We don’t see quite as many strategic games on the Xbox One as the game we`ve had the chance to get our hands on. For those who are fans of the XCOM series, will remember from the previous entry to the XCOM franchise back on the Xbox 360, Enemy Unknown, it had a very strong focus on strategic planning and how you would deploy your team in the best way possible to wipe out the aliens. Well, 4 years later after the 2012 reboot of the franchise, XCOM 2 has launched, and it`s a game that truly carries on the XCOM traditions of strategic planning and deployment. But is it a good instalment to the franchise? Does it do the franchise well? Or will it turn out to be a flop?
XCOM 2 is the latest instalment to the XCOM series, and has been developed by Firaxis Games, and published by 2K Games. It follows the game 20 years after the happenings and story of XCOM Enemy Unknown, and follows the story of the group XCOM, who are busy trying to fight off an alien race, and their occupation on Earth. It was released on next-gen consoles on the 30th September worldwide, although it has been on the PC and steam market for a few months now.
Now, XCOM 2 follows the strategic approach that XCOM Enemy Unknown did, and it`s a game that relies heavily on patience, looking around the area for how you can flank the aliens and wipe them out, and a game that you`re going to need to fully use the resources available to you, and it`s all about utilizing them the best way you possibly can. You`re going to need to know when to strike the aliens with a sword attack, courtesy of one of your squad, when to use the Overwatch strike option, where you`ll have one of your squad wipe out anything in sight that moves. It uses a pretty simple configuration in terms of controls, and something that you`ll easily be able to get the hang on. You`ll need to wipe out the aliens, use hacking devices to hack into enemy territory, and be the best squad commander and strategic planner you are. It`s a game that requires a lot of patience and a tactical approach. Of course, that`s what XCOM have built up their games for and is probably the key focus for them in terms of gameplay style, and that certainly feels the way when playing through the game.
There`s lots of new gear and equipment to get your head around in this game, as you can imagine with any new instalment. New weapon, features, enemies, and units are just to name a few. It`s a game that also feels smooth in terms of its loading times and graphical capability. It`s not a game that`s going to offer you a striking beautiful picture, but with it being capped at 30fps, it is a game that`s going to offer you smoothness in terms of its rates, and that`s something that was not apparent when the game launched earlier in the year on PC. It`s a game that`s been worked on well though and not released to the public in an un-playable state. We`ve seen a few games in the past few months that have been released in a really poor state, and especially when it comes to the big AAA titles, it`s something that I hate seeing. Firaxis have got it spot on.
It offers something quite unique in terms of its gameplay and genre, and even if you`ve not been someone to play an XCOM game before, then it`s a game that`s perhaps worth looking at. It`ll offer you edge of seat mechanics, and something that`s quite different in terms of the game it is on the market. Nothing more than being right near the end of the level, with your sole survivor of your squad, only to make the wrong move and be killed, and have to start back from that checkpoint. It` s something that will offer you a good strategy and tactically aware game.
With all that being said, I found it quite difficult at times, as I`m so use to just running straight into the heart of the action, and shooting and killing enemies galore. I don’t tend to play any stealthy games or anything that requires me to be quiet when it comes to killing enemies. My natural instinct is just to wipe them out anyway I possibly can. Being a XCOM member you`re going to need to be smart. I talk a lot in this review about strategy and being tactically aware, but they really are the two key and main focuses on the game, and something that is apparent throughout all the XCOM games.
XCOM offers a good story, and something different in terms of its mechanics and gameplay style to what`s on the market. Lots of new features and additional content have been added into XCOM 2, and for fans of the XCOM series, it`s a no brainer. But if you`ve not played an XCOM title before, then perhaps is the time to have a look at it. If you like being strategic and tactical within games, then it`s a definite look at. It`s a pretty decent addition to the XCOM series, and ones that fans will be happy with.
A huge thank you to XCN for supplying us with a review copy of XCOM 2.
Game: XCOM 2
Developers: Firaxis Games
Publishers: 2K Games
Genre: Turn-Based tactics
Price: £44.99