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. fishgameing
    Aug 14, 2023
    8
    this is not the most gargantuan colossal sized expansion ever but it's still a good expansion and i would say the game is not the same without it

    here's what to expect from it (mostly spoiler free): - a new resource that can be picked up during abduction and ufo raid missions - two new mutually exclusive side-classes based on the resource (one focusing on small improvements to regular    this is not the most gargantuan colossal sized expansion ever but it's still a good expansion and i would say the game is not the same without it

    here's what to expect from it (mostly spoiler free):
    - a new resource that can be picked up during abduction and ufo raid missions
    - two new mutually exclusive side-classes based on the resource (one focusing on small improvements to regular soldiers, and the other focusing on turning your soldiers into cumbersome but powerful behemoths)
    - an additional enemy faction whose operations revolve around sapping your own operations and gaining some of this oh so sweet resource (you can launch infiltrations to slow them down and get intel on their base's location)
    - two new alien units (one focused on ambushing soldiers and another focused on head-to-head combat)
    - a new side campaign called Operation Progeny that works similarly to the Slingshot DLC
    - a new key mission that appears a little under a month after clearing the alien base
    - extra tanky sectopods

    ... and a plethora of bugfixes, balance tweaks and improvements to make the game the best version of itself that it could possibly be    … Expand
  2. tontonac
    May 16, 2022
    9
    Small additions to a great game, but I wouldn't have paid separately for this one though.
  3. Asp_klg40
    Sep 12, 2021
    8
    Супер игра, проходится моментально, каждая миссия сложна и захватывает, шансы не подкручены и играется очень приятно, сюжет интересен, а дополнение только улучшает игру.
  4. g014n
    Aug 8, 2021
    8
    To this date, still the best XCOM. Have reinstalled it (don't have Chimera Sq) and it is still relevant today despite XCOM2 being released.

    Now to be fair, I got the most out of this game because of the Longwar mod, but that was back in the day. Vanilla play will be good enough for most people even today. It loses points because it has obvious problems, little bugs, QoL is not as    To this date, still the best XCOM. Have reinstalled it (don't have Chimera Sq) and it is still relevant today despite XCOM2 being released.

    Now to be fair, I got the most out of this game because of the Longwar mod, but that was back in the day. Vanilla play will be good enough for most people even today.

    It loses points because it has obvious problems, little bugs, QoL is not as good as it could be, etc. There are a lot of small problems that will get in the way and upset you a bit, but no showstopper or anything like that.    … Expand
  5. starssun
    May 28, 2021
    9
    Epic game, thank you ................ Don't know why so many bad reviews ...
  6. dimvla
    Jan 31, 2021
    10
    xcom enemy within long war is probably the king in the turn based strategy games. unparalleled stategic and tactical options, a ton of mods and a magnificent soundtrack. highly recommended for the genre fans
  7. shatarah
    Dec 2, 2020
    10
    greattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
  8. dopp
    Jul 26, 2020
    10
    Amazing tactical game, with great replayability value, great graphics and immersive story, a lot of pseudo sci-fi technical stuff and researches, which i LOVE!! very fun! There are some caveats here and there, UX is not well thought, a little bit disbalanced soldier types out and few bugs here and there, but i forgive it, as it's the first game in franchise.
  9. Nerevarinho
    Jul 4, 2020
    9
    Would reload savegame again.
    ..............................................
  10. Denis94
    May 15, 2020
    8
    El padrino de los juegos de estrategia táctica, un juego casi perfecto que combina la gestión de el planeta tierra frente a la invasión alienígena y al mismo tiempo el combate por turnos, un juego fácil de aprender pero difícil de manejar, quizás donde más escasea es en el modo historia que es flojo pero lo "arreglan" sin duda con la expansión "Enemy Within", para bien o para mal acabarásEl padrino de los juegos de estrategia táctica, un juego casi perfecto que combina la gestión de el planeta tierra frente a la invasión alienígena y al mismo tiempo el combate por turnos, un juego fácil de aprender pero difícil de manejar, quizás donde más escasea es en el modo historia que es flojo pero lo "arreglan" sin duda con la expansión "Enemy Within", para bien o para mal acabarás odiando a esos dichosos Alienígenas!… Expand
  11. xRabia
    Apr 18, 2020
    8
    Metacritic forces me to write a seventy-five character review so that I can have my notes listed without searching game by game.
  12. Wiebe
    Feb 26, 2020
    8
    Amazing game, so many great and different elements coming together.mit gets a bit boring thougn once you become really good at it.
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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.
  16. RogueV
    Dec 5, 2019
    8
    A decent expansion for one of the greatest strategy games of all time. Doesn't completely revolutionize the experience like XCOM 2's War of the Chosen, but anyone who plays XCOM 1 would benefit from owning this.
  17. Genek13
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    Very good DLC which add some new mechanics and options to the game.
    Shame that campaign don't change much comparing to the original.
  18. SilverOrlov
    Sep 26, 2019
    9
    When I started playing this game for the first time, I didn’t really like it. But after some time I tried to play it again and this time I really liked it. Work and arrangement of the base, upgrading and supply of the team, global choices, and most importantly, turn-based tactics on the battlefield itself. All this is on par with, albeit banal, but very interestingly made story. This gameWhen I started playing this game for the first time, I didn’t really like it. But after some time I tried to play it again and this time I really liked it. Work and arrangement of the base, upgrading and supply of the team, global choices, and most importantly, turn-based tactics on the battlefield itself. All this is on par with, albeit banal, but very interestingly made story. This game deserves its ratings and reviews.… Expand
  19. dlcwolf
    Jun 14, 2019
    8
    I played both XCOM Enemy Unknown and XCOM Enemy Within. The games are 80% the same, same plot, same events, same actors, same stories, with the only difference in Enemy Within there are a bit more of new events, the human enemy Exalt, and few new enemies. There is no reason to play both since i see the second more complete and vast. If you want to play, just play the second. For the game,I played both XCOM Enemy Unknown and XCOM Enemy Within. The games are 80% the same, same plot, same events, same actors, same stories, with the only difference in Enemy Within there are a bit more of new events, the human enemy Exalt, and few new enemies. There is no reason to play both since i see the second more complete and vast. If you want to play, just play the second. For the game, i appreciated really, even if it is not at the high level of the original X-COM. But is well done and made modern. I had anyway the feeling that the authors tried to make more commercial and accepted by a wider range of gamers, exemplifying the gaming. For example, I found less researches es to do, and also the combats are made easier with less commands. So i say 7 for the first, and 8 for the second.… Expand
  20. Acronymous
    Aug 14, 2018
    10
    Basically this was my first turn-based game since the original Fallout and i love it. Spent so much time playing it that i can call it hands-down one of my favourites. Instant classic, no doubt about it!
  21. ave
    May 22, 2018
    8
    To be fair, the novelties introduced in Enemy Within contributed to make the game fresh, exciting, deeper but also more complex and less accessible.

    It took me some time to explore some possibiliies offered by the Meld (genetics and cybernetics) on top of regular or psi soldiers ; and I ended up betting on mobility (especially jumps) to get cover or flank enemies, and additionnal    To be fair, the novelties introduced in Enemy Within contributed to make the game fresh, exciting, deeper but also more complex and less accessible.

    It took me some time to explore some possibiliies offered by the Meld (genetics and cybernetics) on top of regular or psi soldiers ; and I ended up betting on mobility (especially jumps) to get cover or flank enemies, and additionnal defense ; since you are rarely pressed by time (except maybe defuse bomb missions).

