Close Combat III: The Russian Front

Battles follow the general pattern of the Close Combat series. Apart from a difficulty slider, there are realism settings which disable the fog of war, unit initiative, difficulty of access to enemy info, etc.

The Grand Campaign follows the Eastern Front from the German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa), to Stalingrad and ultimately Berlin. Players can pick either side.

{{expand section|date=August 2017}}

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 78%{{cite web | url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/96044-close-combat-iii-the-russian-front/index.html | title=Close Combat III: The Russian Front for PC | website=GameRankings | publisher=CBS Interactive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521215220/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/96044-close-combat-iii-the-russian-front/index.html | archive-date=May 21, 2019 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| Allgame = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web | author=Smith, Nick | url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14835&tab=review | title=Close Combat III: The Russian Front - Review | website=AllGame | publisher=All Media Network | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115012846/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14835&tab=review | archive-date=November 15, 2014 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| CNG = 7/10{{cite web | author=Chick, Tom | date=January 26, 1999 | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2431,00.html | title=Close Combat III: The Russian Front | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816094301/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2431,00.html | archive-date=August 16, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| CGSP = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web | author=Udell, Scott | date=January 24, 1999 | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/002/ccombat3_review.html | title=Close Combat III: The Russian Front | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030709075454/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/002/ccombat3_review.html | archive-date=July 9, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| CGW = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Miller, Patrick | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_178.pdf | title=The Best Yet? Nyet! (Close Combat III: The Russian Front Review) | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=178 | date=May 1999 | pages=164–65 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816004910/http://www.gamespot.com/strategy/cc3/review_cgw.html | archive-date=August 16, 2000 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| GI = 8/10{{cite magazine | author=Bergren, Paul | title=Close Combat III [The Russian Front] | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=FuncoLand | issue=73 | date=May 1999}}

| GameRev = C{{cite web | author=Johnny B. | date=February 1999 | url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33195-close-comabt-iii-the-russian-front-review | title=Close Comabt [sic] III: The Russian Front Review | website=GameRevolution | publisher=CraveOnline | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924174353/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/close-comabt-iii-the-russian-front | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| GSpot = 9.2/10{{cite web | author=Krol, Scott R. | date=January 21, 1999 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/close-combat-iii-the-russian-front-review/1900-2538351/ | title=Close Combat III: The Russian Front Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"] | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050104074057/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/closecombat3therf/review.html | archive-date=January 4, 2005 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| IGN = 9/10{{cite web | author=Bates, Jason | date=January 18, 1999 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/19/close-combat-3 | title=Close Combat 3 [sic] | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| PCA = 8/10{{cite magazine | author=Klett, Steve | url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL08Apr1999/page/n85/mode/2up | title=Close Combat III: The Russian Front | magazine=PC Accelerator | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=8 | date=April 1999 | page=87 | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| PCGUK = 88%{{cite magazine | author=Weston, Jason | url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=226 | title=Close Combat III: The Russian Front | magazine=PC Gamer UK | publisher=Future Publishing | issue=67 | date=March 1999 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020322014316/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=226 | archive-date=March 22, 2002 | url-status=dead}}

| PCGUS = 92%{{cite magazine | author=Trotter, WIlliam R. | url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamer199904/page/n135/mode/2up | title=Close Combat III [The Russian Front] | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=6 | issue=4 | date=April 1999 | pages=120–21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000307035059/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1262.html | archive-date=March 7, 2000 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

| award1Pub = PC Gamer US

| award1 = Best Wargame 1999

}}

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.

It sold 45,438 copies during 1999.{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamer_April_2000/page/n35/mode/2up | title=PC Gamer Editors' Choice Winners: Does Quality Matter? | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=7 | issue=4 | date=April 2000 | page=33 | access-date=April 29, 2021}} Author James Dunnigan reported that it was the year's best-selling wargame.{{cite book | author=Dunnigan, James F. | authorlink=Jim Dunnigan | date=January 3, 2000 | title=Wargames Handbook, Third Edition: How to Play and Design Commercial and Professional Wargames | publisher=Writers Club Press | pages=14–17}} According to Marc Dultz of CNET Gamecenter, the title was profitable and achieved total sales of "well over 100,000 units" by April 1999.{{cite web | author=Dultz, Mark | date=April 28, 1999 | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2716,00.html | title=Mindscape Picks Up Close Combat | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817173652/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2716,00.html | archive-date=August 17, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 5, 2019}}

