XCOM: Enemy Within

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 820 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 655 out of 820
  2. Mixed: 90 out of 820
  3. Negative: 75 out of 820
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  1. smilzoboboz
    Nov 10, 2014
    7
    The game is still XCOM: Enemy unknown (this one is a DLC) and so it can't be bad, but I have to say this expansion doesn't add much depth to game mechanics, it just adds stuff.

    The additions make the game a little bit harder at start (because of additional attacks and sabotages) but quite too much easy toward the end of the game, mainly because of genetics. The whole "fusion" idea is    The game is still XCOM: Enemy unknown (this one is a DLC) and so it can't be bad, but I have to say this expansion doesn't add much depth to game mechanics, it just adds stuff.

    The additions make the game a little bit harder at start (because of additional attacks and sabotages) but quite too much easy toward the end of the game, mainly because of genetics.
    The whole "fusion" idea is interesting though.

    To make things short I mean exactly this: if you happen to find this at discounted prices like €5 or less, buy it, you will enjoy it, otherwise wait, because you will regret it.    … Expand
  2. condythug
    Nov 17, 2015
    7
    good successor to the legendary xcom series and it looks like the series will be in good hands going forward since 2k is pretty good with strategy games (except for the beyond earth trash).

    game graphics and music are top class, with the chilling music really sucking u into the game and making u jump when a sneaky alien jumps out from a corner. gameplay is solid with some thought    good successor to the legendary xcom series and it looks like the series will be in good hands going forward since 2k is pretty good with strategy games (except for the beyond earth trash).

    game graphics and music are top class, with the chilling music really sucking u into the game and making u jump when a sneaky alien jumps out from a corner. gameplay is solid with some thought required if u don't want your squad to be killed and turned into zombies; however it is still a little on the easy side as alien movements are predictable and they appear to be unable to shoot straight even when u are standing in front of them. AI clearly needs more work. the story itself is good with unpredictable twists along the way to make gameplay fresh.

    a nice recommended game if u are keen on sci-fi strategy games or an old fan of the xcom series.    … Expand
  3. primalsmash
    Feb 22, 2020
    7
    This game is overrated. Every mission is same essentially. You have to inch your way forward, Otherwise you run into enemy and lose soldier, which is very bad. Most of the time, you meet no one But than one time, if your soldier is even little bit in front and you don't have everyone on overwatch and covering each other you instantly lose. Just because i order one guy to reload. Hits areThis game is overrated. Every mission is same essentially. You have to inch your way forward, Otherwise you run into enemy and lose soldier, which is very bad. Most of the time, you meet no one But than one time, if your soldier is even little bit in front and you don't have everyone on overwatch and covering each other you instantly lose. Just because i order one guy to reload. Hits are complete rng, even if you have 85% chance you miss sometimes and whole mission is over, so you have to replay 30 minute mission again. Also there are bugs and qol issues in the game...

    Also it is one of these games, which are unplayable without wiki, a lot of things is missing specific description and it is unclear. You have to find tech trees and how stuff works, Othewise you will play inefficiently. It is not that hard, but you have to know how things are, so game is unplayable without wiki, which is not fun to google every 5 second something ! These things should be in game specified, so you can easily learn them on the go. Cmon devs it is not that hard... There is in game wiki, but that is just basic info...

    These things are so obvious from player viewpoint. But devs don't play their own games. So they have no idea about frustrations player face, or other problem in the game. Also it is strategy game, yet a lot of things are rng and some decisions are completely random, because you don't have information: like how hard mission will be, because you want to exp more soldiers, if some die, or become injured. You have no idea what you will face...    … Expand
  4. Tilt1k
    Jan 15, 2020
    7
    Really interesting game on release date which takes strategical izometric games on different level. The story and writing is very weak and if fails in making any relationship with your soldiers, they are all generic and pretty much the same.
  5. Histori4n
    Feb 22, 2020
    7
    The early game of this game in much difficulties, could result as a headache thats result of the unbalanced enemies and the only early strategy, meanwhile you advance on the game, is everytime more balanced and with good path is even easy on impossible.