    Since I player XCOM Enemy Unknown, Enemy Withing and XCOM 2 in a row ; I finally prefered the way XCOM 2 was designed, even on the controversial parts.    … Expand
  22. Hack
    Dec 3, 2017
    7
    I'm generally not a fan of the genre but my friend insisted I try XCOM: EW so i did and I was pleasantly surprised, I ended up putting 40 hours into and finishing it on normal difficulty and I'm definitely interested in jumping into XCOM 2 now.

    I enjoyed the mix of combat and base building, this is the first game I've played that melds these genres together and they do it really well.    I'm generally not a fan of the genre but my friend insisted I try XCOM: EW so i did and I was pleasantly surprised, I ended up putting 40 hours into and finishing it on normal difficulty and I'm definitely interested in jumping into XCOM 2 now.

    I enjoyed the mix of combat and base building, this is the first game I've played that melds these genres together and they do it really well.

    Other than a few of technical issues like the cut-scenes being hard locked to 30fps, your character customisation being reset randomly and the Berserker causing frame rate drops whenever he moves I can't fault the game too much. It runs, plays, sounds and looks really good.

    Overall an enjoyable experience that I can recommend to even those who aren't a big fan of the genre like myself.    … Expand
  23. SrPepe
    Nov 29, 2017
    9
    Esta expansión hace muchísimo más disfrutable el ya excelente XCOM Enemy Unknown. Las nuevas misiones y las nuevas especialidades son perfectas. Genial.
  24. gracjanski
    Apr 29, 2016
    10
    You should play XCOM Enemy Unknown with this addon. The campaign will be much better: The graphics look better and not soooo old, like in Enemy Unknown, the new missions are looking much nicer than the old one. In addition they improved the variety of the missions, because they offer you new tasks. The addon gives you more possibilities in the gameplay, so it is a bit more complex.You should play XCOM Enemy Unknown with this addon. The campaign will be much better: The graphics look better and not soooo old, like in Enemy Unknown, the new missions are looking much nicer than the old one. In addition they improved the variety of the missions, because they offer you new tasks. The addon gives you more possibilities in the gameplay, so it is a bit more complex.
    Unfortunately the game is very easy, even in the normal level, especially the last level could be a bit more difficult.

    So in the end they changed a lot of weaknesses, but one weakness stays: Because you dont know many informations, you need to look in the internet or load a lot, or both.    … Expand
  25. enachev
    Mar 10, 2016
    9
    add Long War mod and you have an almost better game than the original X-Com. totally worth the 5$ tag on steam. expect a campaign to last around 200-250 hours, challenging. the only downside is that the missions are quite many per month (15-20 tac battles / month).
  26. Goby
    Mar 8, 2016
    9
    Enemy Unknown was a brilliant game and I enjoyed almost every minute of it. That one I played all the way on classic and without ironman, so for EW I figured I was ready for ironman. Well, frankly, it takes about 3 playthroughs to be "ready" per se. Wanna know why that is? Because EW surprises you with random **** that is guaranteed to be fatal for your campaign.

    Let me explain how my    Enemy Unknown was a brilliant game and I enjoyed almost every minute of it. That one I played all the way on classic and without ironman, so for EW I figured I was ready for ironman. Well, frankly, it takes about 3 playthroughs to be "ready" per se. Wanna know why that is? Because EW surprises you with random **** that is guaranteed to be fatal for your campaign.

    Let me explain how my classic ironman campaign suffered a sudden death. It all started with a terror mission in the police station map (the one consisting of a large open two story building with a pillared facade, a one-story side room and an alley to the right). Now I've had difficulties with this map before, seeing elite mutons, chryssalids, floaters and all kinds of crazy coming out of that building, but this round was rather special. There was nothing but chryssalids. Just 18 civilians and an estimate of 16 chryssalids. I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined such a scenario, so consider me shocked when I saw three chryssalids storming out of the side room and taking about 5 steps from the door, ready to land insane crits on 3 of my guys next turn. One already got pierced at the door the moment I ended my first turn (which also makes me wonder: this was the first time an enemy that was not triggered on my turn was able to attack me - the chryssalid who killed that unit was triggered by vision provided by the three chryssalids who barged out of the side room at the end of my first turn and enabling sight into the room that contained two more).

    As if the events in front of the side room were not bad enough, I had three-four more chryssalids jump down the walls and running out of the front side of the building.

    I barely managed to kill all 6 or 7 chryssalids that appeared on my screen there - only thanks to the heavy firepower from two of my colonel heavies.

    Guess what happens next turn. That's right, about 6 more chryssalids deicide to ignore the civvies in the building and just dash outside and in front of my units. Couple of turns after that I lose one corporal and another colonels who had been with me since the beginning. I'm forced to dash to the evac and abandon another colonel, Zhang, who ended up being surrounded by 3 zombies because I needed his rockets to blow away the hordes of chryssalids coming at me every single turn.

    Fun mission, but I deicided to get over it and push on. Next mission I get one of those advent evac missions. As usual, I'm very careful with my positioning, but with missions like these they matter jack **** Not only am I told these exalt troops are genetically enhanced (which is "great" news after just losing two colonels), their snipers can move and shoot at the same turn, despite otherwise playing on the same field as the xcom troops. But that's not the issue, the issue is the sheer number of those bastards coming at you. Not only does the game drop about 10 of them at the same time, they are also dropped in BEHIND YOU. That leaves you with two options: you somehow blast those flankers or you risk getting wrecked by multiple overwatches trying to find better cover (in my case going to the only other cover revealed three more exalts camping out at an alley...). Basically exalt had every single position covered and death ensued.

    But what I loved ABOVE ALL about that evac mission was the intel given to me by Central. BRADFORD YOU BASTARD. I **** you not: twice did he have the occasion to tell me "That should be the last of their reinforcements." BRADFORD U ALREADY SAID THAT AND I JUST FINISHED DEALING WITH THOSE PREVIOUS REINFORCEMENTS!!!

    The result of that mission was total wipeout and 7 xcom operatives dead - couldn't even evac because the evac zone was on the opposite end of the area I was supposed to defend. And the evac area was also out in the open.

    It didn't get any better from there - the game is so good at mercilessly punishing you for failing.

    After that failed evac mission I am approaching the end of the month. As I'm researching the advanced interceptors I am once again surprised with three consecutive large or very large UFOs, which I all have to ignore because frankly there isn't much you can do with those figher jets, even with items. Month ends, I lose two funding nations.

    Ironically the month started with 666 currency with a monthly 666 income. In total I now have over 800 currency. Two days later I get sabotaged by exalt, who take FRICKING HALF OF MY MONEY. I'm now left with just 400, which is not going to get me through the next month considering the number of recent setbacks.

    I'm not even going to mention all the bugs I never saw in EU.

    I suggest you don't try this in ironman the first or second playthrough. In my case it's the surprises that ruin the game entirely. It's only very late into the game that you can get some intel on what you're going up against, and even that is only in ufo crash missions. Otherwise you're going in fingers crossed    … Expand
  27. theirrelephants
    Mar 7, 2016
    9
    Normally not a big fan of turn based shooters, but XCOM: Enemy Within may have just made a believer out of me.

