Close Combat: First to Fight

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007)

See also: Close Combat series

Close Combat: First to Fight
Developer(s)	Destineer
Publisher(s)	2K Games MacSoft (Macintosh)
Version	1.02
Platform(s)	Windows, Xbox, Macintosh
Release date(s)	Xbox USA April 6, 2005 [1] Windows USA April 18, 2005 [2] Macintosh USA 2005
Genre(s)	Shooter
System requirements	1.3GHz CPU, 256MiB RAM, 32MiB VRAM, 2.8GiB HD space[3]

Close Combat: First to Fight is a squad-based military first-person shooter (FPS) game created by Destineer Studios for the Windows, Macintosh and Xbox platforms. It was released in April 2005. The player commands a fireteam of 3 other U.S. Marines in a realistic, though fictional scenario where the United Nations sends Marines into Lebanon when their Prime Minister falls ill and Syria and Iran send forces to bolster certain factions.

The game features a psychological model for every AI character, including enemies, civilians, and team members. No two games should play the same due to the variability of the simulated human reaction to stress.

It was designed with input from active-duty and retired Marines from 3rd Battalion 1st Marines, who recently participated in combat around Fallujah, Iraq during Operation Phantom Fury that became know as the Second Battle of Fallujah. Despite this, the game is not officially endorsement by either the US Department of Defense or the United States Marine Corps.

However, Close Combat: First to Fight is recognized for its use of authentic USMC tactics.

Plot

In First To Fight, the player plays the role of a Marine Corps Lance Corporal with the callsign Gladiator 2. The Lebanese Prime Minister becomes ill, and must temporarily leave office to recover. Seeing a prime chance to control Lebanon, Syria and Iran begin supplying a local militant group, the Atash Movement, led by Tarik Qadan. As things escalate, Marines are inserted into Beirut for the third time.

During the gameplay, you will receive a crash-course in USMC training, by learning about MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force), RTFA (Ready Team Fire Assist), and other combat tactics, such as Bounding Overwatch and takedowns.

As a Lance Corporal, you will be in charge of 3 other Marines. Their safety and well being is your primary concern. Failure to do so will result in Mission Failure (in other words, your Marines MUST NOT die). As the fighting becomes more intense, your Marines will be wounded, and will require First Aid, or a Corpsman to safely medevac them out.

Throughout gameplay, you will engage Atash radical forces, Syrian army troops, and Iranian special forces. Atash will appear disorganized and panicky. Syrian and Iranian forces will be more disciplined, but a steady aim and sharp mind will allow you and your fellow Marines to prevail.

Gameplay elements

In First to Fight, you will carry a USMC Standard Issue M16A4 Assault Rifle with an M203 grenade launcher attached under the barrel, and an x4 scope. You will also be issued fragmentation grenades and flash-bang grenades.

Your Assistant Gunner Marines will carry M16A4 Assault Rifles (with no launchers or scopes), while your Gunner will carry the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon). Unlike other war/combat games, your troops WILL run out of ammunition, so conserve when necessary. When your Marines are out of ammo, they will revert to their standard issue Colt .45 M1911 pistol.

Marine Snipers that you call in will use USMC M40A3 Sniper Rifles. They never miss.

Most Opposing Forces (OpFor) in First to Fight carry the Soviet AK-74 Assault Rifle. Enemy gunners and HVT's will carry RPK Machine Guns. Enemy snipers use the Soviet SVD. Unfortunately, some enemy soldiers carry RPG-7 rocket launchers. Try to avoid them.

You can use all enemy weapons, once you have killed or captured the enemy using them, without losing your M16A4. However, some weapons (such as the SVD and RPG) are rare, and have limited ammo.

One unique aspect of First to Fight is the capacity of the enemy AI to surrender to you, when they believe they are outnumbered, and defenseless (shouting at them to surrender also works). Be aware of surrendering OpFor, for they may have other intentions. All OpFor carry sidearms, and may try to shoot you.

Both Marine Corps vehicles and OpFor vehicles have weapons that you can use. Enemy technicals (civilian pickups with machine-guns bolted on) have turrets for Anti-infantry fire. Marine tanks have both .50 cal Machine-guns and an artillery canon that you can use.

Due to the rules of MAGTF, you can call in support from either USMC mortar crews, Marine snipers, and airstrikes from AH-1 SuperCobra gunships.

Like the enemy AI, Marine AI also has Morale and Discipline ratings. These ratings can vary by how well or poorly your fireteam does, and can fall if a member is wounded. Low morale can result in your Marines making mistakes...and that could cost lives. You can keep their morale high by ensuring their safety, and not messing the whole operation up.

HVT's (High Value Targets)

There are five HVT's in the game. Capturing these people alive will get you higher points.

The HVT's are (in order of appearance):

• Akhbar al'Soud; leader of the largest militia in Beirut, who works for Badr.
• Maj. Abdullah bin Katan; Saudi-born Iranian army officer and leader of the Iranian special forces operating in Beirut.
• Col. Khalid Samar; Badr's second-in-command and aspiring politician.
• Tarik Qadan; fundamentalist Islamic cleric and leader of the Atash Movement. He leads the revolution against the Lebanese government.
• Gen. Badr; former Yemeni army general and the anti-Western leader of the Syrian army troops in Beirut, who tries to take over Lebanon. He is rumored to have ties to several terrorist groups.

See also

• Close Combat series, the game series.
• 3rd Battalion 1st Marines

References