previously inaccessible in the .exe have been exported to text files which are also editable features.  With a basic graphics editor and spreadsheet editor many features previously uneditable are now easily altered with minimal effort or utilities.  Among the modifiable features: ALL strategic layer features, ALL campaign details including weather, turns per day, scoring, all support mission types for both sides and locations, battlegroup recycling, battlegroup retreat/disband, supply and much more!  The possibilities are nearly limitless!

Data file maximum entries expanded

            Teams, battlegroups, elements, forcepools soldiers, vehicles, and weapons files maximum number of allowable entries extended.  Previous versions of Close Combat were somewhat limited in the number of possible entries allowable in the data files so with expanded limits it's now possible to mod a larger range of historical scenarios than ever before.  It's now possible to represent multiple nationalities with varying capabilities available to both sides.

Improved AI

            Further improvements have been made to the AI from Wacht am Rhein to reduce some of the more inadequate performance issues, in particular with respect to vehicle pathing, the 'crawl of death', and Team and Unit morale, and response in general.

STANDARD FEATURES FOR ALL CLOSE COMBAT VERSIONS

The features listed in this section are features that have always been a part of Close Combat so if you're new to Close Combat, as we hope you are, these are additional features you should expect to see.

Scenario Editor - Create your own "what if" Scenarios

The scenario editor allows the user to create your own scenarios with control over many of the game details right from within the game.  You have control over the length of the operation or campaign or create one turn/single battles.  You can control how many battlegroups participate in the operation or campaign and you can even control when reinforcements arrive on the strategic layer in the operation or campaign. 

Close Combat: The Longest Day scenario editor screen.

The scenario editor also allows for historical setting of weather conditions which affect vehicle and troop mobility as well as the amount of supply and naval, artillery, mortar, air support and supply each side gets.  A very flexible system that allows for hours and hours of gaming enjoyment far beyond the 60+ battles, operations and campaigns we've already provided.

Enjoy the huge variety of modifications available from the Close Combat Community providing years of additional gaming pleasure.

            From the first release of the game right up to now Close Combat has ALWAYS had a devoted and talented group of fans with a steady stream of game modifications that alter the installation configuration beyond what we've provided.  As an owner of Close Combat you would be joining a rich, long standing gaming history and be able to utilize those fantastic modifications as well as many web forums created by Close Combats loyal fans.

Enhanced to run well on modern DirectX systems

            We've made many improvements to the game engine to ensure the game will be playable on newer operating systems long into the future.  This includes updates to be compatible with DirectX 9c.

Accurately depicts World War II tactical warfare and its challenges

            One of the boasts of Close Combat has always been its ability to reasonably depict historical events with an accuracy far beyond many games.  The psychological model combined with astonishing detail in equipment types and modeling for soldiers, on vehicle crews, and planes is what earned Close Combat the awards upon its release, as well as the adoration of fans for over 15 years.

Realistic soldier psychological profiles during combat

            This is really what makes Close Combat what it is.  How the stress of combat and the potential loss of his life or his buddy’s affects a soldier’s performance and ability to carry out his duty.  Besides being affected by bullets flying through the air and bombs bursting nearby, there is a radius of command model whereby the soldiers’ effectiveness is altered by the presence or loss of his immediate superior officer as well as the overall success of the battle from minute to minute.  Combine this with the excitement of playing against the AI or another human player and you can quickly see why the game has been so popular for so long.

Accurate and realistic equipment modeling 

            As mentioned above there is great depth to the amount of detail included in all Close Combat releases.  The game’s data files include how many grenades a soldier carries, what type, how much ammo he carries, what kinds of secondary weapons he carries, if a weapon requires an assistant gunner as a crew, how heavy a weapon is and how that effects his mobility, how much armor a weapon has the capability of penetrating, what type of rounds tanks carry whether they be armor piercing, high explosive smoke or some other type of round, if the tank has the capability to fire while on the move or not and on and on.  Nearly ever conceivable detail is modeled in some fashion and has a direct effect on the gameplay.

 

Just a small sampling of allied teams found in Close Combat: The Longest Day among literally
hundreds of Axis and Allied team types.

Close air support and direct and indirect fire

The original game creators were quick to realize that a game about individual soldiers, their comrades, and units they belonged to would not be complete without that unseen angel of air support and support artillery.  Depending on the scenario design, players will possibly see the appearance of this type of support sometime during the battle.  Simulated in Close Combat: The Longest Day are close air support, naval barrages, artillery barrages, and mortar barrages as well as illumination flares.  All these have been added to simulate the support echelons found on the battlefield.

Protect your men in buildings, bunkers, and trenches

The map design allows for many different terrain types including multi-level buildings, trenches, bunkers, trees, varying elevations, road types, terrain types, and just about anything you'd find on the battlefield viewable from 500ft in the air above the battlefield.  All have differing levels of protection and differing effects on movement.  It creates a very realistic environment that requires the player to make smart choices about his battle plan and to carefully consider each command he issues.

Includes specialized squads, weapons, soldier types, attack Aircraft & Artillery

Close Combat has always included specialized squads such as flamethrower teams, anti-tank teams, anti-tank guns, a plethora of tank and vehicle types as well as nearly every conceivable type of aircraft and artillery piece you'd expect to see on a battlefield.  For Close Combat: The Longest Day the data design includes engineer teams, rifle squads, machine-gun squads, assault squads, command teams, anti-tank weapons, flamethrowers, anti-tank guns, tripod mounted machine guns, mortar teams, tanks, halftracks, armored cars, off map close air support, naval barrages, mortar barrages, and illumination rounds.

Conclusion

So, that's a pretty complete list of changes, features, and enhancements to Close Combat: The Longest Day.  As can be seen from this list, it's more than just a clone of the original game with fixes to let it run on modern operating systems.  A lot of time has been invested in improving the game and expanding features.  We hope you'll enjoy them.