    Superb combat, even if RNG makes you rage impotently sometimes (missing a 94% shot... FUG). The meta game involving base building is pretty in depth as well, and is a large part of the fun. I highly recommend everyone give this game a shot, regardless of whether or not you    Normally not a big fan of turn based shooters, but XCOM: Enemy Within may have just made a believer out of me.

    Superb combat, even if RNG makes you rage impotently sometimes (missing a 94% shot... FUG).

    The meta game involving base building is pretty in depth as well, and is a large part of the fun. I highly recommend everyone give this game a shot, regardless of whether or not you like turn based shooters.    … Expand
  28. paranoid77
    Jan 20, 2016
    9
    This game is very good in its genre . Graphics are good. Tactics and creating strategy is good too. Creating soldiers and the improvements in your base is good too. The idea in total is well. The AI is acting well too.
    BUT, after 40-50 hours of gameplay, you feel that something is missing and you fall apart from the game, things are getting repetitive and it starts to get boring.
    Need    This game is very good in its genre . Graphics are good. Tactics and creating strategy is good too. Creating soldiers and the improvements in your base is good too. The idea in total is well. The AI is acting well too.
    BUT, after 40-50 hours of gameplay, you feel that something is missing and you fall apart from the game, things are getting repetitive and it starts to get boring.
    Need improvements in the gameplay, if done it will be more addictive and can play for several hours.
    If there was more successful games of this style in the market, i would rate this game 7 but; because its some kinda unique in its genre, it worth 9 from 8,5.
    If you like these kind of games buy it.You wont be sorry. And hope for improvements.    … Expand
  29. iseeall
    Dec 14, 2015
    8
    This expansion has all of the problems of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and doesn't get the game closer to the original XCOM UFO Defense. So, if you didn't like Enemy Unknown, you won't like this expansion as well.

    Yet it does offer new stuff (like medals, genetic mods for your soldiers) and minor fixes/improvements throughout. If you haven't played Enemy Unknown, you can safely skip it and start    This expansion has all of the problems of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and doesn't get the game closer to the original XCOM UFO Defense. So, if you didn't like Enemy Unknown, you won't like this expansion as well.

    Yet it does offer new stuff (like medals, genetic mods for your soldiers) and minor fixes/improvements throughout. If you haven't played Enemy Unknown, you can safely skip it and start with this expansion as it has the same campaign, and more. Apparently they listened to feedback and fixed issues which were easy to fix. Like, you will now see how many hitpoints an alien will lose after your shot. Or, there is a button to take off all gear from soldiers in the barracks so that you could easier equip the squad you are sending on a mission.

    The multiplayer is fun (your team of soldiers fights vs another team, you can even play as aliens), yet I disliked that there is too much randomness - and this can't be changed because randomness is the core of this game. When you shoot at the opponent's mob with 75% accuracy and miss, and then they shoot with 80% accuracy and miss, it reminds a circus and not a strategy game... Though such events happen not very often.

    This expansion isn't worth to buy for almost a full price of a game. However, I got both Enemy Unknown and Enemy Within in a bundle on sale. If you get it as a bundle, it's a fair deal.    … Expand
  30. 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
  31. 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.
  32. Pendra
    Jun 26, 2015
    10
    It worths every penny!

    I'm a massive fan of the old X-COM games. I played them through billions of times. When I first saw the new XCOM game, I was less than thrilled. No AP, no thanks. Then I tried it for some reason. At first I didn't like it all that much. It was weird and restrictive, but by the time I completed it, it grew on me. It is not the old XCOM for sure but the updates    It worths every penny!

    I'm a massive fan of the old X-COM games. I played them through billions of times. When I first saw the new XCOM game, I was less than thrilled. No AP, no thanks.
    Then I tried it for some reason. At first I didn't like it all that much. It was weird and restrictive, but by the time I completed it, it grew on me.

    It is not the old XCOM for sure but the updates and improvements are working really well. The new XCOM is extremely fun and addictive on its own. This reboot was risky, but Firaxis pulled it through perfectly, Big Thumbs up.    … Expand
  33. szaboar
    Jun 26, 2015
    8
    Xcom is one of my all-time favourites, so obviously I wanted more. Still, I felt a bit ... maybe not cheated but disappointed. EW brings in some shiny new units (some of which really adds to the experience!!), twists the story a bit, brings in new maps, a new resource, etc. But, all things considered, the game did not change much, my impression was that I replay the same game (which IXcom is one of my all-time favourites, so obviously I wanted more. Still, I felt a bit ... maybe not cheated but disappointed. EW brings in some shiny new units (some of which really adds to the experience!!), twists the story a bit, brings in new maps, a new resource, etc. But, all things considered, the game did not change much, my impression was that I replay the same game (which I never do... for those who don't mind replaying, my problems might be non-existing). On the other hand, the new units make beating the AI much easier, in the 2nd half of the game you should not face any challenge at all (I played normal or hard, I don't remember which).
    Should I have not played Xcom before Xcom EW, I would easily give 9, maybe even 10. This was not the case, however, so my judgment is 8.    … Expand
  34. tsakiym
    May 21, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it.................................… Expand
  35. WillG027
    Apr 11, 2015
    9
    Get XCOM and This expansion Enemy Within. Whilst I don't particularly like the direction that EW took (would prefer normal non-modified humans vs aliens), the game is taken to another level by installing the superb 'The Long War' mod.
    XCOM + 'The Long War' = the game I keep coming back to over the years.
  36. peterf28
    Mar 12, 2015
    8
    Very good made game, graphics, story, gameplay, everything . It just becomes a little bit repetitive in the second half of the game . It is always the same - you go forward, spot a group of 3 enemies which then hide and you kill them . You need to be cautious not to spot another group of 3 enemies until you did not kill the first one . Like the enemies are not moving at all before you spotVery good made game, graphics, story, gameplay, everything . It just becomes a little bit repetitive in the second half of the game . It is always the same - you go forward, spot a group of 3 enemies which then hide and you kill them . You need to be cautious not to spot another group of 3 enemies until you did not kill the first one . Like the enemies are not moving at all before you spot them, they are just standing there. In previous XCOM it was not the case . This is the only flaw i found - the repetitive AI .… Expand
  37. 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
  38. 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 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    Xcom 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.    … Expand
  39. Wazzles
    Feb 5, 2015
    9
    A surprisingly deep expansion to an incredible game that gave me a reason to go back and play it again. That alone is reason enough to buy Enemy Within.
  40. BioAlchemist
    Nov 24, 2014
    9
    Honestly i don't think i would have enjoyed enemy unknown nearly as much without the expansion, mind you I bought it when it cost much less so that does change things. is it worth 30? no. not a big enough expansion. is it worth 10? yes.

    MEC's are awesome. The extra missions/maps are fun. Definitely worth the buy at a lower cost.
  41. JimCorbett
    Nov 20, 2014
    7
    A decent expansion for XCOM. It adds a good amount of content, but i can't say it's worth $30. You get new maps, missions, allies and enemies. It's all good fun but it really doesn't feel like it reinvents the game. Still worth it for any XCOM fan.
  42. rajdeepslather
    Nov 12, 2014
    9
    This is a brilliant strategy game that no fan of the genre, especially fans of turn based games, should pass up. The easy and normal difficulties make the single player portion of the game new-player friendly, while the classic and impossible difficulties, combined in the Ironman (autosave only) option transform this game into one of the most tactical and challenging experiences everThis is a brilliant strategy game that no fan of the genre, especially fans of turn based games, should pass up. The easy and normal difficulties make the single player portion of the game new-player friendly, while the classic and impossible difficulties, combined in the Ironman (autosave only) option transform this game into one of the most tactical and challenging experiences ever created.