    But, the game contains a lot of bugs and errors that wasn´t fixed, and can ruin potencially a challenge like the i/i, much like    The early game of this game in much difficulties, could result as a headache thats result of the unbalanced enemies and the only early strategy, meanwhile you advance on the game, is everytime more balanced and with good path is even easy on impossible.

    But, the game contains a lot of bugs and errors that wasn´t fixed, and can ruin potencially a challenge like the i/i, much like invisibles shots, teletransportation of the enemie, or the horrible aiming system deployed on the game.

    The good thing, is an amazing story about supervivence, and action with custom cutscenes that make the game more interesting, also the varity of enemies such as ablitys to our heroes.    … Expand
  6. Cailore
    Nov 13, 2013
    6
    Overpriced for what is essentially a double-sized DLC. Wait until it goes on deep discount.

    Do you think anyone from the design team reads these? I was excited about the medal feature when I was surprised by its inclusion, until I saw my 'soldier' dressed in a frumpy uniform saluting like she was a 4 year-old. For the love of Pete Firaxis, look at some military people when making    Overpriced for what is essentially a double-sized DLC. Wait until it goes on deep discount.

    Do you think anyone from the design team reads these?
    I was excited about the medal feature when I was surprised by its inclusion, until I saw my 'soldier' dressed in a frumpy uniform saluting like she was a 4 year-old. For the love of Pete Firaxis, look at some military people when making 'military' animations, not bad B-rated sci-movies.

    Also, I had hoped that the accuracy estimation would have gotten better, but I still seem to miss an 80% chance to about 66% of the time.    … Expand
  7. GoneTomrrow
    Dec 22, 2013
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I actually really liked the base game, Enemy Unknown, despite its flaws. And this is coming from someone who played the original series at launch. Yet I have to admit that all the negative comments about how little content the $30 Enemy Within expansion adds are true I'm afraid. Admittedly this expansion does have some genuinely fun new features, such as the MECs and new maps, but the game still ends at the Temple Ship. Still no Mars, No Cydonia. No continuation of the story line. I'm sure Mars is coming in a future expansion, but not until the publishers can nickel and dime their customers relentlessly. Enemy Within represents such a tactic; $30 for not much at all. Imagine how much the Mars expansion will be? And the "Enemy Within" part is nothing more than a single XCOM base invasion by the aliens. Indeed it's a fun map, but base invasions were common in UFO Defense; it was one of the risks that occured regularly. It was a fun part of the game, always having to worry about the aliens finding your base. The Exalt forces part felt very halfhearted; not much depth to that part of the game at all. And I really dislike the sleeveless armor look that gene-modded soldiers get. Your forced to use it, and eventually I just stopped gene modding to avoid it. And to address some reviews griping about the difficulty, I didn't find it any more difficult than the original, especially with the MECs. I beat Classic much faster using them. To conclude, I felt like I was just playing through the original EU again when I played with this expansion. The new features, which are fun in and of themselves (save for the EXALT part), don't stand out at all considering the $30 price tag. And if you're like me and you lament features from the old game, they will come eventually, but at a cost. After you've invested $100+ in future expansions, you might have something resembling the original UFO Defense.… Expand
  8. Spgsamuel
    Dec 17, 2013
    6
    hmm. I enjoyed the game again.

    with new stuff that should have been in the original release. the game progression is more or less the same with all the new content, so that means it takes about 3 hours to finish. it does add some nice new strategic moments for you to relish. its still to short. its pretty. has some nice elements, With little replay value, it is still a dissapointing    hmm. I enjoyed the game again.

    with new stuff that should have been in the original release. the game progression is more or less the same with all the new content, so that means it takes about 3 hours to finish. it does add some nice new strategic moments for you to relish.

    its still to short. its pretty. has some nice elements, With little replay value, it is still a dissapointing title due to its campaign length.

    dont get me wrong you will enjoy it, its really fun, interesting and imersive. but its aimed at making money, releasing a game and then adding content and charging people to have it added is like doing the smallest amount of work possible to make money.

