Matrix Games

The Return of Classic Close Combat…

Based on the Atomic Games award winning Close Combat series of games. Close Combat: Cross of Iron, brings back the award-winning classic in new epic battles of the Eastern Front of World War II. In Close Combat: Cross of Iron you start off as a junior officer leading your men into battle in real time. Earn promotions as you deal with an unforgiving enemy. Fight and survive though the frozen winter, hot dusty summer and muddy autumn.

New Maps and Campaign. Close Combat: Cross of Iron comes with all the original Close Combat III Battles, Operations, and Campaigns. However, also included is an entire new Campaign called Fuger's Ostliche Wut, or Fuger's Eastern Fury, for you to fight as either German or Russian, based on actions between 1943 and 1944. Each Battle and Operation has been carefully made with in depth briefings related to actual events, and will give you hints about the battle and what you may expect. We have tried hard to make the balance of play suitable for a newcomer to the game, making it neither too hard or too easy.

There are 26 new maps never released before and 6 modified maps from the original game, gathered together in 12 Operations spanning 12 months of the Russian Front Campaign, from dry summer landscapes through mud and snow.

Revised Data.The Teams, Units, Weapons, and Data have been revised with new Graphics and more accurate performance. The AI has been modified to reduce many of the problems experienced with the original release of Close Combat III, and it is of course now Windows XP and DirectX friendly.

And much more...!

See the feature list below for the new enhancements that come with the Mega Update.

• Mega Update Improvements
• Noticeable improvements were made to the way vehicles and soldiers travel to way points and reach the end destination of both simple and highly complex, unhindered paths with a very high degree of success.
• Soldier pathfinding was improved so that when soldiers fall behind (heavy weapon or momentarily lost) they plot their own path to successfully rejoin their team.
• Vehicle driver and soldier decision making was improved to help them deal with unexpected obstacles (vehicle moving into their way , or wreck that was knocked out in the course of battle to block a path that was already determined), and get out of dead-end locations.
• AI improvements were made to be in concert with the re-designed pathfinder.
• The "Bee Dance" of CC2 that was related to conflicts between the AI for the vehicle driver and the AI that tried to keep the team moving along the team's path that would result in a conflict about which portion of the AI to follow or "which way to go."
• Many other minor improvements were made and reported bugs were fixed.
• Game Features
• Enhanced Scenario Editor - Create your own "what if" Scenarios.
• Includes "Command Center" linking you to new maps, campaigns, mods,and player forums.
• Improvements have been made to the AI 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.
• Battle HQ game matching service including unique player customizable game clients.
• Enjoy the huge variety of modifications available from the Close Combat Community providing years of additional gaming pleasure.
• Enhanced head-to-head and multiplayer combat modes including: 24/7 campaigns and player matching service.
• Comprehensive player ranking system.
• Realistic soldier psychological profiles during combat
• Accurately depicting WWII squad-level warfare
• Direct and indirect fire with limited ammunition
• Ability to protect your men in building, pillboxes, and trenches.
• 100s of specialized squads, weapons, soldier types, vehicles & Artillery
• Includes Command Center linking you to new maps, campaigns, mods, and player forums.
• Enhanced head-to-head and multiplayer combat modes.
• Enjoy the variety of modifications available from the Close Combat Community providing years of additional gaming pleasure.
• Runs well on modern DirectX systems
• Adjust timing and scroll speed and volume
• New Sounds (many not heard before)
• ... and many more!

CC: CoI at Out of Eight PC Game Reviews
"A tremendous updated version of Close Combat is filled to the brim with improved AI, a new scenario, community modifications, and engine tweaks."

CC: CoI at JeuxDeGuerre.com (detailed review in French)
(translated from website) "The goal of the developers on embarking on this effort was clearly noted: to establish the link between the familiar old series and the new players, while preparing for the likely release of a true continuation. On this point the game is an undeniable success."

CC: Cross of Iron at Wargamer.com
"Close Combat - Cross of Iron is more than just a cosmetic/compatibility upgrade - it offers hefty enhancements and a plethora of new features that are sure to please the die-hard Close Combat fans and, I hope, attract many new gamers to this gripping and realistic tactical simulation."

CC: Cross of Iron at BlueAlien.org
"Close Combat: Cross of Iron is a welcome update to a classic wargame... The expanded multiplayer and level editing capability make this game an excellent value for the dollar."

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