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General Discussion => The Speakeasy: OOG/Off-topic Discussion => Topic started by: Ken on 02 May 2012, 14:35

Title: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 02 May 2012, 14:35
Looks like X-COM (which you may know as "UFO Defense" or "UFO: Enemy Unknown") is set for a rebirth (http://youtu.be/jkJ7ew2rZgw) in the not-too-distant future (Q3 2012).  Very exciting!  Along with SimCity, the original X-COM was one of my first big, meaningful PC gaming experiences.  Who else played this series back in the day?
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Louella Dougans on 02 May 2012, 15:37
X-Com! wewt.

those programmable rockets were hilarious. Also deadly.

So were grenades. wahey, alien grenade, set to detonate immediately, time to throw... whoops, missed.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Graelyn on 02 May 2012, 21:28
In preparation, I've been playing the original, along with remake 'Xenonauts'.

I'm extremely pumped, as well as hopeful about anything coming from the House of Sid Meier.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Gymir Asaadan on 03 May 2012, 11:50
THey better not fuck it up, there was a competing product... trying to find it... http://www.xenonauts.com/ it looks like it is still under development, but no release date, on the upside, looking at the news section it looks like they are still releasing builds so possibly worth it to pre-order for access to "beta"

I'm not holding up high hopes either way, since the original game is still so amazing. I think I still have it on steam...
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 03 May 2012, 15:42
THey better not fuck it up, there was a competing product... trying to find it... http://www.xenonauts.com/ it looks like it is still under development, but no release date, on the upside, looking at the news section it looks like they are still releasing builds so possibly worth it to pre-order for access to "beta"

I'm not holding up high hopes either way, since the original game is still so amazing. I think I still have it on steam...

Yea, Xenonauts (http://www.xenonauts.com/) is in the same vein, but it has a different aesthetic than the Firaxis remake (http://www.xcom.com/enemyunknown/) (the former is supposed to have a vaguely 1970s feel, while the latter appears to be going for a action-hero/classic style).  Neither of those should be confused for the FPS title simply called "X-COM" (http://www.xcom.com/xcom/) that's still forthcoming from 2K Marin (which has a retro 1950s feel).  I'm honestly thrilled that this series is receiving the attention of three separate development teams.  One of them is bound to get it just right, and chances are all three games will at least be fun to play.  There's also a neat indie title called Project Zomboid (http://projectzomboid.com/blog/) that's been slowly growing for a while that has a similar feel to the original X-COM games, but it's about surviving a zombie apocalypse.  Might be worth checking out if you're a fan of classic X-COM.

Edit: Here (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/xcomint/) are some great RPS articles on Enemy Unknown.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Graelyn on 03 May 2012, 17:29
I have Xenonauts, ask me what you want.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Louella Dougans on 05 May 2012, 02:21
I have Xenonauts, ask me what you want.

Who are you, and how did you get in here?
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ghost Hunter on 05 May 2012, 02:52
I have Xenonauts, ask me what you want.

Where is John Conner?
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 05 May 2012, 19:13
Great RPS article on Enemy Unknown here: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/05/05/firaxis-on-xcom-vs-xenonauts-optional-kill-cam/?utm_source=pulsenews&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RockPaperShotgun+%28Rock%2C+Paper%2C+Shotgun%29
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Kala on 10 May 2012, 15:13
Quote
I have Xenonauts, ask me what you want.

Is it funs?  :)
Does it hold up to the original well?
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Graelyn on 13 May 2012, 01:20
It's close, but needs a lot of tweakage.

The difficulty on the ground, and the 'terror' factor isn't there, but the 'overworld' mechanics are quite solid (the interceptor game is quite nice actually).

A lot of the ground problems are due to the alpha state, and the fact that there are only 2 real maps, and things aren't randomly generated yet, so your doing the same mission a hundred times, but that's what you get for testing an alpha.

They made the decision early on to set the game in the 1970's, making f-16s and old MiGs the 'top of the line' tech. It also makes your guys in their armor look dopey (as most stuff in the '70's was). It's an artistic choice, and as much as I try to cope and deal with it, I still don't like it.