    But i dont like that they dont support mods very well and force you to play the game their way    … Expand
  43. 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
  44. RingK
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    Overpriced but good DLC full of content... new soldiers types add twists to the solid base game, which i love.
    Now the price dropped and you can find it for 5-10 euros online, totally worth it.
  45. rodericrinehart
    Jul 22, 2014
    10
    I would put this game in the pantheon of strategy games, without question. SCORE: 97/100.

    I loved this game from start to finish and everything about the tactical gameplay is amazing and engaging. There are a great variety of classes (with upgrade paths, ranks, and different equipment) and enemies, diverse maps, good base technology and items, and just a complete package that is fun and    I would put this game in the pantheon of strategy games, without question. SCORE: 97/100.

    I loved this game from start to finish and everything about the tactical gameplay is amazing and engaging. There are a great variety of classes (with upgrade paths, ranks, and different equipment) and enemies, diverse maps, good base technology and items, and just a complete package that is fun and replayable.

    This is a game that you will play again, and you will be glad you did.    … Expand
  46. Derythor
    Jul 2, 2014
    7
    The expansion is pretty decent. I love using the MEC's and augmenting my soldiers. I do regret that they didn't add an additional story arch to the game, however. While the addition of a rival organization was a nice touch, it was pretty well the only portion of the story that was added. What it boils down to is if you have beaten Enemy Unknown, you've beaten Enemy Within.
  47. 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
  48. LD9000
    Jun 28, 2014
    10
    This game is the definition of the AAA title. Fun all the way through, great visuals, sound and nice plot twists. Saving the earth has never felt that good before :)
  49. Sghignifiss
    Jun 19, 2014
    8
    The game is good, graphics are wonderful, action is fast paced even if it plays in turns, weapons are many and various, the story is intriguing and long lasting... It IS a good game, and that upsets me, somehow. Call me extremist, but I really didn't think to appreciate a new, action oriented x-com clone. When I see the name X-Com, I cannot avoid to remember the original one and all itsThe game is good, graphics are wonderful, action is fast paced even if it plays in turns, weapons are many and various, the story is intriguing and long lasting... It IS a good game, and that upsets me, somehow. Call me extremist, but I really didn't think to appreciate a new, action oriented x-com clone. When I see the name X-Com, I cannot avoid to remember the original one and all its beloved features, features that aren't entirely here. This game recalls the original one, but nothing more. It is a modern, console oriented, arcade mode of the original X-Com: Enemy Unknown and its early successors.

    It is fun, it is good, it is maybe too easy but still engaging.

    If it had a different name I would give it a 10.    … Expand
  50. Tibster
    Jun 18, 2014
    10
    Its a good 8 imo, but to many ppl giving it 0, cus they have no clue or dont understad the game or how computers work. So i gave it a 10 to compansate a little!
  51. mrlordloganman
    Jun 16, 2014
    10
    This added on soo many great additions to an already great game and I added on over 50+ hours to a game I had already played for 60+ hours. This content was perfectly integrated into the already almost perfect game. 10/10
  52. 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
  53. Miskin
    May 29, 2014
    10
    It's an interesting expansion, I give it an 8 for mundane colors (some colors wouldn't hurt) and unbalanced difficulty (too hard in the beginning too easy in the end).

    I loved the mission at the fishing village by the way...

    ** EDIT ** Updated my score from 8 to 10. 430h on steam and still playing it, it has endless replayability. I only wish we had more content...
  54. DanteV
    May 23, 2014
    10
    Brilliant mechanics, awesome gameplay, cool new features like MEC-trooper and augmented soldier, new enemy like Exalt forces definitely make this a great expansion.
  55. C_Arnoud
    Apr 18, 2014
    9
    Very good all around, adding a lot of improvements to what already was a quality product. Also adds some more randomness to the campaign, which was needed.
  56. 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
  57. 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
  58. tiaga
    Mar 19, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. THIS IS EPIC!!! Did I get your attention? Good.

    Now then, the first thing I liked about this DLC was the fact at some point or another you actually get to defend inside your own base. It's just like the old X-com from the 90's. The whole "LOOK MA I'M A ROBOT" with cool, chunky looking mechs that could have come from a anime is a great touch!!! I also love the genetic changes that even further customize the look and play of your characters.

