January 1st, 1996. Microsoft releases the first Close Combat, which launches the most successful computer wargame series in history. Almost seventeen years and fifteen releases later, the most popular real-time tactical wargame is back! With the release of Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog by Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Slitherine (www.slitherine.com), the franchise goes full circle.
Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog depicts an historical battle that closely follows the events of Operation Overlord, which was the setting of the very first release. The Battle of Mortain, when the 47th German Panzer Corps launched a desperate week-long assault on the strategic position of Hill 315 where the U.S. 30th Infantry Division proudly defended the allied gains made during Operation Cobra and ensured the success of the breakout from Normandy and the liberation of France.
Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog has all the classic ingredients of its predecessors. Using an updated version of the engine, the game features factors such as ammo, morale, experience, suppressive fire, cover and concealment, along with weapon types, armor facing and penetration.
For the last time, the classic sprite and 2D artwork engine is used, but with improvements. With Panthers in the Fog, the game has been given a boost, bumping from the old 16-bit graphics to the much more detailed and impressive 32-bit graphics. Terrain and units look a lot better and players are now able to enjoy a never-seen-before level of detail.
With 35 linked battlefields and historically accurate formations and units, strategic choices are as important as tactical prowess. New features such as long-range interdiction, strategic high ground and adverse weather conditions give the player insight into the challenges faced by those who commanded both sides in this pivotal World War II battle.
The game includes more than 50 historically accurate key units and 47 weapon types rendered in exact detail. With 35 unique regions to fight over, the possibility of commanding up to 21 squads per battle and truly enhanced multiplayer experience using Slitherine's integrated lobby system, Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog has all the elements to become a classic like all its predecessors.
Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog is aiming to release this November. For more information on Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog, view the official product page on the Matrix Games or Slitherine website.
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