The staff of PC Gamer US presented the game with their 1999 "Best Wargame" prize. They hailed it as the "strongest Close Combat title yet", and wrote that it "vividly recreate[s] the fluidity and chaos of real combat without compromising playability."{{cite magazine | author=PC Gamer staff | url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamerMarch2000/page/n65/mode/2up | title=The Sixth Annual PC Gamer Awards (Best Wargame) | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=7 | issue=3 | date=March 2000 | page=60 | access-date=April 29, 2021}} The game received a nomination by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences for PC Strategy Game of the Year at the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, and a nomination for IGN's pick for 1998's best strategy game; however, these prizes ultimately went to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri and StarCraft, respectively.{{cite web | url=http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html | title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer | website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104003923/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html | archive-date=November 4, 1999 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=January 29, 1999 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/29/ignpcs-best-of-1998-awards | title=IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020404002022/http://pc.ign.com/articles/066/066665p1.html | archive-date=April 4, 2002 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}}

{{clear}}

• Backstab #15{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/backstab-magazine-french-15/page/n53/mode/2up | title=Backstab Magazine (French) Issue 15 }}

Following the release of Close Combat III, Microsoft opted to discontinue the Close Combat franchise in early 1999.{{cite web | author=Dunkin, Alan | date=April 28, 1999 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mindscape-nabs-close-combat/1100-2451763/ | title=Mindscape Nabs Close Combat [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000"] | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000620194422/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/99_04/28_pc_cc/index.html | archive-date=June 20, 2000 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}} The game and its predecessors had been profitable, but CNET Gamecenter{{'}}s Dultz reported "indications that the company is now only interested in publishing games that have the potential of selling 250,000 units or more." Atomic reacted that April by splitting from Microsoft and migrating to Mindscape's Strategic Simulations (SSI) label, with the goal of creating a fourth Close Combat based on the Battle of the Bulge. Later that year, Zabalaoui said that Microsoft had been "a terrific publisher", and that Atomic had "parted company [with it] as friends who may some day work together again."{{cite web | author=Zabalaoui, Keith | date=January 1999 | url=http://atomic.com/new/page/note2.htm | title=A Note From the President | website=Atomic Games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000611040019/http://atomic.com/new/page/note2.htm | archive-date=June 11, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 5, 2019}}

Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge was released in November 1999, followed by Close Combat: Invasion Normandy in October 2000. After Atomic's sale to Destineer in 2005,{{cite web | author=Adams, David | date=May 6, 2005 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/07/destineer-buys-atomic-games | title=Destineer Buys Atomic Games | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109201821/http://pc.ign.com/articles/610/610947p1.html | archive-date=January 9, 2006 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}}{{cite web | author=GameSpot staff | date=May 5, 2005 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/destineer-acquires-atomic-games/1100-6123622/ | title=Destineer Acquires Atomic Games [date mislabeled as "May 6, 2005"] | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213143310/http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/closecombatfirsttofight/news.html?sid=6123622 | archive-date=February 13, 2007 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}} its new parent partnered with Matrix Games to create expanded remakes of the Close Combat games,{{cite web | author=Armchair General staff | date=October 23, 2006 | url=http://armchairgeneral.com/pr-matrix-games-licenses-award-winning-close-combat-series-from-destineer.htm | title=PR: Matrix Games Licenses Award-winning Close Combat Series from Destineer | website=Armchair General | publisher=Weider History Group | location=Staten Island, NY | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721042514/http://www.armchairgeneral.com/pr-matrix-games-licenses-award-winning-close-combat-series-from-destineer.htm | archive-date=July 21, 2013 | url-status=live}} starting with Close Combat III. The result was Close Combat: Cross of Iron, released by Matrix and developer CSO Simtek in 2007.{{cite web | author=Park, Andrew Seyoon | date=October 20, 2006 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-close-combat-to-get-new-lease-on-life/1100-6160284/ | title=Q&A: Close Combat to get new lease on life | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527065806/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6160284.html | archive-date=May 27, 2007 | url-status=live | access-date=April 29, 2021}}{{cite web | author=Matrix Support | date=February 13, 2007 | url=http://www.slitherine.com/news/385/Close.Combat.Cross.of.Iron.Now.Available! | title=Close Combat: Cross of Iron Now Available! | website=Slitherine Software | publisher=Matrix Games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408084918/http://www.slitherine.com/news/385/Close.Combat.Cross.of.Iron.Now.Available! | archive-date=April 8, 2018 | url-status=dead}} Remakes of Battle of the Bulge, Invasion Normandy and A Bridge Too Far followed,{{cite web | author=Drummy, Sean | date=October 28, 2008 | url=http://www.slitherine.com/news/536/Close.Combat.-.Wacht.am.Rhein.Now.Available! | title=Close Combat - Wacht am Rhein Now Available! | website=Slitherine Software | publisher=Matrix Games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610071422/http://www.slitherine.com/news/536/Close.Combat.-.Wacht.am.Rhein.Now.Available! | archive-date=June 10, 2016 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | author=Drummy, Sean | date=April 29, 2009 | url=http://www.slitherine.com/news/576/Close.Combat.–.The.Longest.Day.Now.Available! | title=Close Combat – The Longest Day Now Available! | website=Slitherine Software | publisher=Matrix Games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610083158/http://www.slitherine.com/news/576/Close.Combat.%E2%80%93.The.Longest.Day.Now.Available%21 | archive-date=June 10, 2016 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 5, 2019}}{{cite web | author=Drummy, Sean | date=July 7, 2010 | url=http://www.slitherine.com/news/689/Close.Combat.–.Last.Stand.Arnhem.Now.Available!./ | title=Close Combat – Last Stand Arnhem Now Available! | website=Slitherine Software | publisher=Matrix Games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408085021/http://www.slitherine.com/news/689/Close.Combat.%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%80%9C.Last.Stand.Arnhem.Now.Available%21./ | archive-date=April 8, 2018 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 5, 2019}} along with the new titles Panthers in the Fog (2012), Gateway to Caen (2014), and The Bloody First (2019).{{cite web | author=Parrino, Scott | date=November 19, 2012 | url=http://www.matrixgames.com/news/981/Close.Combat.Panthers.in.the.Fog.Emerges.onto.the.Battlefield! | title=Close Combat: Panthers in the Fog Emerges onto the Battlefield! | website=Slitherine Software | publisher=Matrix Games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327102613/http://www.matrixgames.com/news/981/Close.Combat.Panthers.in.the.Fog.Emerges.onto.the.Battlefield! | archive-date=March 27, 2017 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | author=Baker, Patrick | date=June 30, 2014 | url=http://www.armchairgeneral.com/close-combat-gateway-to-caen-pc-game-review.htm | title=Close Combat: Gateway to Caen – PC Game Review | website=Armchair General | publisher=Weider History Group | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109180329/http://www.armchairgeneral.com/close-combat-gateway-to-caen-pc-game-review.htm | archive-date=November 9, 2014 | url-status=live}}{{cite web | author=Schouten, Bart | date=June 5, 2014 | url=http://www.matrixgames.com/news/1442/Close.Combat.Gateway.to.Caen.is.now.available! | title=Close Combat: Gateway to Caen is now available! | website=Slitherine Software | publisher=Matrix Games | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408184451/http://www.matrixgames.com/news/1442/Close.Combat.Gateway.to.Caen.is.now.available! | archive-date=April 8, 2018 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | author=Hall, Charlie | date=February 20, 2018 | url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/20/17033518/close-combat-the-bloody-first-delay-2014-release-date | title=Close Combat was nearly done when the developer changed game engines | website=Polygon | publisher=Vox Media | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221021737/https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/20/17033518/close-combat-the-bloody-first-delay-2014-release-date | archive-date=February 21, 2018 | url-status=live}}

Sales of Atomic's original five Close Combat games, including Close Combat III, totaled 1.2 million units by the mid-2000s.{{cite news | author=Rogers, Rick | date=June 3, 2005 | url=http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/20050603-9999-1n3video.html | title=Video game brings the fight to the Marines | newspaper=The San Diego Tribune | publisher=Nant Capital LLC | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408062948/http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/20050603-9999-1n3video.html | archive-date=April 8, 2018 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 11, 2018}}{{cite web | author=Tamte, Peter | date=July 19, 2004 | url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/close-combat-first-to-fight/531634p1.html | title=Close Combat: First To Fight - Vol. #1 | website=GameSpy | publisher=IGN Entertainment | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722050416/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/close-combat-first-to-fight/531634p1.html | archive-date=July 22, 2004 | url-status=live}} By 2018, the series contained 17 entries and had sold above 5 million units.{{cite web | author=Robinson, Joe | date=February 6, 2018 | url=https://www.wargamer.com/articles/matrix-and-gog-are-bringing-back-close-combat/ | title=Matrix & GOG Are Bringing Back Close Combat | website=Wargamer | publisher=Network N. Ltd. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218092038/https://www.wargamer.com/articles/matrix-and-gog-are-bringing-back-close-combat/ | archive-date=February 18, 2018 | url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{moby game|id=/windows/close-combat-iii-the-russian-front}}

{{Close Combat series}}

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