XCOM: Enemy Within

 iOS
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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  1. TouchArcade
    Nov 22, 2014
    100
    If you are even slightly interested in turn based games, this is not one to miss.
  2. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Nov 28, 2014
    95
    There’s enough new here that Enemy Within almost feels like a completely different game.
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 19, 2015
    90
    While Firaxis’ take on XCOM isn’t quite as good as the original, Enemy Within is still a superbly fun turn based strategy game. The UI and gameplay is surprisingly well suited for iPad. [March 2015]
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  5. 4P.de
    Dec 5, 2014
    90
    The mobile version of this tactics gem is every bit as good as its PC and console brethren.
  6. Pocket Gamer UK
    Nov 13, 2014
    90
    XCOM: Enemy Within adds some wonderfully inventive new toys, but making it a separate app means only those who truly adored Enemy Unknown should double dip.
  7. 148Apps
    Nov 13, 2014
    90
    The definitive XCOM experience (not counting a certain PC mod) has officially made the trip to mobile - and it’s still exceedingly fantastic.
  8. 3DJuegos
    Nov 19, 2014
    85
    Enemy Within powers-up the original Enemy Unknown with an array of new improvements and novelties. A must have for newcomers.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best iOS Game of 2014
33
#33 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2014
3
#3 Most Shared iOS Game of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 113 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 113
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 113
  3. Negative: 14 out of 113
  1. GuyZero
    Nov 18, 2014
    10
    I was a huge fan of XCom: Enemy Unknown and the new XCom is a huge step up. The new missions, technologies and enemies work great on the iPad.I was a huge fan of XCom: Enemy Unknown and the new XCom is a huge step up. The new missions, technologies and enemies work great on the iPad. Also the new version seems less crash-prone on my iPad Air versus the original so that's also a plus. For people who have never played before, XCom is a unique tactical combat game with no peer.… Full Review »
  2. onetime40
    Dec 15, 2014
    10
    Ignore the 5 (as of now) negative reviews. They are fake! The problem with metacritic is that anyone can leave a review, even if they don'tIgnore the 5 (as of now) negative reviews. They are fake! The problem with metacritic is that anyone can leave a review, even if they don't own the game or if they have a slander-agenda (think competing companies). This game is one of the best on the iOS store. Fans of the vanilla game have long wanted the expansion content on the iPad and now we have it.

    Due to the iOS regulations, it couldn't have been easy, big thanks for the developers for supporting the iPad with a real game. This is not a "mobile freemium / F2P" piece of ****. This is a real game.    … Full Review »
  3. dj_cole
    Feb 19, 2015
    9
    Xcom Enemy Within is an updated version of Enemy Unknown. Enemy Within greatly improves on the somewhat simpler version of Xcom that was EnemyXcom Enemy Within is an updated version of Enemy Unknown. Enemy Within greatly improves on the somewhat simpler version of Xcom that was Enemy Unknown.

    The series, for those unfamiliar with it, is based on leading a secret covert operations group, known as Xcom, as it attempts to secretly defend earth from an alien invasion. The game does allude to all of this being top secret, which seems a bit ridiculous as you play through the game, but that doesn't really matter to the gameplay. You act as supreme commander of the Xcom project, managing and building up a base of operations, sending out satellites to detect alien presence, managing the happiness of funding countries, researching and leading squads of up to six soldiers into battle that can then be leveled up as they gain experience.

    The game, like any other game, has evolved with its modern iteration. It is a sharp, fun and responsive squad based strategy game that has streamlined a lot of the annoying micromanagement features of past games, but has also simplified things and put a cap on squad member leveling up. It is a more accessible, but simpler game than past generations.

    The game, in the most basic sense, plays like this. You have a base that you expand with various modules that you can build into your secret mountain hideaway. As you research new technologies new modules open up for upgrades or more efficient research. You launch satellites to gain funding from the various nation groups across the globe and to spot alien incursions. When incursions happen you deploy a squad of soldiers into a tactical, squad based "seek cover and advance" type gameplay that dictates a methodical approach to combat. As missions are failed or ignored panic will rise. Victories reduce panic. There are a handful of main story missions for advancing the game that are unlocked by certain milestones in the game, but the vast majority of missions are procedurally generated battles with aliens. There are basic research items, but as you kill aliens and do autopsies, capture and interrogate aliens, or shoot down and capture alien ships more research items are unlocked to gain better weapon and armor and new gadgets.

    There are four basic classes. Assault, heavy (machine gunners), snipers and support (medics) which each have their own skill trees that you can utilize as they level up. All four classes are needed across the game to face different situations. Medics to stabilize downed squad members, snipers to provide cover, heavies to deal huge damage in short bursts and assault troops to act as front line combat soldiers.. Later in the game psionic abilities are added which add some more variety to your soldiers, but psionic abilities are rare and only have three tiers. In Enemy Within a new addition is Meld which can be used to upgrade soldiers genetically or cybernetically. This adds a lot more variety to the class structures, allowing you to turn your favorite soldiers into cybernetic MEC's or upgrade them genetically to improve their abilities and durability. Personally, I found MEC's not terribly useful and fairly resource intensive in terms of Meld, which is a very limited resource, but the genetic alterations had great affects and were well worth the cost.

    The Enemy Within expansion also adds a good variety of missions if you count the smaller addons with it. There are new covert operations to locate and eliminate a secret organization known as Exalt that is out to hamper your efforts. There is also another series of missions focused on a Chinese criminal orgainization. Overall, they are nice addition of scripted, story missions.

    The aliens you face are variations on a few base models, but the variations offer enough change that the game continually changes and evolves as you proceed. New challenges are thrown at you every few missions that force you to think more carefully about how you combat the alien menace.

    The game looks good. It won't blow anyone away. It has its own style, but nothing that really sticks out as uniquely distinct. The technical side of the graphics are good enough and slightly better than your run of the mill top down game. Sound effects are well done and add to the experience and the voice acting is well done with squad members reacting to the battle.

    The controls on the PC are very easy to work with. Consoles are also surprisingly good, though moving the cursor around with the joysticks can be slow. The iPad controls are cumbersome and you can end up moving soldiers to areas you don't mean to because you have to press an area twice to move there.

    Enemy Within is a much improved version of Enemy Unknown. It adds additional complexity, options, missions types and squad improvements to the game. Ultimately, the game is still on the simple side, but the added content really pushes the game into the replayable multiple times enjoyment level. I would recommend for strategy fans who may have been turned off by Enemy Unknown's simplicity.    … Full Review »
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