    This is a bad business model and may be profitable in the short term but damages the integrity of any games releases which were built with great pride and attention to detail in the future. when will companies see that making a quick buck and fobbing people off, will acctually damage their chance at making record breaking releases of significant status that can easily out gross a quick fix, fly by night ideas sometimes up to x20 times.

    Well my point is if you do it, even it it works and people love it, youve still done it and now you think its a good business strategy.    … Expand
  9. happy-argentine
    Dec 28, 2013
    6
    EDIT: I dropped a point down to 6, because even almost 2 moths there has been very little patching to the game, and some bugs still completely break the experience.

    -*-*-*- 1) Bugs Bugs Bugs, some game-breaking, some just annoying. Overall feel like the game lacks polish and/or time. The original already had some bugs, but the expansion added new ones to the mix (I'm looking at you    EDIT: I dropped a point down to 6, because even almost 2 moths there has been very little patching to the game, and some bugs still completely break the experience.

    -*-*-*-

    1) Bugs Bugs Bugs, some game-breaking, some just annoying. Overall feel like the game lacks polish and/or time. The original already had some bugs, but the expansion added new ones to the mix (I'm looking at you double mission freeze crash).

    2) As others have said, game is not exactly good value for the amount of new content. I personally found it lacking in many areas, especially enemy variety (EXALT doesn't really count, they are just humans), more aliens would have been nice.

    I think it's worth a buy if you want an excuse to return to XCOM, some new features are nice.

    My suggestion: wait until it goes on sale, in the meantime you can download some excellent mods off the Nexus (long war is brutal but very well done) for free!    … Expand
  10. jadereviewer
    Feb 25, 2014
    6
    XCOM: Enemy Unknown was my favorite game of 2012(or whenever it came out.) This expansion is pretty large, adds some nice variety and is a great reason to do another couple of play throughs- one focusing heavily on MEc's and one heavily one Gene mods, or a balance.
    This is, however. horrifically overpriced. Unless you are getting off a CDkey website, don't buy. Pay UP TO 20 dollars i say,    XCOM: Enemy Unknown was my favorite game of 2012(or whenever it came out.) This expansion is pretty large, adds some nice variety and is a great reason to do another couple of play throughs- one focusing heavily on MEc's and one heavily one Gene mods, or a balance.
    This is, however. horrifically overpriced. Unless you are getting off a CDkey website, don't buy. Pay UP TO 20 dollars i say, as you will get a solid amount of hours out of another play through.    … Expand
  11. Baronz
    Nov 24, 2013
    5
    Is it good Yes, it adds new powers and mech to your combad squad, adds some new maps and missions.
    Is it worth 30$ No, its just a big DLC, and they ask too much for it.
  12. Seryin
    Nov 18, 2013
    5
    Enemy Within takes an already amazing game (Enemy Unknown), and adds a new class, some new maps and new enemies. That is pretty much it. Literally. Same campaign, story, characters and everything else as the original.
    "Back in my day," we called this a PLUG-IN. It is certainly not a DLC or expansion by any modern use of the words.
    I had fun playing Enemy Within, just as much fun as I    Enemy Within takes an already amazing game (Enemy Unknown), and adds a new class, some new maps and new enemies. That is pretty much it. Literally. Same campaign, story, characters and everything else as the original.
    "Back in my day," we called this a PLUG-IN. It is certainly not a DLC or expansion by any modern use of the words.

    I had fun playing Enemy Within, just as much fun as I did Enemy Unknown, and that is the problem.

    I believe this entire DLC is very misleading and anyone who beat Unknown already is going to be as confused as me when they find themselves just playing the same exact game as before.
    I liked Enemy Unknown enormously and gave it a 10/10, but that did not give them the right to think they could resell me the exact same experience at a whopping 30 bucks.

    "Oh you want a Mech in your XCOM game? We will add it as a new class, and then resell you the entire game with a new subtitle." 100% Genuine Real Authentic Firaxis Employee Quote

    Its a great game and fun experience, but If you played Unknown, you have already played Within.    … Expand
  13. Procopper
    Nov 12, 2013
    5
    The XCOM franchise is excellent. Enemy Unknown is a very good game, and may have single-handedly brought back turn-based strategy games. Enemy Within is a respectable DLC addition, but will ultimately disappoint, as it does nothing to address significant annoyances from the first game.

