X-COM Firaxis - XCOM: Enemy Unknown + Enemy Within Expansion

[Tel Prydain]

What argument,he just said the facts.

I don't think you know what a fact is.
You know there’s a difference between ‘factual’ and ‘mindlessly pandering to the mechanical misanthropes’, right?

 

[Psquit]

Behold!, Angry joe review of Xcom.

" they should add different damage types like in borderlands 2(acid, fire, etc) "

" a good game of chess"

9/10

 

[Gozma]

In UFOD I always imagined that the aliens weren't a weird galactic empire but rather some kind of pirate band that would colonize cheaply by psychological warfare. Like they were preaching peace or saying that killings were anti-terrorist or rogue elements, they'd interve in ethnic conflicts for one side or the other to sow dissension, they'd give cooperative governments loot and non-aggression pacts, they'd infiltrate organizations with mind control. In the end they get a divided and pliable planet to loots. The X-Com organization is just the only institution that is capable of a thoroughgoing "fuck da aliens" philosophy. So long story short I hate America

 

[Psquit]

In UFOD I always imagined that the aliens weren't a weird galactic empire but rather some kind of pirate band that would colonize cheaply by psychological warfare. Like they were preaching peace or saying that killings were anti-terrorist or rogue elements, they'd interve in ethnic conflicts for one side or the other to sow dissension, they'd give cooperative governments loot and non-aggression pacts, they'd infiltrate organizations with mind control. In the end they get a divided and pliable planet to loots. The X-Com organization is just the only institution that is capable of a thoroughgoing "fuck da aliens" philosophy. So long story short I hate America

To bad that the aliens from UFOD are from a galactic empire, But i always imagined that the "council" are like the illuminati of the xcom universe...

 

[Dead Guy]

Game's pretty fun, despite several sad design choices.

As people have mentioned, the 3-way choice that always results in panic increase makes the geoscape layer pretty annoying (at least on classic). I think I've shot down a grand total of 4 UFOs in about 6 months, but went to at least 10 abduction missions. Lost two countries the first month, and still didn't have enough engineers to build another sattellite relay, and I don't think i could build a workshop until I had gotten engineers as a mission reward, but I might just have missed the option. Then as soon as I built my third one, my second one got shot down by a UFO I had no chance in hell of taking out. Your success in missions is just not well enough connected to the rate at which nations cease funding as it stands, imo.

I like that resources are scarcer though. That's great. There's no way still that I can deck my squad out with the best armor and I still only have one plasma sniper and one heavy plasma, that I got intact from I guess a Muton Elite? I've done maybe 3 projects in the foundry and only got the squad size upgrades from the officer school. I like that state of affairs.

The interceptors are way too shitty though, bordering on completely useless, and the firestorm is quite a way down the tech tree, while building it and arming it properly will take a long time and a lot of resources, not to mention having five of them... I would like a rebalance of the abductions so you could intercept the UFOs on the way to abductions as previously mentioned, as well as Terror missions IF you have a good interceptor. The interception system itself is, as mentioned before, also retarded since you can only ever intercept a UFO on the continent it's discovered on, even if it moves onto another continent with sattellite cover.

The tactical game leaves much to be desired for me. Disregarding the forced slow-mo shots of every reaction shot and other KEWL shit. The two move system is too simplistic for me. The reduced inventory isn't a disaster even though I miss those emergent situations where you could save the day by looting a corpse or throwing a magazine to another soldier. And the UI is nothing short of terrible. If you select an action and try to move the camera around with the keyboard, the a and d keys suddenly switch between actions instead of moving the camera, and simultaneously snap you back to the soldier selected... uuuh consoletarded controls.

I really don't like the 360 vision, the inability to surprise opponents except putting everyone in overwatch and scouting with one guy. Also when moving someone closer to the fog, sometimes the enemies you discover will free-move to cover so that they end up almost on top of you and then can flank and kill you in one turn.

The randomness of landing a shot or getting hit wouldn't be so bad if there was a way to take a shot and then move out of view completely. Nor would it be quite so bad if you didn't have so few soldiers.

Flanking, while a good idea and a powerful tool, is way too dangerous to use without save scumming. It's almost always better to not reveal more of the map, because your flanker will just get flanked himself by three new guys.

If the geoscape panic wasn't impossible to manage in the long run (so it seems anyway, I've only gotten to go to one alien base, I guess that's part of the story missions and there won't be any more), it would've been more enjoyable, if you were able to manage the situation, build up good interceptors, then build up tech for your soldiers and then take on harder shit. As it is now you're rushed through the story and you fly through new enemies, encountering a new species almost every mission, unlike the originals where you could be fighting mutons for quite some time. But I guess that would be considered padding now, or what?

A slower paced campaign where it would be possible to actually counteract panic if you focused resources on it would improve the game a lot for me, but I'm not sure if the missions are salvagable without major overhauls. More soldiers, bigger maps, more flexibility than just two actions, being able to plot the route of a moving soldier, longer LOS during day-time might lessen the weird randomness of the run-to-cover move the aliens get.

