XCOM: Enemy Unknown

[DomsBeard]

Mr T died on his first mission, I don't think he wanted to get back in the plane!

[Baron Phil]

Out of stock online so I'll definitely be heading into town tomorrow.

I didn't want to pay full price as I'm not sure if this is going to be a game for me but I didn't want rent either it as I knew I'd have to put a bit of time in to get the most out of it.

[Toffer]

After seeing friends play this all weekend, it's top of my Xmas list.. a must have. It looks totally brilliant!

[Dante Fireseed]

finished this last night - loved it from start to finish. As a fan of the originals, I wish it were a bit longer and there was more to build and research as well as the ability to have multiple bases, but these are minor gripes really. Fantastic game and one of my contenders for my personal GOTY.

[DomsBeard]

I need to get back into this, anyone tried the multiplayer yet?

[ratsoalbion]

Sorry, should have bumped this earlier. We're talking XCOM tonight should anyone have anything to say about the game for potential inclusion on the podcast.
Feel free to talk of the original and earlier sequels as well.

[Leg of Time]

First XCOM game I've played...

While the story is largely nonexistent (only really there to link the main combat missions) the mechanics really shine. Lots of tactical options with each turn with repercussions if you make an error.

Perma-death of your soldiers makes sure you're careful when positioning them, and that you use each class to their strengths. Can get very tough at times but not unfairly so (except when it bugs and spawns in enemies right next to your soldiers!)

Can specialise to an extent with the base building but really need to concentrate on satellites to be able to get anywhere, would have preferred a more in depth building system (optional upgrades for each building etc.)

But overall excellent game with lots of replayability

[Buckled Kipper]

Really enjoyed this game. For me theirs a huge gap in the market for this genre on the home consoles. I love a good tactical game but often feel overwhelmed by the pace of most RTS games. For me this is second only to Valkryia Chronicles in this genre, with both games capturing the feeling of loss when you loose a soldier spot on.

[PlexShaw]

I really want to play this but I'm going to wait for the iOS release before deciding which version to get.

[Buckled Kipper]

I have high hopes for the iOS version as it would be the perfect home for this game.

[NokkonWud]

I really want to play this but I'm going to wait for the iOS release before deciding which version to get.

Sounds like you've already decided on the iOS version?

[PlexShaw]

Not really. I didn't like using a controller to play it (based on the demo), so that's the console versions out, so it then comes down to whether I'd prefer KB/M or touchscreen. Price is another factor.

I'd also like to see how it performs on a 3rd gen iPad as that seems to be a bit of a performance black hole in Apple's tablet lineup.

[ratsoalbion]

I'm looking forward to the iOS version, but I have to say that controller input is implemented almost flawlessly on PC/console.

[DomsBeard]

Big fan of the original on the PlayStation and the sequel terror from the deep too. They were both hard as nails but fair, the base management was in depth. After the other X Com trailer I was really disappointed that they weren't going to bring over all the other aspects from the original series and thought they'd sold out.

Then this one was announced and I was made up. Tried to hold off buying it day one but I lasted a week after hearing that it was similar to the original.

I wasn't disappointed, it brought back fond memories as well as being a good game in its own right. The adrenaline rush when you realise you've put one of your team in the firing line accidentally was still as good.

Slight grumble was that the base building was no where near as detailed as the originals but I'll forgive them.

If you're listening to this and not picked it up yet I'd recommend waiting for the ios version if you've got an iPad as it'll be perfect for it.

[ratsoalbion]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05 ... -complete/

Wowee, this is something I need to magic up a fortnight for. Since 2009, the OpenXcom project has been unhurriedly continuing in its quest to make the original X-COM more contemporaneous, – a standalone version that doesn’t require DOSBox, that makes the interface a little more modern, that offers more rule-tweaking for those that want it, that finally kills some of the bugs which have dogged the original for the past two decades, and even one that scales up to mega-resolutions impressively convincingly. As of the new version 0.9, it’s basically got everything working, and you basically get an in theory improved, but faithful, X-COM to play right now.

The main draw is that the thing just runs, and the fixing of legacy issues such as “No more 80-item-limit, personnel limits, funding overflows, disconnected facilities, broken proximity grenades, floating soldier.” If you load up OpenXcom, you’re not going to notice much in the way of obvious change, bar some new options in Settings. Dig a little deeper and you might notice that the controls are more contemporaneous, in a way that you probably didn’t even notice was happening. (Until the issue I keep hitting where scrolling on the keyboard tries to go in a random direction, anyway.) Then you might start noticing a few of the many little things listed here.

Is it to the game’s benefit? I haven’t been able to look at it for more than a few minutes as yet, but knee-jerk impression is very much yes. It’s X-COM that basically runs and responds a little better, as far as I can tell.

While OpenXcom itself is free, you will need data files from the original game in order to play a game. If you don’t already own X-COM in some form, I’m afraid we can’t be friends. It’s very easy to obtain now, via the Steams and GoGs and things, though I don’t believe any proceeds go the game’s original creators, depressingly.