XCOM Enemy Unknown (PS3/360/PC) review

[Greg Moss]

I've been quietly cautious about this since it was announced, as I used to love the XCOM games way back when, remember getting a demo of Terror from the deep off of a PC mag and playing it constanly until I could afford the full game. So didn't want to get too excited, only to get dissapointed by this new one. That said when I read on eurogamer that the (5.4GB) demo was available to download on steam, I may have legged it downstairs to the PC.

Demo gives you 2 missions to play through, one tutorial where there is a lot of hand holding as it explains the controls etc. then another either in China or USA, you only get to choose one, the one you choose gives you a bonus, while mass panic begins in the other area. Obviously you don't get any idea of the overall effect this has, as the demo ends when you finish the second mission.

Graphically I'm not going to comment, my PC is running like shit at the moment, so I've turned some of the graphics options down. It plays however, exactly as I would expect it too, and I absolutely love it. You start with 4 characters, although it does look like you can increase this to at least 6, going by the look of the character select screen. Each person gets 2 moves, or 1 long dashing sprint (hopefully to some cover), then the alien takes it's turn. To be honest, I did find the mission I did to be really easy, although given that it's the first mission in the game I suppose it would be, I will be playing through again to play the USA mission, partly because I want to see if I can change the difficuly and partly because I just want to play it again. I wish the demo let you have a proper look at developing weapons, and just what effect mass panic has on an area, but thats something to look forward to in the full game, which I will now be purchasing on day one.

[rmoxon]

Researching the alien tech you find and building stuff with it was always the best bit of the original Xcom games for me. It was a very unique game and to this day still hasnt been replicated (at leats not well).

Without knowing if they have got that part of the game right its impossible to know if this is worth a purchase for me.

[Synthesthesia]

I absolutely loved the demo and right now, this is probably my most wanted game of the year. I wish the demo had been more than just 1 tutorial mission and 1 short mission though, I would have liked to have seen how the upgrades would pan out. Even if it was just seeing the fruition of the one you choose after the tutorial mission that would have been fine.

I tried playing it with both the mouse and with a 360 pad, and to be honest I think I prefer it with the 360 pad, it feels more streamlined somehow. Still not sure which platform I want it on but I definitely want to buy it.

[Kaido]

I've been looking forward to this for ages and probably on pc to play with 360 pad for best graphics, although I may get it on x360 for resale value... depends if any of them drop in price while I'm finishing skyward sword

[Greg Moss]

I'm also undecided on which system I'm going to buy on at the moment lol.

Had another go at the demo, unfortuantly the other mission is exactly the same, picked the USA mission this time and ended up in the same place with the same enemies, still loved it though.

[MisterBubbles]

I just tried the demo on the PS3, im totally blown away and the atmosphere and cinematics are top notch and are expertly done, loved a bit of strategy, use to love Laser Squad and the original XCOM, pity this is coming out now, as i feel it may get lost in all the RE6, borderlands 2, dishonored hype thats going on, which will be sad as it seems top notch and reviews says 70 missions could be better value.

[mugetsu]

man thats a blast from the past, laser squad on c64 was brilliant.

[Guts]

The demo was short, but I'd say it delivered even though most of the options for base etc. were locked out. I'd rather play this on a PC, but my rig is too old so at the moment 360 or PS3 are my options, the pad control worked fine but I have feeling it'd be better with a mouse. But yeah, the game felt good and there're not too many big turn-based strategy games around these days so this should be a no-brainer for fans of the genre.

[hush]

i just downloading it am going to give it a go tonight

[briareos_kerensky]

My Steam says it will unlock in 8 or so hours...does it come out earlier in the UK?