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1. Deacon
   Member

   So guys, who has been playing this? Has anyone attempted (successfully or not) the Classic or Impossible difficulties?

   Once I'm done with my first full thorough playthrough (for which I'm taking my sweet time) I'll be wanting to test my mettle on the MP, so feel free to add me if you're currently playing this also : [PSN ID] BeardyDog.

   Can't remember who said it but this could well have been a downloadable title, as much as I love it.
   There are a few minor glitches here and there, and overall I think it could've done with a week or two more of polish, but in spite of this it's still the most fun, addictive, and enjoyable game I've played in months.

   I don't know how I've lasted so long without a decent TBS game on my PS3!

   The satisfaction of seeing your tactics deliver a perfect result during missions is just priceless :)

   Share your thoughts here guys!

   Posted 8 months ago #

2. viralshag
   Member

   Ohhhhh man. I'm playing it on the PC and dropped a stupid amount of hours into it. Like you, I'm definitely finding it the most fun and addictive game I've played in some time.

   I finished my first playthrough on normal, as I'm usually quite crap at these games. I did ok, I did lose a fair few soldiers including some completely ranked out psi-soldiers. Towards the end I just rolled with it instead of reloading a save.

   I have started, or at least attempted to try on Classic Ironman mode. Good grief it's tough. On my first attempt, I got through my first three missions with almost perfect runs, not losing anyone. Then I lost my highest ranked trooper and I decided to restart.

   Since then, I haven't been able to get through the first mission without losing someone which is completely pathetic and a totally unacceptable way for me to start a new game!

   I can't seem to find any MP games which is strange, I've only tried once so I'm not sure what's up with that. I don't really care though, as the main game is just so awesome.

   I also have Dishonored to play at the moment and while I enjoy that, XCOM is just dragging me back to it.

   9.5/10 for me. That .5 is lost due to a few minor issues but this is probably one of the best games I've played this year.

   Posted 8 months ago #

3. Deacon
   Member

   Glad to hear you're enjoying it mate!

   I gave Classic Ironman a try (just to see how different it was) and barely scraped through the first mission... ouch. I couldn't accept those sort of losses on the first mission so like you I abandoned that one (for now).

   I've had one full-on crash on PS3, during the enemy turn everything just locked up on me. Bit annoying.
   Other than that the only (graphical admittedly) glitch that bothers me is when you're right on top of an enemy and you appear to shoot past them etc. I can't help but think they could've put in a close-quarters shooting animation for such moments, but it's merely cosmetic so I wouldn't really mark it down based on that.

   Doing really well on my Normal playthrough. It's such a constant balancing act juggling money, resources, time, threat etc. Thoroughly enjoyable, yet not a great spectator game (so the Mrs tells me).

   Really looking forward to going through again on the higher difficulties, and checking out the MP.

   Were you a fan of the originals Viral? I'd like to hear the opinion of someone who is completely new to the franchise, as I can't help but be somewhat biased.

   Posted 8 months ago #

4. viralshag
   Member

   Never even touched the originals and to be honest I had no intention of picking this up until a few days before it released. I had Dishonored already pre-ordered but I'm terrible with games and I couldn't resist picking it up.

   Playing this hasn't made me any more interested in the FPS XCOM or the originals, as what I have now is more than enough.

   Now that you mention it I did have the same issues with the freezing. And I really wish there was some sort of melee attack options with maybe the assault class or something. The fact that they have enemies capable of melee make me hope/think they will add a class for us to use in DLC. Maybe like the S.H.I.V but a power armor mech sort of thing, to take on Berserkers head on.

   Posted 8 months ago #

5. DrDamn
   Member

   @Deacon
   It was probably me who suggested it should have been a d/l title. Having played the full game round a friends place I do want it now though :).

   Oh if you are looking for more TBS with a fantasy bent I recommend Rainbow Moon (PSN download title). Takes a little while for the tactical possibilities to kick in but it's lots of fun.

   Posted 8 months ago #

6. Deacon
   Member

   Hey Dr. Yeah I've been contemplating Rainbow Moon for a while. I haven't picked it up yet, but the Mrs bought me a Vita for my birthday last week so I think I'll get it on there at some point.

   The thing I love about XCOM is that it's not just battle after battle with cut-scene or story elements in-between. I find the base management aspect of the game hugely enjoyable, and it really ties everything together beautifully. Keeps it feeling varied and provides a nice breather when you arrive back at HQ after a mission.

   Some sort of melee would be a great addition Viral. Good call.

   I've used an alloy SHIV once, and throughout the entire mission it didn't hit a bloody thing. Nada.
   Waste of time and money that was.

   Posted 8 months ago #

7. viralshag
   Member

   I used the alloy SHIV for scouting ahead mostly, especially the UFO missions. When I upgraded it to have the plasma cannon it became a lot more useful.

   The base and troop management is awesome. I started making special little units out of my troops. Like an all Assault squad with Archangel armor and bald headed dudes - a total WH40K squad... :)

   My top squad though was a sniper , two support, two heavy and one assault.

   What I would also like to see is a little more customization options and perhaps more upgrades with regards to the armor types and weapons. Being able to match armor colors and things like that would be great.

   Posted 8 months ago #

8. themadjock
   Member

   I love it, playing it on the PC, just sent my first few soldiers for their psi evaluation. I played the originals and the very good UFO : Extraterrestrials a couple of years ago. Apart from a few "Streamlined" elements to make it work on the console and not being able to launch more than one interceptor at a time it's pure X-com and the tactical battles are brilliant. Not tried the harder difficulties yet, just want to enjoy the game first and get used to it.

   It took me a while to figure out satelites, how to get engineers etc which led to me losing Australia and Argentina but now the whole globe is covered and I'm rocking a couple of Demon ships with EMP and plasma cannon

   Posted 8 months ago #

9. DSB
   Member

   I think Tom Chick quite probably wrote one of the best reviews of his career on it:

   http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2012/10/16/the-xcom-enemy-unknown-review-that-took-18-years-to-write/

   Except I have to go with 1994 Tom. I've been playing the original X-Com roughly once every other year since it came out, and while I can definitely see a lot of pros and cons, I think it's far from being the same concept in a different era.

   The originals could be clunky, frustrating and laborious, but this one is so far over in the opposite ditch that it really does feel more like a boardgame, than a wargame.

   I think it's a problem that most "lite" tactical games are going to face. By trying to convenience everyone and flash everything up, you're also cutting away the inconvenient features and details that were really quite gratifying in the first one.

   It's like taking a flight sim, which only works because it's complex, and it's gratifying to overcome that complexity, and then streamlining it or dumbing it down, taking away from what it was always supposed to be.

   Some things are just downright disappointing. Sattelites are a ridiculous metagame, that never should've made it in there. It just means you have to make money and engineers your main priority in order to keep your members for the first part of the game.

   The base interface is actually worse than the original. How can you design something to be even clunkier than it was in 1994?

   It's not a bad game by any standard, it's good, but I'm looking at it from the point of view of someone who stuck with the old games. It's not the same, and in my opinion, it's not nearly as complete a package.

   Posted 7 months ago #

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