    My biggest love for this game is the well balanced difficulty and limited resources that really make you think before you buy gear and sell stuff on the grey market. If your really good at the game, it doesn't really matter what difficulty you play. Must of the time I just obliterate something the same turn I see it. (Classic). Overall, I would strongly recommend this game for those that love turn based and strategy.    … Expand
  59. axxiusdecius
    Mar 12, 2014
    9
    first thing first, i think Xcom EW is by far the best turn based squad tactical game so far. The weapons are well done (they feel different in effects), so it does matter very much how you compose your squad. The alien enemies are quite varied and require very different approach; the battlefields are also very various (and random). The improvements you research for your guns or armourfirst thing first, i think Xcom EW is by far the best turn based squad tactical game so far. The weapons are well done (they feel different in effects), so it does matter very much how you compose your squad. The alien enemies are quite varied and require very different approach; the battlefields are also very various (and random). The improvements you research for your guns or armour really make a difference, the genetic upgrades not so much, but they still are an interesting addition. Th new stuff compared tot the original Enemy Unknown really does have a big impact on the gameplay.
    What i love most about the game? The feeling of really getting sucked in, getting involved, especially during the fight. And the non-combat part, about building a base, raising an air fleet, doing research. And also the "Mass Effect" setting, with harsh men improving themselves technically, genetically and mentally against tough odds and fighting back.
    What i don't like about it? First off, the thing i'm sure many other reviewers already said: the most elite squad of the Earth has...the worst shooters ever. The missing is way too common, too extreme and very, very frustrating: and i think this could have been easily avoided while keeping the same general odds by simply making the missing shots fewer and the alien enemies tougher (with more life/armour). Second, while the story is acceptable and pushes the game forward, many times i found the voice-over just annoying (especially dr. Vahlen has a screechy annoying voice), and cannot be skipped. so if i try a battle a few times for different approaches, i must listen over and over again lengthy, non-useful comments.
    Because of these 2 annoyances that could have been quite easily avoided, i'll rate it 9/10 instead of a full 10, but overall a great game in the 2k tradition (i'm a big Civ fan).    … Expand
  60. 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
  61. alllifeinfate
    Mar 3, 2014
    8
    A standalone follow-up DLC for the surprise hit XCOM - Enemy Unknown that builds on the already solid foundation laid down by that remake and adds new mechanics and enemies to spice it up. While the new addition certainly gives more variety during the gameplay experience but it is not recommended for repeat players if you do not want to spend too much money on it. Perfect entry point forA standalone follow-up DLC for the surprise hit XCOM - Enemy Unknown that builds on the already solid foundation laid down by that remake and adds new mechanics and enemies to spice it up. While the new addition certainly gives more variety during the gameplay experience but it is not recommended for repeat players if you do not want to spend too much money on it. Perfect entry point for newcomers as it eases them in and put you right into the action. Not as far as a new full experience but merely as a glorified expansion pack, it is still a solid jumping point for the original game and a good point for the franchise to go from.… Expand
  62. MadclownJack
    Feb 28, 2014
    8
    Enemy Within just feels like the director's cut of Enemy Unknown. More of the same, with some gaps filled here and there. Still, 40 usd is a bit steep for an obvious expansion pack, even if it is standalone. Might be in your best interest to get it on sale.
  63. 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
  64. ted88pd
    Feb 19, 2014
    8
    Enemy Within è un dlc corposo che offre numerosi e svariati contenuti aggiuntivi, ma che non va ad espandere l'esperienza di gioco in se, questo perché la campagna principale sostanzialmente rimane sempre la stessa di Enemy Unknown, viene infarcita solo con qualche missione in più. Certo i soldati geneticamente modificati e i mec sono belli da vedere e divertenti da usare in gioco, maEnemy Within è un dlc corposo che offre numerosi e svariati contenuti aggiuntivi, ma che non va ad espandere l'esperienza di gioco in se, questo perché la campagna principale sostanzialmente rimane sempre la stessa di Enemy Unknown, viene infarcita solo con qualche missione in più. Certo i soldati geneticamente modificati e i mec sono belli da vedere e divertenti da usare in gioco, ma questi ultimi risultano troppo potenti abbassando il livello di sfida generale, e dopo un po' il tutto comincia a diventare monotono. Apprezzabile il tentativo di bilanciamento aggiungendo nuovi nemici, aumentandone il numero e rendendone alcuni più resistenti, ma alla fine la maggior parte delle situazioni viene risolta con una facilità davvero disarmante. Poco da aggiungere sul comparto sonoro rimasto immutato da Enemy Unknown, l'unica introduzione riguarda il parlato nella lingua d'origine dei soldati. Sulla grafica invece è stato fatto solo un veloce lavoro di miglioramento su alcuni modelli e texture. Purtroppo rimangono immutati anche i bug, di cui un paio davvero gravi e fastidiosi. La telecamera continua a dare grossi problemi rendendo i comandi imprecisi, questo vuol dire che a volte i soldati faranno spostamenti o azioni in punti totalemte diversi da quelli indicati, con consguenze molto spesso catastrofiche. Un altro bug molto fastidioso da segnalare, introdotto con Enemy Within, riguarda il fatto che posizionando i soldati in alcuni punti della mappa, questi non riescono a vedere nemici a poca distanza da loro senza che vi sia nulla di mezzo ad ostacolarne la visione di tiro. Concludendo XCOM Enemy Within e un dlc che consiglierei di prendere solo a chi non ha mai provato nemmeno il gioco base, mentre chi ha gia giocato ad Enemy Unknown dovrebbe pensarci due volte, e considerare di spendere quasi 30€ solo se si è veri appassionati della serie.… Expand
  65. NLS
    Jan 21, 2014
    9
    I score this as "whatever XCOM latest incarnation". This is a 9. Indeed if I take into account that this is an expensive DLC though, indeed it doesn't deserve a 9.
    XCOM:EW is a fine strategy game with some plot.
    Its mechanics work.
    If you like this type of games, go buy it.
  66. shotcaller1
    Jan 20, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really wanted to give this game a 7.5 but it wouldn't let me. The real reasons for this are quite obvious, if you have played the game. First and foremost, the AI (alien invaders) always get in range long before the X-COM defenders can even take a clear shot. Which means, basically, you're a sitting duck for at least a turn before you can engage in combat. This feature is also exacerbated by the fact that the aliens can shoot through, around, over or beyond anything I've ever seen. They also get to move as soon as the X-COM team comes into contact with them, no sneaking up on the enemy and eliminating them like the Navy Seals do. That's something that the X-COM soldiers also cannot do, even wearing GHOST armor, The aliens almost never miss, at long range, which is frustrating, because if you go after them aggressively, they will get shots on your guys without them being able to respond or at a huge shot penalty disadvantage. This continues until, and even when the X-COM forces have advanced through the ranks to Major or Colonel. Even at that stage the aliens have longer range and better targeting than the X-COM forces. There is an awful lot of X-COM forces missing 94% shots at close range, leaving men exposed to one last hit by the alien enemies. One example was where I had played to the end of an alien ship landing and barely escaped disaster from an attacking Monstrous Sectopod and 3 heavy floaters, only to be suddenly ambushed by a muton, 2 muton elite, a muton berserker and a psi-commander before I had the opportunity to reload or use medkits for a couple of hits I took. Needless to say, I thought I had everything under control but 3 of my best guys missed 85% to 94% shots consecutively and one of my best guys got killed. How does that happen and why? These are supposed to be Elite X-COM super soldiers that have been genetically modified. What's up with that?
    Anyway, I happen to like turn based games but this one seems to be a little chaotic when it comes to being player friendly, so to speak. I don't think anyone likes getting killed just before they get across the finish line. One last desperate shot killed my X-COM Colonel. Dammit!!!!!!
    The game is good and entertaining but paying for genetic modifications (great idea) and MEC's (which I don't like) along with a couple of new aliens and a few extra missions , doesn't really seem like it's that much better for the money. Don't misunderstand me, I like what they did, aside from the MEC thing, which I think could have been turned into a different game altogether, but it could have been much better at the same price. I also think that basically having just one team of X-COM soldiers is a little short sighted and perhaps future DLC can adjust the narrow focus of this game.
    I also think that having a few more levels with a few more perks for the soldiers would have been good for the game, (like not missing shots above 80% perhaps) and adding a few more psi powers and maybe being able to choose rank upgrades from the start and more than just 2 per rank, would be a somewhat major improvement.. More customized abilities for each character/soldier and maybe a little higher attribute scores every once in a while. It's a huge waste of time and resources to buy and train soldiers to get attribute scores like 34 will and 55 aim. That is just not going to cut it in X-COM. And perhaps, a way of obtaining a bit more funding in the early game so it doesn't stagger the progression so much until there isn't anything left to research or build.
    Nevertheless, the alien attack on X-COM headquarters was a purely brilliant idea and a handful of creative ideas like that would have made this addition a blockbuster. I also think that the Exalt faction is a huge step in the right direction but could have been better and perhaps a little better explanation of what the icons were there for and why. But, alas it wasn't to be.
    Hope there is another DLC to this game from 2K soon.    … Expand
  67. Kenmei
    Jan 18, 2014
    8
    This was a good expansion that really built on what the original did, with a few drawbacks that kept it from being great. First of all, this game won't try to claim it's another game in the series. This is an expansion and it's meant to be viewed that way. It adds alot of new things to the table. New units, new enemies, new maps, new challenges, etc. It gives you everything a goodThis was a good expansion that really built on what the original did, with a few drawbacks that kept it from being great. First of all, this game won't try to claim it's another game in the series. This is an expansion and it's meant to be viewed that way. It adds alot of new things to the table. New units, new enemies, new maps, new challenges, etc. It gives you everything a good expansion should. However, with all the new units and how powerful they are out of the box, it can make the game a bit too easy. The challenge of the original game is dumbed down a bit for these new units and an increased time on R&D is not enough of a drawback here. The biggest thing however is that the story doesn't change. While you are given a new faction to play against (the Exalt), you're still doing the same old missions, in the same old places, with the same old objectives, barring a few missions here and there. But this is an xpac for a reason and it doesn't try to be a full game, even if it's priced a bit too high right now for an xpac. This content is easily worth 20 bucks and it'll give you a reason to go back through the Xcom story. But the end results are the same here as in the first game so don't expect a brand new story. Expect a solid expansion that adds onto what was already there.… Expand
  68. Violett
    Jan 18, 2014
    7
    Very good game, nice addition to original. But ... this game should be the part of Enemy Unknown, basically 80% of the game - is you played it already in original, same beginning, same ending. Of course genetic and cybernetic elements adds much fun to it, especially when you play Terminator mode, but I already completed this game year ago. If you didnt play original game you gonna like it.Very good game, nice addition to original. But ... this game should be the part of Enemy Unknown, basically 80% of the game - is you played it already in original, same beginning, same ending. Of course genetic and cybernetic elements adds much fun to it, especially when you play Terminator mode, but I already completed this game year ago. If you didnt play original game you gonna like it.
    p.s. I hate way of modern game developers - to develop a game than divide it into several parts and sell as dlcs. Please instead of one 20 usd game and 3 10 usd dlcs make 50 usd game with all dlcs included.    … Expand
  69. hosein_rasouli
    Jan 18, 2014
    9
    it was so great game i think xcom:ew is best Extension pack its make that game perfect and that is a reason to play this game again and again. but some thing was wrong .Exalt missions. its was good to play more missions but that was better be another aline race inversion. exalt missions was funny look like that : (hey aliens attack us let kill humans ) . ew was great Extension packit was so great game i think xcom:ew is best Extension pack its make that game perfect and that is a reason to play this game again and again. but some thing was wrong .Exalt missions. its was good to play more missions but that was better be another aline race inversion. exalt missions was funny look like that : (hey aliens attack us let kill humans ) . ew was great Extension pack not a game and i give that score for best Extension pack of year not for game… Expand
  70. WLGMan
    Jan 12, 2014
    9
    This is a great game. It would have been 10 out of 10 IF Some of the bugs were fixed for multiplayer and they should have changed the story.
    But the new units are great everything is just great in the game (Except The Bugs).
    The New Enemies like EXALT Are so well done! And second of all The AI Was Rebalanced so they can use Grenades, Medkits etc. (I'm Talking About EXALT here). EXALT    This is a great game. It would have been 10 out of 10 IF Some of the bugs were fixed for multiplayer and they should have changed the story.
    But the new units are great everything is just great in the game (Except The Bugs).
    The New Enemies like EXALT Are so well done!
    And second of all The AI Was Rebalanced so they can use Grenades, Medkits etc. (I'm Talking About EXALT here).
    EXALT is like so meant to be there!
    The Aliens Oh boy The Seeker and the Mechtoids are Awesome.
    If you want to find out why EXALT is there why don't you take a while to think. Why Are they doing Anti-XCOM Projects? Why Are They Not killing the aliens?
    And when you lose like a Colonel in your squad you are like NOOOOO!!!
    Oh right! The new units! The MECs love MECs and Getting a gene modded unit in your squad? THATS AWESOME!!
    Well that's all I have to say for now!    … Expand
  71. Battlemankiller
    Jan 10, 2014
    10
    If nothing else, Enemy Within gave me a reason to replay XCOM, and boy was it worth it. There is just so much more to do and enjoy. If you like Enemy Unknown, you will love Enemy Within!
  72. MeteorBear
    Jan 10, 2014
    9
    Great expansion, if not for the bugs on the PS3 edition I would give it a 10. The game does feel a little unbalanced at times now too, but nothing critical.
  73. poisonedyouth
    Jan 7, 2014
    10
    While it doesn't reinvent the wheel here, it adds some interesting new variety to an already superb tactical strategy game. If you enjoyed Enemy Unknown, do yourself a favor and expand the experience further!
  74. 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.
  75. 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
  76. 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
  77. 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
  78. Klun
    Dec 17, 2013
    8
    Really good game if you can play with the expansion pack, new content with tons of new stuff that improves a really amazing game to new levels .

