XCOM 2

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a game by	Firaxis Games
Platform:	PC (2016)
Editor Rating:	7.8/10, based on 2 reviews, 1 review is shown
User Rating:	8.7/10 - 3 votes
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See also:	Sandbox Games, Open World Games, Crafting Games, Turn Based RPG, Tactical RPG, Games Like Battle Brothers, X-COM Series, Games Like Advance Wars

One of the cornerstones of the turn-based strategy genre is the alien-hunting series XCOM. These sci-fi games were initially introduced in 1994 by Mythos Games under legendary video game designer Julian Gollop, but fans will likely be more familiar with the rebooted XCOM series developed by Firaxis that began in 2012. These newer games take Gollop’s thoughtful strategy and super cool sci-fi concept and make games that are all at once incredibly gratifying, and absolutely soul-crushing. It is not uncommon to be shown a 90% chance of a successful attack, only to completely whiff your attempt multiple times. This is due to how the game handles probability in its attack system, which is cruel but fair. This system is also present in XCOM 2, the sequel to the first rebooted title by Firaxis. If you’re looking to beat the odds and crush some aliens, here is everything you need to know about XCOM 2.

A Continued Storyline

XCOM 2 picks up 20 years after the events of the first game, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and its expansion, XCOM: Enemy Within. The human forces protecting the earth from the alien invasion have all but given up, with The Council that governs XCOM going so far as to surrender to the alien menace. As a result of this betrayal, most of the members of XCOM have also given in to the alien rule, with the exception of a handful of members who would go underground and join Officer Bradford in forming a resistance.

The story continues through 8 key story missions, and a number of side missions that can have one of 5 different types, such as Guerilla Ops, Council Missions, Supply Raids, Alien Facility Assaults, and Retaliation Strikes. Further, these missions can have one of four different levels of difficulty: Rookie, Veteran, Commander, and Legend, with Legend mode being nearly impossible for most people.

Improved Gameplay

Most of your time in XCOM 2 will be spent in the isometric perspective, turn-based battles that take much inspiration from other games in the genre like Final Fantasy Tactics. You will command your 4 person squad in procedurally generated maps as you use your best tactical sense to combat alien forces and complete both primary and secondary objectives. Combat encounters almost require you to take advantage of the terrain of the map, with high buildings and low walls used for cover being particularly important to get a tactical jump on alien squads that have you both outmanned and outgunned.

After a successful operation, you will return to your requisitioned alien craft that now serves as the home base for the resistance. Here, you can promote and upgrade squad members, mourn your dead (there will be many), as well as use points and intel gained in operations to work on new weapons and technology. This research will be crucial in the more difficult later levels, regardless of the difficulty you are playing on.

Pros

Fantastic turn-based tactical gameplay
The different alien types are always cool to discover
The power boosts after each upgrade are satisfying

Cons

Game is not very welcoming to new players
Your whole squad can be wiped out in short order with poor strategy
Limited tutorial only gets you in the door, doesn’t show you many useful tactics

Overall rating: 8