[AndyMcConachie]

I played a ton of ASL when I was a kid. And I loved Microsoft Close Combat. To me, they haven't been replaced by anything remotely similar.

I just had a look at Combat Mission and it's not the same. I don't want crappy polygons in the shape of tanks and people. I want an overhead map, with maybe hexes, but some kind of overhead map. From what I can tell Combat Mission looks nothing like the glory of hexagonal combat I had with Avalon Hill games as a kid.

I could play via Vassal or some other game engine, but the nice part about having it in a video game is I don't have to know all the rules. And I can play against AIs. Even if the AIs are crappy they let you practice.

So personally I would love a video game version of ASL. I still have fond memories of Close Combat and would love a game like that again.

[sornaensis]

Combat Mission is generally meant to be played turn-based, and commands given to squads are issued on a grid. You can watch the entire action unfold in replay while determining your next move, so you don’t miss anything.

It’s almost identical in concept, and the simulation is much much deeper than it appears.

I recommend trying a demo instead of judging by looks, it is not at all a pretty game but it’s got a lot going on.

[livrem]

I still have a few Close Combat games installed. They are often on sale on GOG so I play those versions now instead of my old CDROMs. Microsoft Close Combat 2 A Bridge Too Far is still my favorite in the series.

Recently I discovered Armored Brigade that feels in many ways like a modern Close Combat. It has much bigger maps and you will spend most time zoomed out so that units are replaced with NATO map symbols, but when zoomed in it looks a lot like Close Combat and the NATO symbols fade away and are replaced by animated images of little tanks and soldiers. There is a sequel supposedly planned for 2023.

[liotier]

For all its limitations, Close Combat hit a sweet spot of cartoonish realism that made it immersive and fun. Combat mission is a much better simulation, but less joyful.

As for hexagons, my cup of tea was The Operational Art of War - hexagons a couple kilometers wide was plenty enough details and getting down in the weeds with Advanced Squad Leader felt like too much tedium to me... So I'm not a good appreciator of ASL's fine qualities !

[intelVISA]

Yeah CM isn't quite there - surprsied nobody has made anything similar as to my knowledge it's pretty uncontested in its little niche.