XCOM: Enemy Unknown

1. kowon

   Aug 3, 2013

   10

   Great strategy game and can be a brain teaser at times you have to plan ahead a lot and 90 percent of new players will fail but will want toGreat strategy game and can be a brain teaser at times you have to plan ahead a lot and 90 percent of new players will fail but will want to replay over and over For first time since final fantasy games from ps1 and ps2 era I actually got attached to a few of my characters and when they die there dead for good you even get a memorial wall for all fallen heroes and the dlc armor looks fantastic and upgrades with your armor upgrades so its never an outdated skin. Personally I can't find many games like this for ps3 so this title will be a keeper… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
2. GrumpyReviewer

   Jan 6, 2013

   10

   BY FAR, one of the best games of 2012. I picked this up when I bought Assassins Creed 3 and Dishonored and saved it for last (mostly because IBY FAR, one of the best games of 2012. I picked this up when I bought Assassins Creed 3 and Dishonored and saved it for last (mostly because I was more interested in the other ones). WHAT A SURPRISE... I cannot begin to describe HOW ADDICTIVE this game actually is... it has that "civilization addiction", when you keep saying to yourself: "just one more turn; just one more turn; just one more turn"; and when you notice, it's 3 AM. I just can't put it down... think of it as Final Fantasy Tactics meets Front Mission meets Civilization (sort of) plus guns, lots of guns. You manage a base, a squad and customize everything, from facilities, to weapons, to even the soldiers names, nicknames and armor color. And everything under a very cool "alien invasion" atmosphere. Must not be missed... a hidden gem.… Expand

   • 8 of 10 users found this helpful
4. Heisenberg93

   Oct 18, 2016

   9

   In the past I have already appreciated strategy games such as could be Civilization or Stronghold, but I must say that this game has managedIn the past I have already appreciated strategy games such as could be Civilization or Stronghold, but I must say that this game has managed to surprise me even today. I occasionally tried the demo, and then I decided to take it, because its gameplay had convinced me.
   
   Although the plot may seem trivial, because of "alien invasion" is very common in many media, XCOM's plot has been able to capture me and take me back to find out the cause of the arrival of the invaders: what do they want? Why they attack? How we stop them? The plot makes very clear the concept of "enemy unknown"; an enemy of which you literally know nothing. Being the Commander works very well, it really gives the idea of ​​directing a large military operation and I also like the misterious, but great, character of Spokesman. Plot has its twists and ending was really nice, and left me, positively, with a feeling that "something else" was yet to come.
   
   The gameplay of this game is, of course, its strong point. It is complex, but well managed and balanced. Both as regards the management of logistics operations and direct combat, the game succeeds well. The movement of the soldiers in turns, the various actions they can take, as throwing grenades or suppressing fire, their psyche's condition, the essential use of shelters and the calculation in percent of probability to hit. However I must say that in some circumstances this last aspect of the game seemed contradictory: I saw soldiers missing the target behind half-shelter, with a probability of hitting about 85%. Mathematics is not an opinion, but the sense of the ridiculous, and distrust in game's calculating system, can't be denied. Working as a team is required to make it home safe, and soldiers can increase military rank and gain new skills, of their own class, improving and managing to make a difference on the battlefield. However, they can be injured, and having to spend time in the hospital wing, bringing the player to carefully choose the right soldiers and making sure to keep himself ready to the inevitable. As for the management of the base, I was very surprised: every field, from scientific research to engineering and construction of new facilities, it works very well, and their purpose is never vain. Scientific department's researches are essential and autopsies of many aliens' species are very useful and can allow to unlock new items and technologies which will then be built from the engineering department; in addition to this it is possible to develop new weapons and new armor for soldiers, bringing humanity closer to alien's obvious superiority. Constructing new facilities can unlock special bonus to various base's purposes. The management control of Council's nations is very important, and requires judgment and attention, because helping a nation instead of another, it can make a difference. The game is not easy, indeed: in some cases (saving file or not), if time is running out, certain decisions are irreversible. In XCOM everything is calculated on the thread of logic, from time to resources (such as money and electric power), invested; if a nation leaves the Council, there will be consequences, and if at least 8 nations abandon the Council, well - game over. And this possibility always exists. It is a real strategy game, with strong gameplay and requires dedication; I liked quite everything of it, although I must admit that some clashes with the alien forces seemed to me quite exhausting, perhaps too much, and balance of difficulty is always important in a videogame. I have to admit that the fight against the final boss was easier than expected, anyway.
   
   As for the graphics, it is quite good, to be a game in isometric view. The sound is also well done. The optimization on PS3 is not very good; but it is also true that PS3 is a console known for its programming's complexity, so it is a legitimate defect, although some framerate drops are really ridiculous. It could still optimized better, that's for sure.
   
   As for my relationship with strategic games, turn-based and not, XCOM is a masterpiece. It has its flaws, sure, but still is able to amuse and to grant a certain dose of challenge, thanks to the accurate and deep gameplay, it certainly is not a game for casual gamers, and in these times, this makes honor to it. There's a need to games like these and there is a need to people who play them.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
5. Arten

   Oct 10, 2012

   9

   This game was crafted with love. It takes me back to the original. The team at Firaxis should take pride in this one. I was up until the weeThis game was crafted with love. It takes me back to the original. The team at Firaxis should take pride in this one. I was up until the wee hours of the morning hopelessly addicted.… Expand

   • 8 of 11 users found this helpful
6. 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

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
7. yesterdayatnoon

   Oct 21, 2012

   8

   There is a lot of fun to be had with this game, though there are a few unfortunate things to take in to account. The game crashes on missionThere is a lot of fun to be had with this game, though there are a few unfortunate things to take in to account. The game crashes on mission start up during the end game. Line of sight tests awkwardly. You can't move the camera and it's too stupid on its own. Another thing to note is that the game is streamlined, in some cases just the right amount, but in others too much. If you liked building bases and managing multiple transports and troops and tracking multiple UFOs to shoot them down, all that is missing. The lack of free aiming all attacks is also frustrating. However, they made changes to their action point and ammo systems that speed the game up and simplify it only a little.
   
   It would be nice if there were more and more random maps as well as a wider variety of mission types and I would love to see base management revived, but as it stands I can get a lot of fun out of the game. It took me a week to write a review simply because I didn't want to waste Xcom play time till now.… Expand

   • 3 of 3 users found this helpful
8. SOUR_11b

   Nov 10, 2012

   0

   i was loving this game for about an hour, then i was so disgusted that i bought this atrocious game i almost commited suicide. if you lovei was loving this game for about an hour, then i was so disgusted that i bought this atrocious game i almost commited suicide. if you love gaming, then stay far away from this game as possible!… Expand

   • 3 of 28 users found this helpful

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