    Firaxis has chosen to go with big-ticket, flashy upgrades, while leaving the core play mechanisms    The XCOM franchise is excellent. Enemy Unknown is a very good game, and may have single-handedly brought back turn-based strategy games. Enemy Within is a respectable DLC addition, but will ultimately disappoint, as it does nothing to address significant annoyances from the first game.

    Firaxis has chosen to go with big-ticket, flashy upgrades, while leaving the core play mechanisms alone. In fact, even the new gameplay mechanics boil down to reliance on tried and true XCOM formula.

    Remember bomb-disarmament missions? Well, they're back, except now when you click, your're collecting mind-goo, not disarming bombs. That's the crux of the DLC. Yes, it earns you cool, new stuff. The mind-effects and mech-suits look really good. Bad guys die really flashy, (though with a weird delay after you shoot them).

    But at the end of the day, you're disarming bombs. Except now its collecting mind-juice.    … Expand
  14. Awesumo
    Nov 16, 2013
    5
    It's a nice expansion, but there isn't really that much new content.
    Definitely not good value for money. I would recommend getting it when it inevitably gets it's 50+% discount in a month or so.
  15. GregdSmith
    Dec 30, 2013
    5
    Enemy Within is a great add on to the series adding new challenges, depth and longevity to the game.

    The Exalt missions are definite added challenge and some of the new aliens also mean a big change of tactics to experienced players, although alien encounters still have a by the numbers feel to them, it is a minor set back. The management section has a number of new options including    Enemy Within is a great add on to the series adding new challenges, depth and longevity to the game.

    The Exalt missions are definite added challenge and some of the new aliens also mean a big change of tactics to experienced players, although alien encounters still have a by the numbers feel to them, it is a minor set back.

    The management section has a number of new options including mechanical and genetic augmentation, for further research upgrades to your soldiers, the choices with these alone are
    a lot of fun as is finding what to research to trigger the upgrades.

    Now here is the big but, Currently on Steam this game has so many stability issues as to make it near unplayable, you can not save enough times, especially during the missions to actually counter the number of crashes.

    As an add on it deserves a high score for bringing more to an already great game. But I can only give it a
    5 while feeling generous doing so. If this is fixed in the new year you may have picked up a bargain in the Steam sale, if not you are left with wistful thoughts of what could have been.    … Expand
  16. IceBlood
    Dec 31, 2013
    5
    Overpriced and very limited expansion pack for already streamlined XCOM game. There isn't actually much to mention about. Few new maps, couple of new enemies and few useless weapons. The tech tree is still very short and soldiers are lacking the attributes that takes out all the fun for training your soldiers.
  17. steddye
    Aug 10, 2015
    5
    This game is a copy paste of it's predecessor, yes they put some new feature but honestly IT'S the same game. I hope not begin to do as EA with fifa, that every year they get out the exact same game with some minor changes. To make a game as it should be a software company need al least four years, so, to finance themselves they foisted a heated soup.
  18. itmo
    Nov 24, 2013
    4
    I can't see how this is classed as an expansion, it is just an add-on. It is the same story line from the base game except now you can have two different types of soldiers. Over priced for what you get, doesn't make the game any better in fact I feel it has made it to easy. The MEC units are just to powerful, the exalt side missions are ok but just add an annoying stream to the game.I can't see how this is classed as an expansion, it is just an add-on. It is the same story line from the base game except now you can have two different types of soldiers. Over priced for what you get, doesn't make the game any better in fact I feel it has made it to easy. The MEC units are just to powerful, the exalt side missions are ok but just add an annoying stream to the game. This is a poor add-on which is just a money making venture, not a whole new story that was hinted at in the lead up promos.… Expand
  19. Star428
    Jun 2, 2014
    4
    This game is trash on PS3 (may be better on other platforms) I'm sorry to say. I mean it is the most fun game I've ever played in my 43 years of life but only when it's working properly. Most of the time the game works ok but when playing a supply barge mission or a terror mission the game crashes like 70-80% of the time. I have to restart system to continue playing. It's gets veryThis game is trash on PS3 (may be better on other platforms) I'm sorry to say. I mean it is the most fun game I've ever played in my 43 years of life but only when it's working properly. Most of the time the game works ok but when playing a supply barge mission or a terror mission the game crashes like 70-80% of the time. I have to restart system to continue playing. It's gets very frustrating after doing so many times.

