Close Combat: Last Stand Arnhem is actually a combination of features from Close Combat: The Longest Day and from previous Close Combats. Such features are night-time battles (complete with flares and explosions lighting up the countryside), a strategic map that features 60 plus maps and having a detailed display of a battlegroup’s cohesion and fatigue status. For those that did not have a chance to play Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far back when it first came out, these features are akin to putting a high-performance engine and numerous bells and whistles to a classic car that has been sitting in your garage. Being able to play the upgraded version allows those with newer computers to enjoy the anxious minutes as your rifle team crosses an intersection, praying that there isn’t an MG-42 watching the lane.

Aside from the new features, Last Stand Arnhem has not changed the formula to how it plays or its graphics. The Close Combat series has always been a title that showcases incredibly detailed maps with soldiers and vehicles represented by equally detailed sprites. By not adding any 3D models, Last Stand Arnhem retains the charm of 90s strategy games. This also allows nearly any computer to run the software. I was able to play Last Stand Arnhem fluidly on my HP Mini laptop with no problems at all. Last Stand Arnhem is perfect for those situations where you are on the go and need your strategy gaming fix.

The gameplay remaining the same is a huge factor not only for fans of the title, but for any of those coming into the series for the first time. It grants players the ability to pick up any other Close Combat titles and aside from dealing with different equipment and soldiers, be able to jump in without much hassle. This is important as Close Combat’s core gameplay is wildly different from any other strategy game like it in its class.

Before each battle you’re allotted points. These points allow you to add on squads or switch them out. Like men, they’re limited, so if you’re keen on losing your machine gunners you’re going to find that well drying up quickly. This also brings in the strategy of having a numerical disadvantage while having a heavy punch. This of course affects your tactics on the field, so the depth of your strategy begins before even firing a shot.

Of course on the battlefield, your strategy can easily go to hell if you don’t follow proper tactics against a well-trained opponent (depending on your difficulty setting of having the enemy have green, line, veteran or elite soldiers). Obviously having troops out in the open will lead to being massacred by machine gun fire or mortars and sending in your tanks without proper infantry support will give bazooka teams and AT guns a field day to paint tank kills on their barrels. This is the brilliance of Close Combat: Last Stand Arnhem, there isn’t much hand holding and so you are given a trial by fire if you commit mistakes. Now taking in account your soldier’s morale, their ammo and their health, you can have a lot on your hands. Don’t feel let down by this, as the enemy is also affected by these features as well. It isn’t uncommon to roll up to second rate ad-hoc infantry with a few tanks and have them outright surrender. That being said, the use of combined arms is the key to victory. With Last Stand Arnhem you will also get to use airstrikes, mortar and artillery strikes and if you are having trouble seeing enemies at night, illumination flares will come to your aid.            

There are also several different modes play, ranging from individual battles to commanding the whole Operation Market Garden campaign. Players will also be able to construct their own scenarios for maximum replayability. And if the enemy AI isn’t providing a unique enough challenge, players can also hop online to find opponents to play against.

No Close Combat series is complete without authentic audio. Each weapon has its unique and authentic note, from the classic crack of the Garand to the terrifying bark of the MG-42. You’ll also hear some audio clues from your troops if they’re about to crack or if they’ve spotted the enemy. The best sensation is having a battle erupt at full tilt with explosions and gunfire coming from your speakers as your troops advance towards a small town.

So is Last Stand Arnhem worth it? If you were a giant fan of Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far and loved the previous Close Combats and the features they had, then yes it is certainly worth it. It is more than just a remake to make it compatible with current operating systems, it is a full blown overhaul to bring it up to par to what players want and it delivers in spades.

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