In XCOM: Enemy Unknown an aggressive alien race has decided to colonize Earth. To defend our world, a special organization, the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit, has been formed. Its main objective is not only to drive the aliens back, but also to learn from their technologies.
You are appointed the leader of this organization. The gameplay is organized into two levels: strategic, where you research new technologies and examine the aliens' biology among other things, and turn-based, where you fight aliens in face-to-face confrontation. As every XCOM action has a cost, you need to raise funds.
The only way to do this is to satisfy those countries which sponsor your organization with your work. Establish your base - choose a continent (each of which gives you a different bonus), hire employees and expand rooms and laboratories. When alien activity is detected, send your unit to eliminate the threat.
This is where the gameplay changes into a turn-based strategy game. Lead a small group of highly trained soldiers and kill every alien you find on the map. Remember that each soldier has their own line of sight, and that some enemies will hide in the fog of war.
Your soldiers will gain experience with success, but if they fail, you cannot resurrect them.
This game will test your mettle in a way that will make old fans tingle with a sense of unforgiving nostalgia, and will make clear to newcomers just exactly what XCOM is all about.
Firaxis' outstanding design strips away every last vestige of tedium from combat while maintaining the agency that makes the original such a classic...The PC version is slightly superior thanks to improved textures and resolution and drastically lower load times, but those are minor differences.
The fact remains that XCOM: Enemy Unknown is an exemplary turn-based strategy game. Firaxis has deftly blended management, tactics and the sort of gut-level, throaty encounters usually reserved for fast-paced action games.
If isometric strategy games are dead, this is the best zombie we've ever seen.
Enter the story of the fierce war between humans and aliens! XCOM is back in full force, though it's not the same game as its predecessor. [Nov 2012]
At a time where FPS, RPG and action games appear on the market everyday, the return of XCOM is welcomed with a great satisfaction. If purists will be sad to find some of the original features gone, the newcomers will be pleased with XCOM : Enemy Unknown and its strategic and pleasant gaming experience that teaches a lesson to traditional and boring war games.
Despite some bugs and average production values, Firaxis convincingly restores XCOM to life: its difficulty, management and tactical gameplay are there. Very nice to explore, Enemy Unknown leaves you with but one desire: to play a sequel that is richer and prettier than ever. Get to work!
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