Blast from the past.... Close Combat IV

I decided to take up CC IV next in line for the Close Combat series. This fourth edition is similar on the battlefield to the third edition but the overall campaign structure is more reminiscent of the second game. By that I mean it has more of a campaign based on historic events and units on a timetable/deadline.

This time round the player does not have a self named unit on the battlefield and you cannot select the makeup of each battlegroup. The historic nature of the game shows here with each unit on the campaign map being a battlegroup setup as their historic counterparts would have been. Thats not a bad thing.

The campaign starts with weak US and strong Axis forces. Similar to the last game's sides as the game progresses there is a constant weakening of Axis troops/supplies; While the US is constantly being resupplied, either with units getting reinforced or new battlegroups entering the fray.
That means that the German side needs to push hard and fast over as much of the map as possible as early as possible in order to capture key points and gain more resources. The US side needs to stop them from reaching those points at all costs. It makes for a great and complex game both on the campaign map and on each battlefield.

I really like the way that the battlegroup units work. Some units have better equipment than others.  Some with no armour can stop large amounts of armour if placed and used well. One bazooka team can make the difference and take out an armour unit that is the linchpin of the enemy attack.
Again wrecks on the battlefields stay and if you get pushed off a sector and return several day's/turns later you will see those same wrecks. Even trenches and gun placements stay, it's a small but nice touch that makes it feel like your fighting over maps that mean something to you.
another small touch is that if you have units on the defencive and you have them in the open when they start the battle you will find that they had time to dig themselves in where you placed them.

The campaign map lets you select the units and where they are to move to.

You can select which units receive Air support, Artillery barrage and/or a Supply-drop.

Once you click 'Ececute' and the moves are completed you will see the actions taken.

Clicking next will show you how the units stand. If they are in the same sector as an enemy unit then they will engage each other for that day's battle.

I was unable to get Fraps to work so I have no recording of a battle I did but I did find this video on Youtube worth a watch.

I won't be making a blog entry about the Fifth instalment, it was never a game that drew me into it as much as the fourth version. I've enjoyed these games and it's been part of the journey to see each instalment get better and take from the game before it and leave what didnt' work so well behind. I can say for certain that I'll be taking the Battle for the Bulge for a few more play throughs before uninstalling it.