Close Combat: First to Fight

Close Combat: First to Fight

I've been a fan of the Close Combat games for some time. Close Combat: Invasion Normandy has been a favorite past time activity of mine for quite a while now. The older CC's are like a modern version of chess (where you can play the computer or another player) with each player setting his pieces, giving orders, and watching events unfold. The thing that makes the game interesting is the uncertainty involved. There is no way of knowing where the enemy is located, or what his intentions are, until you push out recon units to get eyes on the enemy. What makes it fun is that its always a challenge, each time you play. Nothing is the same. The enemy always reacts differently, and if you are a great leader you can get your men to suprise the enemy, causing enemy morale to plummet and pow's to come flooding in.

But out with the old, and in with the new.

This new game, First to Fight, takes the fun of the first person shooter and melds it with the reality and difficulty of the old games, requiring not just good shooting, but good tactics. You have three other marines in your fire team, and they know their jobs, so you can focus on yours. But you also have the ability to send them individually or as units to cover important areas, man machine guns, or just stay put while you check out the situation. The missions are interesting and varied and allow you to enjoy shooting up the bad guys while still demanding care and accuracy when operating near civilians and captured personnel. The maps are laid out with a variety of entrances and exits from all buildings so that you have a chance to surprise the enemy by sneaking up fire escapes and rooting them out from the top down. The new game also lets you call for helicopter and mortar attacks, as well as call for sniper team support to keep pesky rebels from shooting up your team.

I've just scratched the surface as far as the possibilities. There is multiplayer and x-box live options, as well, which I have not yet begun to explore. I've just been enjoying the set scenario's, but am looking forward to experimenting, testing my tactics against other players. I bought my copy used from a store in town, with a gaurantee that I could return the copy if I didn't like it. After the first time playing (and figuring out the controls) I decided there wouldn't be a need to return the game. It takes all the slow tactical precision of Full Spectrum Warrior yet lets you get your aggression out by pulling the trigger and butt stroking the bad guys. Its great fun, and I highly recommend it to you gamers who like the first person shooter.

(By the way, I've been reading up on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and am interested. It seems that based on your actions you can choose to be either for the light or the dark side. Nice. I don't think its a first person shooter, though. A friend brought over Star Wars: Republic Commando, which was entertaining, but its got none of the visual magnificance of Halo 2, or the flexibility of First to Fight.)