    Tons of bugs fixed, improved performance and polished graphics/ fx its well worth the money especially in this blockbuster era of 8 hours longs campaigns and 2 map 4 costumes DLC. ^^
  79. 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
  80. orctown-troll
    Dec 13, 2013
    10
    Great set of enhancement for an already great game. More maps. More campaign elements, more inventory to manage. While the new additions of meld and medals may make the endgame easier on easy setting, they won't help you on classic or impossible ironman so much. The criticism that this makes the game too easy are invalidated by the fact that the game has hard settings, and ways to evenGreat set of enhancement for an already great game. More maps. More campaign elements, more inventory to manage. While the new additions of meld and medals may make the endgame easier on easy setting, they won't help you on classic or impossible ironman so much. The criticism that this makes the game too easy are invalidated by the fact that the game has hard settings, and ways to even make it harder from there. Arguments that the expansion is overpriced ignore the fact that this is targeted at people who already play the game and want more. In this context the price is reasonable. Indeed I'm surprised that fans of the game would not be happy to expand their play experience and support the developers at the same time, with a price that is good for everyone. If you like X-COM Enemy this is a no-brainer, get it today. If you are in here giving it a red score on the basis of price, you are a no-brainer, who probably needs to get a job.

    Orctowngrot.    … Expand
  81. Jackdiesatthend
    Dec 9, 2013
    9
    As an expansion to the hit strategy game Xcom Enemy Unknown (or basically a goty edition for PS3 and 360) Enemy Within delivers. A new MEC Class which is essentially a big robot squad member, a new seeker alien which can cloak it's land strangle your squad members (very very irking, perfect for this type of game), new very much needed maps, and a new human enemy forcing you to fightAs an expansion to the hit strategy game Xcom Enemy Unknown (or basically a goty edition for PS3 and 360) Enemy Within delivers. A new MEC Class which is essentially a big robot squad member, a new seeker alien which can cloak it's land strangle your squad members (very very irking, perfect for this type of game), new very much needed maps, and a new human enemy forcing you to fight differently than the original alien threat. There's also a medal system and biotic upgrades for purchase through a new currency called meld. Meld is obtained through canisters found throughout the map that disappear after a number of turns, forcing you to weigh risk and reward and move quickly to obtain them. For the price tag of thirty dollars on PC, it's worth.

    NOW MOVING ONTO CONSOLES
    If you didn't play Enemy Unknown, but you want to, just mosey on over to Enemy Within and get that instead. It comes with EU, EW, and the Slingshot DLC. Now if you already have Enemy Unknown on your console, I do not recommend Enemy Within at the price tag of forty dollars. Why? Well mostly because it doesn't share a trophy/achievement set nor do saves from Enemy Unknown carry over. But if you're anything like me you're starting over a lot anyway because you suck donkey dongle but you won't take the game off Ironman because you ain't no punk biatch. But I digress, if you want to shell out forty dollars, and you don't care about your trophies and saves, this update really really enhances the game.

    The verdict is a buy/10. Edge: PC.    … Expand
  82. Loodwig
    Dec 8, 2013
    9
    Something is lost within the gaming community that faults a title for its price given the content within. When I first played Enemy Unknown, I happily paid the full price for what I felt was a true spiritual successor to the original. Actually, I'll go one step further: it was an improvement on one of my favorite games of the 90s. They released a handful of updates that were a few bucksSomething is lost within the gaming community that faults a title for its price given the content within. When I first played Enemy Unknown, I happily paid the full price for what I felt was a true spiritual successor to the original. Actually, I'll go one step further: it was an improvement on one of my favorite games of the 90s. They released a handful of updates that were a few bucks for some new armor, or a little more for a minor chain of missions (Slingshot), but all and all I found myself struggling to beat Classic on Ironman, while having a fun time just killing anything with a pulse using base weapons on the easy level.