    However, as frustrating as that is it's not nearly as bad as the base defense mission messing up. Base defense mission goes black every single time at beginning of mission after Bradford finishes his speech. It's impossible to continue. It ruins an entire game. It was working well before last patch but now it messes up every single friggin' time. Exalt missions go black at beginning sometimes also.

    Also, MP mode is 100% broken. I haven't been able to even connect for an online game in 3 or 4 months. I've finally given up on trying. Even when I could connect, there were certain bugs that made game unplayable. Like floaters being able to go to max elevation and remain invisible for the entire game even when they attack. I sent a tweet to both 2k forums and Ananda Gupta (lead designer) regarding these issues and they both ignored me. So... Firaxis and 2k have lost this customer for life. I will also never buy another game with either Gupta's or Jake Solomon's (EU mp mode was never properly supported either) name on it ever again.

    Since this game is very fun up until base defense mission comes up and ruins game I give it a 4 rating. There's no way I can possibly give it higher than that because base defense mission halts the game and it can't be continued. Maybe XBOX and PC players have better luck but I'm not the only PS3 player that has serious issues with the game. Just check out 2k forums to see the multitude of players that have exact same problems with game. Be careful, though... The moderators there are a joke and give out infractions and bans like they think they're on a power trip or something. LOL.    … Expand
  20. AD1980
    Nov 15, 2013
    3
    While I would like to give this game a very positive review, due to the number and frequency of game crashing bugs I cannot. I encourage anyone interested in the game to first check out forums for the game to get an idea of how often they occur. Personally, I haven't been able to complete a session of Enemy Within without the game freezing at one point or another. This is of course afterWhile I would like to give this game a very positive review, due to the number and frequency of game crashing bugs I cannot. I encourage anyone interested in the game to first check out forums for the game to get an idea of how often they occur. Personally, I haven't been able to complete a session of Enemy Within without the game freezing at one point or another. This is of course after verifying drivers, verifying game files and the such.

    It's almost amusing that the developers advertise modes like "Ironman" when their game isn't capable
    of delivering a crash free play through.    … Expand
  21. blade01
    Dec 7, 2013
    3
    Hi folks!This review contains some spoilers!Lets start with my what youll get with enemy within:

    -Medals(which you can award to ANY soldier) -MECs -GenMods(G-Mods) -2 new minicampiagns(3 if you have never played the slingshot DLC) -New maps -2 new enemys -some new researchoptions -1 mission were youll have to defend your base -A new resscourse called "meld" Lets start with    Hi folks!This review contains some spoilers!Lets start with my what youll get with enemy within:

    -Medals(which you can award to ANY soldier)
    -MECs
    -GenMods(G-Mods)
    -2 new minicampiagns(3 if you have never played the slingshot DLC)
    -New maps
    -2 new enemys
    -some new researchoptions
    -1 mission were youll have to defend your base
    -A new resscourse called "meld"

    Lets start with the MECs.In short youll sacrifice 1 soldier and his skills.Hell become something like "robocop" but is useless without his MEC.Youll have to produce a MEC.MECs got 3 tech-tiers.With every stage youll have to choose what you want to install on the MEC.That cant be changed later.Which is stupid because at first you dont know how good the equipment is.Ok forget about it, you dont need to know about it because MECs are fare too strong.They can move VERY FAR and the weapons do good damage.They cant use cover but who cares?They got an amazing stock of HP and you can "heal" them.Plus they can repair themselfes.Later they can shoot twice(if you choose this skill which i recommend), fire at the first enemy that fire at them and they got some grenades or a medkit.Thats too much.In my case my best MEC got a aimskill of 105 in the end.Hit nearly every time and can shoot twice.Too much.Poorly balanced.The last stage is realy expensive when it comes to meld, thats the only thing.What bothers me the most is that you dont get a new researchtree.Youll get the upgrades through the old researches like autopsies.Cheap!!