I also like that there are more weapon choices in the late game than in the originals where it was more or less heavy plasma or plasma rifle for everyone, a guy with shok bombs and a guy with the guided missiles.

Civ 5 of X-COM is kind of accurate, but the difference is that in this case Civ 3 and Civ 4 were never released.

Also, from what I've heard the movies for the game take up 8.75 GB with the total folder size being 12.7 GB. That's just... wow.

 

[Heresiarch]

Okay it seems that the strategic part isn't that brutal at all. I am already having quite good income and stash, 6 carapace/ghosst armor, full laser weaponry, and global panic is low, and I have destroyed the alien base. My guys can kill anything in one or two hits while can survive a hit or even two from plasma attacks.

Of course then again I am a big savescummer, especially after my guys got a few promotions I just can't cope with loses anymore. I even failed at UFO interception once and I needed to reload a game a few days earlier to equip my fighters with laser, and even then I reloaded a few bit more while using those fighter modules. Finally I am supposed to have a few guys already turned into zombies or got smacked down by a zombie...so I think it's not that the game is easy, but savescumming really makes the game easier. Especially since even abduction missions' rewards can be randomizated with every reload. Last but not the least I haven't even seen a sectopod yet and mutons just appeared, so I may haven't seen the full glory of ass kicking yet.

Speaking of this, I have never beaten Ufo Defense because after getting Blaster Launchers and Flying Suits and psi the game would become so easy to beat. In fact I gave up playing before even seeing a sectopod back in Ufo Defense. How is the late game difficulty in EU? It seems like Xcom series always have some kind of overpowered stuff in the late game (the stuff mentioned above; in apocalypse they removed Blaster Launchers and severly weakened psi, but introduced personal shields and toxigun).

Finally, Chryssalid really is more easier to deal with in here. It is REALLY scary to realize that they always appear in PACKS and now whenever they're triggered they will all rush to you...until you find that they can only attack on THEIR turn. But since it's still your turn, they are all sitting ducks idling close to your guys waiting to be blasted in their faces. Not to mention they prefer attacking civilians. Finally zombies won't born Chryssalids instantly after killed.

Btw, Fucking FLOATERS are way more annoying. They always flank my guys out of nowhere. I think I have lost more guys to them (if without reloading) than all the other aliens combined.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Can't remember if I've posted this or not, but if not, here!
http://xcom.nexusmods.com/mods/7/

Dude modded second wave shit back into the game. So you can have randomized stats on your rookies and have randomized stat-ups on level gains and such.

 

[Darth Roxor]

Non-removing right now.

Stay tuned for next week when I tell you how fucking popamole you all are and how ashamed of yourselves you should be for liking this trash.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

What argument,he just said the facts.

I don't think you know what a fact is.
You know there’s a difference between ‘factual’ and ‘mindlessly pandering to the mechanical misanthropes’, right?

And what he's saying is not a fact because...?

Strategy games are up to this point a genre that was rather resistant to consolitis and streamlining, retaining a steady flow of pc-exclusive, not dumb down titles. Fact.
Firaxis are one of the main publishers that are actively trying to change that. Fact.
Their "XCOM"'s success means they are reaching their goal. Fact.

By the way, am I the only one for whom the "tactical" part of this game is basically a console (surprise, surprise) "tactical" rpg crap like Disgaea? 4 slot "inventory", skills appearing on level ups, stupid flashy zooms when using skills/attacks, no APs - just "move and attack", attacking through skills, no option to choose the move path, no ammo etc. If not for the popamole cover and the "western" graphics I could swear it was one of these games.

 

[Fart Master]

Disgaea is way deeper than this game.

 

[Gord]

Strategy games are up to this point a genre that was rather resistant to consolitis and streamlining, retaining a steady flow of pc-exclusive, not dumb down titles. Fact.
Firaxis are one of the main publishers that are actively trying to change that. Fact.
Their "XCOM"'s success means they are reaching their goal. Fact.

I don't think there's much risk for a sudden general decline of the strategy genre.
Devs and publishers are already relatively small and/or specialized studios that largely cater to a very specific hardcore audience, which won't be affected by/interested in a more accessible strategy-light title.
If anything we might see a few titles again from other large publishers, but this will hardly result in Paradox developing dumbed down console games.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

Yeah, I guess you could make the same point for dungeon crawlers many years ago and look what happened. It all starts with small steps and retarded appeasement approach.

 

[Gord]

No, I think the situation is just different.
RTS aside, strategy from mainstream is/has been long dead. There is a pretty strong niche market, though, with specialized publishers adapting to that niche.
Something like that never really seemed to happen with dungeon crawlers.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

I'd really love for you to be right, unfortunately I don't believe that. I fail to see how this "XCOM" is anything but bad news and another victory for the decline.

 

[thesisko]

Yeah, I guess you could make the same point for dungeon crawlers many years ago and look what happened. It all starts with small steps and retarded appeasement approach.