    So this expansion came out, it cost a pretty penny ($30), but it wasn't unreasonable. When StarCraft: Broodwars came out, it cost $20, Bill Clinton was president, and the price of gasoline was 1/3rd what it is today. In terms of content, yeah this game doesn't have quite as much as some other expansions, but I wouldn't go so far as to call this light or lacking in any respect. There's considerable new content, and moreover, it's a chance for Firaxis to justify the labor costs of their developers for a while longer.

    It's a fun game, and this expansion is only an improvement. This isn't the nickle-and-dime strategy seen by EA or even Blizzard, and while it has its bugs (frustrating at times), the most egregious ones that I know about have been fixed by now, and the core gameplay hasn't been ruined as a result. You're good game is an even better game.    … Expand
  83. 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
  84. Deathmarch
    Dec 5, 2013
    10
    Further expands on great game. If you ask why I would give it 10 because you have to compare it to whats available now. Seeing only Jagged alliance online in the same category I would give Xcom a 20 but I cant so 10 will have to do. Introduction of MECs, Gene Mods, Exault and a few surprises including the best mission in the whole game the notorious "Fishing Village" have fun
  85. LicoriceManiac
    Dec 5, 2013
    9
    You like XCOM Enemy Unknown.
    You are reading these reviews in hope of answering the question: Should I spend good money on the expansion?
    I know, I have been there... so let me help you decide. There are two kind of xcom players: those who play for hundreds of hours, on ironman, over and over again, and those who play the game once, because let's face it, life is short and there are    You like XCOM Enemy Unknown.
    You are reading these reviews in hope of answering the question: Should I spend good money on the expansion?
    I know, I have been there... so let me help you decide.
    There are two kind of xcom players: those who play for hundreds of hours, on ironman, over and over again, and those who play the game once, because let's face it, life is short and there are hundreds of games out there. The first category, they already have the expoansion, and they are having a blast... I know, I became one of them... Now the second category, your category. You know going through the game again is a 20-30 hour journey, so is it worth the money to play the same game again?
    What the expansion offers is more of everything: more baddies, more mission variety, more gadgets and more ways to power-up your soldiers. Is it different enough to justify a replay? Do you like watching new iterations/reboots of superhero movies? Same idea. Similar enough that you know what to expect, different enough that it gives fresh sensations and even a few wtf moments.
    Your money, your choice. If you are not a hardcore XCOM player, and have steam, and you have already waited this long, I would recommend to wait for a sale, but then definitely get it.    … Expand
  86. sherbz
    Dec 3, 2013
    9
    This is a solid expansion and well worth the money. Firaxis have built on what was already an excellent game and made it even better. Its like they have combined 2 of my favorite games of the 1990's Syndicate and enemy unknown. My only criticism is that the game still plays out in a fairly linear fashion and strategic options in the worldview are fairly limited. There are also aThis is a solid expansion and well worth the money. Firaxis have built on what was already an excellent game and made it even better. Its like they have combined 2 of my favorite games of the 1990's Syndicate and enemy unknown. My only criticism is that the game still plays out in a fairly linear fashion and strategic options in the worldview are fairly limited. There are also a number of scripted missions and minor balancing issues. That said though, the real meat of the game, the tactical combat, plays out superbly and the new toys you get to play with make an already great game even better.… Expand
  87. QuantumX
    Dec 1, 2013
    10
    The new XCOM games is excellent, a true modern re-make of the original games... I cannot stress enough that i really liked this game.. The expansion just makes a good game, an excellent game! For me there are not games like this one...
  88. Mikimax
    Nov 27, 2013
    8
    The original XCOM was a great game, but this expansion really expands it in many ways. The game is now more interesting and maybe easier then before (if you play smart). New units and techs are great, although EXALT missions are repetitive and boring after a while.
  89. James009
    Nov 24, 2013
    9
    A fantastic expansion which adds an enjoyable amount of new content including missions, maps, enemies, buildings, items, customization options, and adds new storyline. The additions of the new enemy faction are a welcome relief from the regular alien squashing. Genetic engineering and the MEC labs are also enjoyable new addition which will change your previous badass into a superhumanA fantastic expansion which adds an enjoyable amount of new content including missions, maps, enemies, buildings, items, customization options, and adds new storyline. The additions of the new enemy faction are a welcome relief from the regular alien squashing. Genetic engineering and the MEC labs are also enjoyable new addition which will change your previous badass into a superhuman killing machine. I hope they continue working on more content for XCOM because this just revived the game again.… Expand
  90. MikeMaximus
    Nov 24, 2013
    8
    It adds great gameplay features to an already great game, with all the features added the campaign will feel new even though it's the same. It's a bit pricey, but if you shopped around you could have got it for a 20 dollar pre-order and i'm sure it'll be on sale over the holidays. The AI seems to have gotten a bit of an overhaul and uses high ground, supression, overwatch, flanking moreIt adds great gameplay features to an already great game, with all the features added the campaign will feel new even though it's the same. It's a bit pricey, but if you shopped around you could have got it for a 20 dollar pre-order and i'm sure it'll be on sale over the holidays. The AI seems to have gotten a bit of an overhaul and uses high ground, supression, overwatch, flanking more effectively. Tweaks to the meta-game like facility adjacency bonus' are also welcome. My minor complaints are that the difficulty curve can be a bit wonky at the start, especially if you've played through the campaign multiple times already and move the story ahead too quickly, the scripted story missions will start throwing very difficult aliens at you way before you're adequately ready to handle them. This in combination with the accuracy estimates seeming to be being a little off or having a new hidden penalty, it can get frustrating, especially on classic or higher difficulty. If you loved Enemy Unknown you'll love Enemy Within, if you didn't, it hasn't changed anything that's going to make you like it.… Expand
  91. 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.
  92. 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
  93. tmasterr
    Nov 23, 2013
    10
    Great game. Great expansion. It let me replay the game I had already enjoyed again with new surprises, new maps, new units etc.

    Started at only $30 dollars, too! Not bad, considering I've already put 30 more hours into it. Sounds cheap to me!
  94. Fritzworth
    Nov 23, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Even when I've uninstalled all my Steam games (something I do regularly), XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the one I re-install when I really need to play something. Still, in most cases I don't play through to the mothership finale I just see if I can get satellites over all countries w/no defections and research my way through both the Lab and the Foundry. At that point, the end of the game is a foregone conclusion, and I start a new one.

    XCOM: Enemy Within brings a whole new complexity and expansiveness to the game. I love the MEC and gene engineering options, and having multiple plot threads (aliens, EXALT, Progeny) makes the game feel a lot larger. Likewise, I love the new maps and the repurposing of some of the old ones; now, having an old map in the original orientation and use provokes more of a "OK, I know how to do this one" reaction rather than a "[Sigh] Not again" reaction. And, as others have noted, the Meld issue forces me to move a bit more aggressively and recklessly than I normally do.

    What I'd love to see in future DLC (besides more maps and maybe a few more scenarios) is some form of "Search and Respond" mission that you can initiate at any time in effect, to provide a setting to experiment in and to advance rookies. What you encounter could range anywhere from a stray cow (and maybe a Meld pillar) to an EXALT safe house to a standard alien encounter to an overwhelming flood of aliens (with you having to make a successful retreat while being pressed and attacked on all sides).