    Ok to the G-Mods.Compared to the MECs the G-Mods are not that strong.Some of them are nice but youll need the MELD for MECs.They are better, believe me.

    MELD on its own is cheply implementet too.Its.....just there.On some maps you can find it.Why?Its easy to get meld later with the ghost armor.I think thats an issue too.Balancing is not good.

    The medals are nice at first look.But later youll realize they that the bonus seems weak at first but in combination the bonus is realy high.Balancing issues here too.

    The new maps are nice.No complains here.But why are there not more maps in the main-game?The base-defense-mission is in my opinion the best mission in the entire game.It lacks nothing, you have to fight hard on this map.Great work but here too, thats not enough(same goes for the new mission in a little village with crysalits).

    The new campaigns are poorly implemented as well.The Slingshot DLC was not that good and here youll get 2 new campaigns:The EXALTs and the campaign with Annette and her group(3 missions in total).Both offer nearly no story.EXALT is there, thats all you know.You beat them(Why?Youll never know), a lame cutscene, thats it.Thats so cheap.

    And thats my final verdict for this "Addon":Too much stuff that is poorly implementet and/or bad balanced.Too much things where i dont know why was it not in the maingame?Makes the addon the maingame better?YES, if youve loved the maingame.The addon deals with no issues from enemy unknown.Some bugs are still there, games crashes a few times.Get it when its on a discount, not for the full price.Not enough value.    … Expand
  22. Baroness
    Apr 17, 2014
    3
    I have never played a game with such a high meta score and so,so many bugs. Huge ones, too.Including bugs that halt the game progression, random black screens, failing to load messages, and non responsive actions. I spent more time reloading previous saves than actually playing, because the game wouldn't let me progress. Was the testing team asleep the whole time this game was being made?!I have never played a game with such a high meta score and so,so many bugs. Huge ones, too.Including bugs that halt the game progression, random black screens, failing to load messages, and non responsive actions. I spent more time reloading previous saves than actually playing, because the game wouldn't let me progress. Was the testing team asleep the whole time this game was being made?!
    Too bad, because it has a brilliant gameplay mechanics and a lot of cool stuff.    … Expand
  23. PeteOddly
    Jun 29, 2014
    3
    While this game is fantastically fun, well balanced, and easy to learn (though difficult to master), it is also not worth your money. Unfortunately, this game is plagued by several game-breaking bugs which tend not to make themselves apparent until you have invested at least a dozen hours into it. One bug in particular happens during a mandatory mission, wherein the game goes to a blackWhile this game is fantastically fun, well balanced, and easy to learn (though difficult to master), it is also not worth your money. Unfortunately, this game is plagued by several game-breaking bugs which tend not to make themselves apparent until you have invested at least a dozen hours into it. One bug in particular happens during a mandatory mission, wherein the game goes to a black screen during the mission's beginning, and stays there. The only known workaround is to not install the latest patch. 2K has been made aware of the issue (months ago, in fact, and by dozens of users), but no further information has been forthcoming.

    With this in mind, and though I do love what little of the game I HAVE been able to play, I sincerely cannot recommend it. Do not waste your money.    … Expand
  24. TUHD
    Nov 16, 2013
    2
    From what I managed to play, it isn't too bad but not an huge improvement either. Most problematic however is that the game WILL NOT START after you shut it down after the install and this is all across the board, from nVidia cards to ATI cards, from PC to Xbox. I give the game ONE week to solve this, but so far I'm giving it a two due to the repeating tricks, imbalance and mostly theFrom what I managed to play, it isn't too bad but not an huge improvement either. Most problematic however is that the game WILL NOT START after you shut it down after the install and this is all across the board, from nVidia cards to ATI cards, from PC to Xbox. I give the game ONE week to solve this, but so far I'm giving it a two due to the repeating tricks, imbalance and mostly the fact it's just broken as hell.… Expand
  25. malv83
    Mar 7, 2015
    2
    A stupidly brutal game. There is nothing quite as unrewarding as watching a guy you've somehow managed to groom across a few rounds die to a coin toss. Is this supposed to be a tactical game, because it seems like the random number generator is more in control of the outcome of the match than I am. I reinstalled it today to give it another go. Couldn't get past the first map. Squad seemedA stupidly brutal game. There is nothing quite as unrewarding as watching a guy you've somehow managed to groom across a few rounds die to a coin toss. Is this supposed to be a tactical game, because it seems like the random number generator is more in control of the outcome of the match than I am. I reinstalled it today to give it another go. Couldn't get past the first map. Squad seemed to miss every single shot it attempted, even when the odds were seemingly in its favor.