You're the only one being retarded here. More sophisticated mainstream games is good for the niche markets since some of the people who play XCOM will seek out other similar strategy games. Would you be happier if everyone thought that a "strategy game" was a squad-based FPS with romances where you sometimes pause and press a button to make your AI companion do something awesome?

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

Yes, shit games are good because they cause more good games to happen. I rate this post Q for Quality and am getting the fuck out of here since the level of subhumanism is getting way off the charts.

 

[thesisko]

I'd really love for you to be right, unfortunately I don't believe that. I fail to see how this "XCOM" is anything but bad news and another victory for the decline.

Your analogy is flawed. XCOM is incline for mainstream console games. Your bitching is akin to proclaiming decline because Bioware puts turn-based combat into Dragon Age.

 

[kris]

Finally, Chryssalid really is more easier to deal with in here. It is REALLY scary to realize that they always appear in PACKS and now whenever they're triggered they will all rush to you...until you find that they can only attack on THEIR turn. But since it's still your turn, they are all sitting ducks idling close to your guys waiting to be blasted in their faces. Not to mention they prefer attacking civilians. Finally zombies won't born Chryssalids instantly after killed.

Btw, Fucking FLOATERS are way more annoying. They always flank my guys out of nowhere. I think I have lost more guys to them (if without reloading) than all the other aliens combined.

I would guess you only played some or one of the first terror missions. when you get something like 12 chryssalids and many of them moving out of sight then you are in trouble. while you take out the first half they already zombified half the map, then you fight mostly zombies who will be healed again as they turn chryssalid. Saving any civilians in those is difficult, to say the least, ideally you need a few good hits with a bazooka.

 

[Tommers]

I had one of the best fights that I have ever had with any X-Com game last night. Terror mission, with Chryssalids who quickly turned about 10 civilians into zombies. I was slowly forced back to the Skyranger in a kind of fighting retreat, cars blowing up all around me and a horde of shuffling zombies and chittering Chryssalids advancing towards me. Then the Cyberdisc came out of the half-destroyed building....

Properly tense, good, game. I thought I was going to have to abort, it was like something out of Day of the Dead.

 

[Gozma]

The interceptors are way too shitty though, bordering on completely useless, and the firestorm is quite a way down the tech tree, while building it and arming it properly will take a long time and a lot of resources, not to mention having five of them...

Actually it's more a problem that the interceptors AREN'T useless - they can shoot down anything before a battleship (and it's very possible you won't ever see a battleship in a playthrough) with phoenix cannon/laser cannons if you pop one of the defense boosters, or with plasma cannon. So you never feel any pressing need to research firestorms before the game necessitates you build firestorms by plot.

 

[Monocause]

Those of you who play on ironman - invest in a fucking alloy shiv as soon as you're able. Great damage output and increases the survivability of your entire squad. Having a disposable bulletsponge which also serves as a mobile cover and a decent damage output helped me immensely.

I think that on classic it's Asia that provides the best starting bonus; Europe is the most forgettable continent so if shit is ready to hit the fan prioritise other continents. NA and Asia save you a lot more money, SA saves you research time and it's just two satellites and Africa gives you moneys. You won't build more than one or two labs (and you don't need a single one) and two or three workshops, so that's, like, what, 60 dollars of monthly savings. Definitely not worth it.

 

[Emily]

i would say South Africa is the best for ironman. It just gives you flat money, which you can then divert to weakest area.

 

[Fart Master]

Those of you who play on ironman - invest in a fucking alloy shiv as soon as you're able. Great damage output and increases the survivability of your entire squad. Having a disposable bulletsponge which also serves as a mobile cover and a decent damage output helped me immensely.

I think that on classic it's Asia that provides the best starting bonus; Europe is the most forgettable continent so if shit is ready to hit the fan prioritise other continents. NA and Asia save you a lot more money, SA saves you research time and it's just two satellites and Africa gives you moneys. You won't build more than one or two labs (and you don't need a single one) and two or three workshops, so that's, like, what, 60 dollars of monthly savings. Definitely not worth it.

I never got to use SHIVs because the game was basically over after I got 2 squad sight snipers.

 

[Jaedar]

Remember that the starting continent affects where you first and only free satellite is located. I think both south africa and south america get much less money from their free ones.

 

[Dead Guy]

The interceptors are way too shitty though, bordering on completely useless, and the firestorm is quite a way down the tech tree, while building it and arming it properly will take a long time and a lot of resources, not to mention having five of them...

Actually it's more a problem that the interceptors AREN'T useless - they can shoot down anything before a battleship (and it's very possible you won't ever see a battleship in a playthrough) with phoenix cannon/laser cannons if you pop one of the defense boosters, or with plasma cannon. So you never feel any pressing need to research firestorms before the game necessitates you build firestorms by plot.

Huh. Well, I never put that stuff on them cause someone said they were crap and you had to use that one-shot dodge thing to make it work, and that thing is way too expensive, so I kept my intergalacticdimensional jew gold. First cannon I put on was plasma, and now I have EMP. On one Firestorm.

When I attacked one of those sattelite killing UFOs my interceptor went down in two hits.