Close Combat: The Bloody First

 PC
Close Combat: The Bloody First Image
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  • Summary: Close Combat: The Bloody First is the latest release in the critically-acclaimed Close Combat series, and the first using the new 3D Archon engine. With this Close Combat: The Bloody First combines classic Close Combat tactical gameplay with battles fought across a wide variety of diverse 3DClose Combat: The Bloody First is the latest release in the critically-acclaimed Close Combat series, and the first using the new 3D Archon engine. With this Close Combat: The Bloody First combines classic Close Combat tactical gameplay with battles fought across a wide variety of diverse 3D landscapes including craggy ridgelines, narrow valleys and dense villages.
    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. CD-Action
    Nov 25, 2019
    65
    Right now it looks like an advanced beta but in a couple of months, reinforced by patches and mods, it could be a really good game. [13/2019, p.60]
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  2. Strategy Gamer
    Oct 3, 2019
    60
    While The Bloody First is a decent start to the new era of Close Combat, it still needs a bit of TLC, and we hope some dedicated post-release support and future DLC will iron out the game and make it a title worthy of the legacy.
  3. Games.cz
    Nov 7, 2019
    60
    There is a certain magic in a venerable series like Close Combat becoming wholly 3D, but the AI is as weak as it’s ever been. Well, at least it’s still intense, strategic fun.
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Oct 4, 2019
    The game makes a fairly decent fist of infantry combat, comes with some nicely crafted maps, and inherits CC’s natural elegance and approachability, but falls short in too many core areas to earn a positive review from someone who has Combat Mission, Graviteam Tactics, and Armored Brigade ready and waiting in his amusement arsenal.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 2 out of 2
  1. FjrodFish
    Apr 1, 2021
    3
    Will update this with a full review when I've actually bothered to finish the game. If I can endure it.

    My bloody first impressions are not    Will update this with a full review when I've actually bothered to finish the game. If I can endure it.

    My bloody first impressions are not good. I've been wanting a 3D CC game for decades. ...And I still do. This does not feel like a CC game. This feels like a cheesy spin-off made by a first-time developer with a pirated beta of unity to work with. The original 2D graphics look better and more fitting. And by that, I mean the original 2D graphics from CC1. And they don't look good. But sure as heck do they look a lot more like CC than this unfocused mess of a game.

    While I'm playing, I don't feel like I in actuality have any proper tactical control of anything, and it feels more like a bad movie is playing out in front of me. The whole time, I have this loud voice inside my head going "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING!!!!!!!!!!"
    It's literally all I can think when I play this game. While waiting for combat to resolve, you could also try such thrilling things as watching paint dry to keep you from falling asleep.

    The graphics are god-awful. Everything maxed out, and it still looks worse than games several decades old. What the actual flying F is this failure of a game??? If this is what they want CC 3D to be, I can say this; WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE OF IT!

    Holy F this is bad. Honestly. Really, really, REALLY bad.    … Expand
  2. skk
    May 6, 2020
    3
    I have been playing the Close Combat series real time tactical games since release in 1996. Every game including the remakes have alwaysI have been playing the Close Combat series real time tactical games since release in 1996. Every game including the remakes have always improved, until now.

    The gameplay and 32 bit visual improvements of Panthers and Caen are the series apotheosis, this Bloody First is a user experience regression.

    Poor morale indication, inability to filter elements like corpses, the alleged "3D" Archon engine delivering a comical low resolution. After 60 irritating minutes this really is "literally unplayable" and I must return to the old skool sprite base games for real time tactical gaming.

    The title of "Bloody Seconds" better reflects the quality, but since the publisher (Slitherine/Matrix) has an antiquated no refunds policy, the bad taste this product has left is more like "Bloody Turds".    … Expand

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