CC3 Forum Member Impressions

[Llyranor]

While we're waiting for release details to be announced, I'd be interested to know what other members thought about CC3 (which I have never played). I've read the reviews, but it'd be nice to read other players' impressions on it.

Cheers.

[Hertston]

Like all Close Combat it was/is a very fun game, but it had its problems. Infantry is too weak compared to armour which just led to porking up the armour content of your forces as much as possible.

My biggest problem was simply that it wasn't as good as CC2. In retrospect it isn't as good as CC5 or even CC4, either. There was no campaign worth talking about, and that was what really made CC2 as a single-player game. That said, CC3 did have a few exceptional maps.. the 'infantry' ones usually, for obvious reasons.

The good news seems to be that CC:CoI has seemingly addressed all the problems, and has extra features to boot.

[e_barkmann]

In its original form, I thought it was a deeply entertaining game, especially online play, but flawed in terms of historical accuracy and performance of AI.

I have read we will see some addressing of the above issues and look forward to the release (now, please!)

[taps credit card impatiently on desk...]  [:'(]

[Muzrub]

I loved the game- having the chnace to play soldiers on the Eastern front was totally enthralling for me.
But it did have issues.

Though many people disliked the campaign in CC3 I didnt mind it, it gave the game a large scope but alas it wasnt detailed enough. I did enjoy slowly going through the years and eventually getting my hands on a Tiger though.

Simply good game, campaign was flawed but I liked the idea- and it had some issue's.
Overall I have never once regreted buying the game- and I cant say that for everygame I have bought over the years.

[Marc von Martial]

Infantry is too weak compared to armour which just led to porking up the armour content of your forces as much as possible.

That is a very broad statement indeed. It totally depends on how you use your infantry. I remember I was known in ladder games for being the guy that snapped tanks with inf instead of 88s [;)]

Just yesterday, when playing with the new COI campaign I cracked two T-34 85 with infantry squads. No, not with Panzerfausts, with close assault means.

It all comes down to morale and use of leaders.

[Marc von Martial]

I love(d) and embraced them all. I was a little bit disappointed by CC4, but still I liked it. I think there was no game series that got me hooked for so long time and made me so impatiently wait for a sequel.
My all time favorite was CC2 though.

I remember when CC2 came out, I was on one of this student protest we had at our university at that time. And I knew my game shop would get copies that day. So later in the afternoon I left the demonstrations bought CC2 and went back. The eyes of my "peace loving" fellow student demonstrators were really popping open when they noticed the box cover. And I had freaking big grin on my face and couldn't wait to go home and rip the box open .... I think I played for a week straight with only very few sleep . My roommate one day asked me "Sind Sie verrückt?", in that very same tone that German soldiers had when you ordered them to assault a tank without the necessary arms to do so. I guess he heard it to often that week, LOL.

[handihoc]

I had a similar experience with CC2. An old 'tabletop and early Spectrum and C64' wargaming friend who'd moved away and with whom I'd pretty much lost contact with for some years, suddenly reappeared grinning at my door with 'You just gotta look at this!'
We installed it in my rickety old pc and started playing. Wow! Got online, went through the grand campaign so many times, then got on Case's Ladder . . . . Similarly with CC3. We just devoured it. Almost as good with CC4 Bulge, but as I've mentioned in another thread, it and the sequel were badly bugged and full of holes through a severe lack of play-testing before release. Things like setup zones and deployment restrictions made many maps unplayable, there were issues with online play, vehicle pathing, campaign tree, random crashes . . .
CC5 similar.
A real pity, because it had been such a great series.
Marc, I really hope those issues can be properly addressed in the Matrix version - preferably BEFORE release! It's fantastic news that you guys are redoing this classic series. I just don't want to be disappointed!

[Beeblebrox]

Pro's:
 
Outstanding psyche and combat model for squad level tactical gaming.  Still the best there is (go figure...)
Superb Production (thank you Microsoft!).  Shared with CC2 and lost with 4 and 5.
Excellent Scenario/Battle Editor.
Fantastic H2H vehicle.
Large range of Teams and Units available (with Historical rarity moderation).
Requisition Point System. (Not 'realistic', but very compelling for game play!).
Modability
 
Con's:
 
Linear Campaign system. 
Tank and Heavy Weapon biased.  Essentially, most effective strategies rely on stacking up Heavy Armour.
 
Although it was CC2 that nearly ruined my life when it came out (I remember sleeping through a Microsoft NT Server Training Course in Edinburgh because I was playing the effing game ALL night in the Hotel...!), CC3 is the one I always come back to, despite it's inadequacies.  I can spend a lot of time trying out custom scenarios to find alternative ways to get a good AI game without just stacking the numerical odds against you (which although works, becomes a bit tedious after a while).
 
CC3 and the Zone was incredible.  Have never seen so much activity.  I wonder how many families broke up because of that... [;)]
 
I am still waiting for a wealthy patron with more money than sense to invest in the future of the Close Combat Games.  We are making some progress, but it's a grind...
 
 
 

[elcidce]

I played CC2 more than all of the others simply because the scenarios seemed more balanced and were full of tension.

The difficulty of working out all of the tactics while the Germans gained forces was a blast. I have to rate it as one of my favorite gaming experiences.

[Ragbag]

I love CCIII and still play it H2H, but it's been a while. I prefer the CCV strat map and force pool to the linear campaign and point system of 3, but it is a great game and a great system. Once the modders got going on it, it was a real hot rod. Big maps too, so you could do a bit of maneuvering. Really needed mount and dismount for troops and guns though.

[Shaun Wallace]

Great Post Marc

I love(d) and embraced them all. I was a little bit disappointed by CC4, but still I liked it. I think there was no game series that got me hooked for so long time and made me so impatiently wait for a sequel.
My all time favorite was CC2 though.

I remember when CC2 came out, I was on one of this student protest we had at our university at that time. And I knew my game shop would get copies that day. So later in the afternoon I left the demonstrations bought CC2 and went back. The eyes of my "peace loving" fellow student demonstrators were really popping open when they noticed the box cover. And I had freaking big grin on my face and couldn't wait to go home and rip the box open .... I think I played for a week straight with only very few sleep . My roommate one day asked me "Sind Sie verrückt?", in that very same tone that German soldiers had when you ordered them to assault a tank without the necessary arms to do so. I guess he heard it to often that week, LOL.

I could have written the last part of that, man did I lose sleep playing CC1, 2 and 3.

Hmm, who needs 88's give me a good 57mm russian AT

Sulla