    Frankly, this is a truly horrible game. I don't understand why the reviews are as high as they are. Maybe my computer has a RNG bug or something. This game fundamental mechanics of losing units to baffling randomness is just not very appealing.    … Expand
  26. Type4101
    Nov 18, 2013
    1
    If there was no Enemy Unknown, then Enemy Within would be a 9 or a 10 game. But Enemy Within, the so-called "expansion," is nothing more than a glorified patch and a few maps, which should have cost $5 at most. It costs thirty dollars. It adds a new minor human enemy, one or two new aliens, and a few maps. That's it. It calls itself an "expansion" and that is a lie. An expansion wouldIf there was no Enemy Unknown, then Enemy Within would be a 9 or a 10 game. But Enemy Within, the so-called "expansion," is nothing more than a glorified patch and a few maps, which should have cost $5 at most. It costs thirty dollars. It adds a new minor human enemy, one or two new aliens, and a few maps. That's it. It calls itself an "expansion" and that is a lie. An expansion would have added significant gameplay, an expansion or continuation of the story-line/plot...basically a new experience. Enemy within offers none of those things. You play the exact same game as before, only with a tiny amount of new "stuff" that costs almost as much as a full game. If you never played XCOM: Enemy Unknown, then this is a great purchase as a stand-alone product (Steam requires you buy the original, so don't do it!). I can recommend it as a first-time game, since it is a fantastic game on its own. But don't buy this "expansion" if you already own the first game, or at least wait until this map pack is more appropriately priced ($5 max). I was ripped off again by unscrupulous game publishers. Don't suffer the same fate.… Expand
  27. augh18
    Apr 14, 2014
    1
    This game is like water torture. It's the sort of thing you might subject yourself to once in life because you're trying to prove how tough you are, but after about 5 minutes you realize all you're doing is subjecting yourself to a pointless torture that provides no benefit for undergoing. In fact, it probably makes you a worse human being to be around, because now you have a real ******This game is like water torture. It's the sort of thing you might subject yourself to once in life because you're trying to prove how tough you are, but after about 5 minutes you realize all you're doing is subjecting yourself to a pointless torture that provides no benefit for undergoing. In fact, it probably makes you a worse human being to be around, because now you have a real ****** experience in your memory banks to have flashbacks to every now and then.

    Could've been a great game, and honestly I don't have a problem with challenging games, I generally enjoy them (I got "Golden God" on the 360 version of Super Meat Boy, and I beat "Terror from the Deep" back in the day), it's that the way this game works means it needs to be *PERFECT* in design or else you're basically playing a broken, unfinished game. Want to send your soldier in to flank an enemy for a guaranteed OHKO shot, so it can't OHKO one of your high-ranking members on the Alien turn? Cool! Charge up in there, get behind him, aaaand.... where's that flank bonus? ****! Now that soldier you just sent in for a guaranteed kill is actually dead next turn, and it's all because of a bug! Hope you aren't playing on Iron Man!

    Want to toss a smoke grenade to provide units with some cover so they don't get slaughtered next turn? Cool! Throw that smoke grenade, aaaaand.... it fell through the level! Cool! Now you just blew that squad member's turn and at least one of the guys you meant to cover with smoke is gonna die! Hope you weren't playing on Iron Man!

