Close Combat: Cross of Iron

No full screen option.

While I'm delighted that the classic Close Combat series has been "updated" to work better on modern PC:s it's frustrating that they didn't bother to fix the two main issues of the game that often leads to blood vessel popping frustration. 1. The "AI"'s unwillingness to attack, even when they are the aggressor. It's worse on some maps than others, but waiting 5-15 minutes for the enemy to advance without you seeing a single enemy unit only for them to accept a cease fire when you get bored and asks for one is not fun. 2. And then we have vehicle movement. Well I say movement, it's more like an absurd ballet where vehicles twist and turn and move anywhere except the goal you set them. Roads? Nah we good in the mud right next to the road where we can once again just start turning back and forth exposing our sides and occasionally our rear to the well-known eney tank and/or AT-guns while we're desperatly trying to aim our gun. You want me to go where? There? Oh I'll first go at a 90 degree angle to the line you drew and go ALL they way out here were all the enemies can see me before turing back after twisting on the spot for 20 seconds while under fire. The vehicle movement is frankly ridiculous and often nearly game breaking. I swear the vehicles in this game spend more time pointlessly turning in place 90-180 degrees (and the occsaional unmotivated 360) than they do moving in a straight line. I love this game but it gets extremely frustrating when you lose all your armour to one inferior tank because they can never aquire the target since they turn 180 degrees when they try and then get one-shot in the rear. This sadly also means that tanks known for their speed and manoeuvrability like the T-34 (speed which costs points to purchase) are suually wasted since they will just do the tank ballet like every other tank and promtly get blown away when kindly exposing its rear to the enemy. Tanks also manage to get mired or bogged down EVERYWHERE, regardless of surface it seems, meaning they rapidly tend lose any speed advantage they might have had. But if you can live with the glaring issues mentioned above it's a great game and I've spent many hours playing both the original and the new release (and the other games in the series). And it's nice that they have added some new maps and operations outside the main campaign.

Still worth playing in 2025. The post 2008 (Matrix) remakes are better than the originals in AI, path-finding, animations, graphics and multi-layer options. they are usually better at joining the tactical and strategic maps to make the campaign flow as well. Buy them here or at Matrix whichever has a sale on (when you buy @Matrix you will will still get a STEAM key and an option for a physical disc).

fun game. haven played it for years but picked it up and man i got humbled fast

Accurate, authentic, challenging

I've played this game on a dozen platforms for 15 years. Every time I think I'm done with it I realize I miss playing it.

My dad played this when I was growing up. I used to try to play it. Found it on here, bought it. It worked on start up. Fun game, mechanics a little dated and once you figure it out its pretty easy.

This is Close Combat 3. I wish they had improved the UI instead of just porting the game. This is probably my favorite of the CC series. I also liked CC2 "A Bridge Too Far"

Man, over priced for the graphics but there is something this game has that very few others have. even in the collection non feel quite like this... grit, real good fights- the AI isnt a thawck its a real threat and if you mess around you will find out. its a remaster of 3 (dont buy 3 its this but wont work) and man its is good to play in ultra wide glory. still see's support, a fine RTS to dip your toes into. need a comparison? think world at war rts

Simple graphics yet one of my favorite wargames. I don't even know why!