Graham
on
XCOM: UFO Defense (AKA UFO: Enemy Unknown in Europe) wasn't supposed to be a scary game. When it launched in 1994, the game was advertised as a deep, turn-based strategy game with base-building elements; you would respond to an alien invasion by building a team of expert soldiers and scientists, killing and capturing the invaders to research their technology before taking the fight back to them.
The fear in Xcom came from the idea that your actions had consequences. Spend too much time researching weapons and not armour and your team goes into battle without protection. Vice-versa, and you go into the fight without the firepower needed to level the toughest foes. Send a rookie around a corner unassisted and they'll get turned into ground beef... but send a veteran and you may lose them anyway. Now you need to do all of this while balancing your budget and deciding which areas of the world you want to protect. The tension was high, all of the time, but never higher than when that small, flashing one popped up. For me, I spent an entire summer having terrifying dreams of ruined cityscapes, with that one flashing everywhere I looked. I absolutely loved it.
18 years later, Xcom is prepped for a reboot this week with the new Xcom: Enemy Unknown. Built by Sid Meier's Firaxis team (the same team responsible for Civilization), it's coming to PC, Xbox 360, and PS3, set to introduce a new generation to the incredibly unique gameplay that we came to love nearly two decades ago. It's safe to say that there are many gamers out there who were born well after Xcom launched; to them I say: welcome to an awesome experience.
The game looks great, and it plays exactly the way it should. Your shots are still delivered with a probability to hit, which means that things can go wrong when they should go right, AND that you can make a lucky shot that you have no business making from all the way across the map. Your squad moves with a fantastic degree of realism, hustling for cover, darting out to lay down suppressing fire, and lining up shots wherever they can.
Xcom wouldn't be Xcom without a base-building component, and it's where Xcom: Enemy Unknown has taken a different perspective on the classic's top-down map. The developers call it the "Ant Farm"; in Xcom: EU you're going to be building your base side-on, looking into it like a glass ant colony. It's looks beautiful, from the 3D rendered world-map in the situation room, to the scientists toiling in the labs. Your base is alive, and you'll see your team going through the motions in every area. Firaxis has also introduced the idea of 'synergies'; by placing similar areas next to each other, you'll get bonuses. Group your barracks with other barracks, generators with other generators, and labs with other labs for bonuses to development and productivity. It makes planning your base another strategic decision to consider.
Even the economy balancing act of the original game is in play but this time you'll have to make harder decisions as you won't be able to save every attack location; you'll get more money and resources from areas you do save, but the terror level will rise in areas you don't. There are tough choices you'll have to make as commander... and every choice has a consequence.
For gamers looking for a real challenge, there are the Classic and Ironman modes. These modes feature one save file, with automatic saving on ever turn. That means every decision is final, with no reloading to bring back a veteran you love. Consider it the Demon's Souls mode of Xcom: play like a boss, take your licks, and hope you can save humanity. In short: it's the right way to play.
For those thinking the console versions may be inferior: reports are in that the game looks great, and that controls are optimized for controllers as well as KBAM. You can even use your 360 controller on your PC should you prefer. As a dedicated Xcom fan, there's only one version for me: PC... but I'll likely pick the other versions up from Future Shop during a sale at some point in down the road.
If you loved Xcom, you need to get this game. If you've never played Xcom... you need to get this game. It's not to be missed by anyone–the gameplay, the strategy, the terror... you need to feel it for yourself. Join me... and know the horror and utter weirdness of that flashing 1 in your dreams.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics.
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