    All they really needed to do to fix 99% of the problems (since most are movement and LoS related) is make movement work like the original X-COMs, where you moved step-by-step and each movement took action points (let's say you have 100 action points, one step would cost 10). So if you set up a flank and it fails? Then take one step to the side and BAM now the flank works, cuz it was just a bug in that *one* square on the map (which is really all it comes down to). But instead they decided to give you two action points in this game, one movement in any "blue" range is 1 AP and going beyond that is 2. I guess they did it to make the game less overwhelming, but three cheers to Firaxis, because this simple change has made their game an unplayable mess, even though *EVERYTHING ELSE* has the potential to be good, it just isn't worth it.

    Now that the "Complete Collection" is out, they're obviously done supporting this game and are moving on. I know my review is late, but if you're a latecomer and are considering this game, stay away. Honestly, having this game in my Steam library now is like having a leaky tap in the house I can't fix.

    Aside from that, "Enemy Within" is a case of an unnecessary expansion, just like the Triad Character DLC was totally unnecessary for the base game. None of the new content is exciting, the best feature is the new maps, everything else just seems to bloat the game. They didn't have to rebuild a new engine, pretty much all the "new" assets are re-colored assets from the first game (that thing game developer's did during the late 80s/early 90s because they were limited on space, now some try and get away with it because they're lazy), yet for $40 you're basically getting what would've been $10 DLC in 2006 (and had people crapping bricks over).

    If you *REALLY* need to play this broken mess for some reason, get EU and ignore this overpriced, unnecessary addon. As far as I can tell, they priced it as high as they did so they could release a couple more patches to fix their broken game, without actually fixing it.    … Expand
  28. wolverine101
    Mar 4, 2014
    0
    Well a review has to be made for this game and things have to be said. First of all it "IS" a game on rails. Everything moves up with time and missions. As you get stronger the aliens get stronger and you never see the low level one again except the poisoner thin men. No more low level floaters, no more squishy aliens you encountered earlier just harder and more numerous ones like the zerkWell a review has to be made for this game and things have to be said. First of all it "IS" a game on rails. Everything moves up with time and missions. As you get stronger the aliens get stronger and you never see the low level one again except the poisoner thin men. No more low level floaters, no more squishy aliens you encountered earlier just harder and more numerous ones like the zerk mutons. You basically do the same things over n over, go clear this site, go bring back this guy go inspect this downed ufo that you just downed with new and improved weapons that you didn't have in the beginning. You knew they were coming and you knew you would finally down a big ship.. Wow big news huh? lol.

    They act like that guy that beat impossible did something famous. But, really cmon, in todays world with so much hacking save game files and modding programs. How hard would it have been to alter that final screen with the scores on it and alter a save game file to delete all memorial deaths? I wouldn't believe that chit without sitting beside him and seeing him complete it myself.

    But, once again this is just another rail game of fire and miss. No real tactics like the old X-Coms where you had aim and standard shot and auto shot and kneel for better aim. No early alien attacks on your ship as soon as you opened the door. No more grenade lobbing aliens who tossed grenades like candy. Oh sure there's grenade lobbing aliens in this game but they sure as hell don't use them like the older X-COms, You had to be a real tactician and strategist to play the old X-Coms. An 8 year old can play and win this new one. Just like all games these days getting easier and easier for 8 year olds instead of making them for adults who have the money to buy them.

    If the game wasn't so much on rails and you had harder stuff to fight before you got the good stuff it might be more fun. But as it is it's just another wannabe rail game of connect point a to point b in this manner and this manner of time. Follow that path and you can't lose. Just a waste of time make believing you are some sort of tactical genius when an 8 year old can be one too. lol

    If you don't wait for bargain bin price of $4.99 to maybe $7.00 you are just wasting your money and showing what the kid you are that you have to have some new pop gun toy to go pew pew pew with. lol    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PC Game of 2013
61
#61 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
59
#59 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 54
  3. Negative: 0 out of 54
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 11, 2014
    90
    Augmented XCOM is better, although it does not fix some basic flaws. Great the first time you play it. [Dec 2013]
  2. GameCritics
    Jan 16, 2014
    65
    Xcom: Enemy Within is a decent expansion to a slightly flawed original.
    Read full review
  3. PC PowerPlay
    Dec 30, 2013
    80
    It doesn't fix larger flaws, but it's still a solid expansion. [Jan 2014, p.80]
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