    I have a few complaints (spoilerish) the EXALT HQ raid seemed a bit easy, while the "Operation Progeny" scenario comes a bit late in the game to have the impact that I'd like it to have (in terms of adding talented personnel). On the other hand, the 'Enemy Within' event was a true "Oh, crap!" moment.

    Excellent DLC for an excellent game, well worth the price.    … Expand
  95. Asaghon
    Nov 23, 2013
    10
    If you liked EU you will certainly like this. I was worried MECs would unbalance the game like panzers did in silent storm but they will die quite fast if your reckless on classic. And the rush for meld makes the game alot more intense as well.
    The new exalt faction is a nice addition as well, though some more mission types would be nice. But its a different expierence than fighting    If you liked EU you will certainly like this. I was worried MECs would unbalance the game like panzers did in silent storm but they will die quite fast if your reckless on classic. And the rush for meld makes the game alot more intense as well.
    The new exalt faction is a nice addition as well, though some more mission types would be nice. But its a different expierence than fighting aliens.
    The new maps are great as well, finally some more variety.
    I'l really enjoying the expansion and its well worth the price for me.    … Expand
  96. apox
    Nov 22, 2013
    10
    Great expansion refreshes the Enemy Unknown experience. None of the new features fundamentally change the gameplay already established in Enemy Unknown but they do add some significant new variety to the game, including new maps, some new enemies and new upgrades to your troops.

    Part of me still yearns for a more in depth experience as in the original XCom games, but this was also    Great expansion refreshes the Enemy Unknown experience. None of the new features fundamentally change the gameplay already established in Enemy Unknown but they do add some significant new variety to the game, including new maps, some new enemies and new upgrades to your troops.

    Part of me still yearns for a more in depth experience as in the original XCom games, but this was also frustrating at times (how many ammo clips do I give each soldier?!). EU/EW greatly streamlines the experience and lets you focus on the more fun aspects, the battles, research, resource management, etc.

    Gathering meld now forces you to explore maps faster than you might otherwise (especially on harder difficulties) and introduces new upgrades for your soldiers: MECs, which are awesome cyborg soldiers, and gene modifications to improve your regular troops. The satisfaction of a MEC punching an alien through a wall never gets old, though be careful you don't also destroy something you didn't mean to! The only downside is that later in the game these allow you to really upgrade your troops and leads to most missions becoming quite easy (unlike the first couple of in-game months which are really difficult).

    The human Exalt forces are another fun new twist, offering a quite different experience to alien hunting. With no need to capture them alive and equivalent weapons/armour/tech in the early mid game, they can be fairly challenging, or you can just grab rockets and grenades and destroy everything. I feel they could have built this more into a story with more cutscenes or backstory but I still enjoyed it.

    A few other great features: soldiers can speak their own languages, base attacks and enemy mechs are more robust than in the original.

    Some of the mechanics of the game I feel are a little too scripted, more so than the originals. While this ensures a more consistent experience, it also reduces the replayability significantly. I can't see myself picking this up many more times, though the recently added 'second wave' options allow you to change a number of game mechanics e.g. soldiers can have randomly generated abilities and stats.

    I've only experience two minor bugs during my playthrough, so I don't see any major issues there at all, and the game looks and sounds as good as ever with it's distinctive B-movie feel. I feel the price is fair for the amount of time you can spend on the new features. It's still one of my favourite games of recent years and this expansion just adds to it.    … Expand
  97. GarrettH
    Nov 21, 2013
    7
    There was some really good additions to the game, but I would say it's fundamentally flawed. Before the expansion, the end game was pretty easy and the hardest are the first few months. With all the new toys they give you, they had to crank up the difficulty and add new enemies. This makes the earlier months even tougher, and the end game even easier :(

    They didn't even scale or change    There was some really good additions to the game, but I would say it's fundamentally flawed. Before the expansion, the end game was pretty easy and the hardest are the first few months. With all the new toys they give you, they had to crank up the difficulty and add new enemies. This makes the earlier months even tougher, and the end game even easier :(

    They didn't even scale or change the end mission to account for all of the enemy within changes!    … Expand
  98. Stormwolf
    Nov 21, 2013
    8
    Great expansion for a already good game, I really enjoyed the way it changed the overal gameplay.

    My only complaints are: - It might be a bit too expensive for a expansion - The late game can be somewhat easy when you have heavily gene-modded troops along with maxed out MEC's. - Base attack isn't all that great when compared to the original. In the original you would be wise to    Great expansion for a already good game, I really enjoyed the way it changed the overal gameplay.

    My only complaints are:
    - It might be a bit too expensive for a expansion
    - The late game can be somewhat easy when you have heavily gene-modded troops along with maxed out MEC's.
    - Base attack isn't all that great when compared to the original. In the original you would be wise to design your base to have choke points where the enemy would enter (elevator and hangars).

    But other then that then that, a great game.    … Expand
  99. PeregrineOmega
    Nov 21, 2013
    10
    Firaxis and 2K deserve a Nobel prize for restoring faith in modern PC game expansion. Enemy Within is complete, polished, and full of goodies that not only expand the game, but actually improve on what was already a great product.

    It's still a tough game that isn't afraid to be challenging, yet it throws a diverse assortment of interesting upgrade paths, cool weapons, super soldiers and    Firaxis and 2K deserve a Nobel prize for restoring faith in modern PC game expansion. Enemy Within is complete, polished, and full of goodies that not only expand the game, but actually improve on what was already a great product.

    It's still a tough game that isn't afraid to be challenging, yet it throws a diverse assortment of interesting upgrade paths, cool weapons, super soldiers and much more new content than most of the so-called "DLC" packages we see these days. This might just be the best Expansion Pack since Lord of Destruction. Well worth the price of entry.    … Expand
  100. meediocre
    Nov 20, 2013
    7
    Talk about upping the difficulty! The first Exalt mission wiped out more than half my crew then suddenly in the next mission I'm up against some kind of mech-robot-monster with a shield and plasma weapons when I've literally only just managed to get some laser rifles. I tried it on Classic difficulty and was summarily annihilated after three missions, then I tried normal mode on IronmanTalk about upping the difficulty! The first Exalt mission wiped out more than half my crew then suddenly in the next mission I'm up against some kind of mech-robot-monster with a shield and plasma weapons when I've literally only just managed to get some laser rifles. I tried it on Classic difficulty and was summarily annihilated after three missions, then I tried normal mode on Ironman and could not get get my head round how even with scopes my team was missing 70+ percent shots and they were taking out my squad with one or two hits with carapace armour. Maybe I've had a bad role of the dice, but I relatively easily completed Unknown, so I'm not a tactical idiot. Basically, it's a nice add-on and I will try again, but the steep and rather unfairly harshness of the various challenges have proven to be a bit frustrating this time round. I also could not seem to find time, to get enough satellites and planes in the air to stop panic levels around various countries. I was investing in power and uplinks but the aliens were coming in too fast.

    Guess some of you who've completed this expansion in a day will be chuckling to yourself. Rarely do I mark a game down for its punishing difficulty level, so if it were a bit more balanced/fair from the start then it would get an 8. I hear it gets easier at the end-game stage when you have all the upgrades and veteran soldiers, but alas, those pesky new enemies might prevent me from saving the earth this time!    … 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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