Still, a lot of the combat mechanics are a lot less clunky than the original game, while still holding true to TimeUnits and such. That by itself inspires me to fire it up and play.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Kala on 13 May 2012, 09:07
Hrm, well I hope they tweak it so the difficulty and terror factors are there, as that's quite a big draw for me - as well as being a huge source of frustration as I rage and swear at the unfairness of it all as the aliens can apparently see (and shoot) me from further away than I can see them  :evil:

I like that this is keeping time units and stuff, as the firaxis remake (or 'reimagining' if you wish) is more of a departure from the original mechanics (which is fine too, but I am nostalgic).
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 25 Sep 2012, 17:57
Just played through the XCOM Enemy Unknown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZdanb02280&hd=1) demo, which is available on Steam.  You don't see a lot of content in the demo.  It's really just a tutorial mission on rails followed by a very simple counterabduction hit, but it shows off the fucking awesome base, happily murders your troopers, and forces you to deploy to aid either the US or China but not both--pretty much covering all the classic themes of the original.  I am pre-ordering.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Graelyn on 25 Sep 2012, 21:47
Oh shit!

DEMOOOOO
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 26 Sep 2012, 02:27
Oh goodie, a demo.



(Already pre-ordered.)
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Silas Vitalia on 26 Sep 2012, 19:54
Fantastically excited for this.

Demo shows off an earlier build of the engine pretty well, and all the reviews of the full version I've been reading have been outstanding. 

Super, super excited for turn-based competitive multiplayer as well.

....Also my eternal and undying devotion to the first 40k mod for this engine.

Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Safai on 26 Sep 2012, 20:23
Tbh, I initially had pretty low expectations of this. The art style didn't immediately resound with me and was worried they would stray too far from the original in regards to its difficulty and fear effect.

But everything I've seen up to this point, in addition to watching Why Firaxis Loves XCOM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpvQGHCFKpQ), has instilled some hope in me.

Will be checking out the demo soon  :) I hope the first DLC/expansion is Terror From The Deep
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Rok-Yuni on 27 Sep 2012, 15:00
IIRC, the original release of the old version of that game in the UK was called UFO: Enemy Unknown.
The X-COM : preface to the name only actually appearred in X-COM : Terror From The Deep

subsequent re-releases and boxed sets have all had X-COM as the preface but still...

Good to see the original title come back, and with a new version of the game too.

Demo will be downloaded soon.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Safai on 27 Sep 2012, 22:49
Yup the demo was pretty awesome!

Won't be able to spring for it on launch, but it's on the to-acquire list.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Saikoyu on 28 Sep 2012, 11:43
I forgot about this one, have to download the demo tonight.  Never played the first one, but this looks fun. 
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 28 Sep 2012, 11:52
Never played the first one

It's still worth it.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 28 Sep 2012, 17:10
http://youtu.be/uQ3B7XPpPmI

New interactive vid showcasing the gameplay and allowing you to navigate a mission in a choose-your-own-adventure style.  If you never played the original or just want to see more gameplay, this should be a good intro to how the game plays.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 08 Oct 2012, 12:00
Releases at midnight.  It's receiving very good reviews.  http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/xcom-enemy-unknown
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Silas Vitalia on 08 Oct 2012, 12:09
Pre-loaded and ready to stomp some aliens!  ooh-rah!

Steam name is : Takeiteasymon 

I know a few of you will have it and looking forward to some fun multiplayer :)

Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Saikoyu on 08 Oct 2012, 12:33
Why does the good stuff only come out when I don't have the money for it?  *whines some more*

Well, know what's going on my Christmas list. 
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Silas Vitalia on 08 Oct 2012, 14:48
Why does the good stuff only come out when I don't have the money for it?  *whines some more*

Well, know what's going on my Christmas list.

Beg, borrow, or steal. Install.

Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Saikoyu on 08 Oct 2012, 16:45
Why does the good stuff only come out when I don't have the money for it?  *whines some more*

Well, know what's going on my Christmas list.

Beg, borrow, or steal. Install.

Eh, not going to go darkside.

Yet.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 09 Oct 2012, 09:21
Still have to wait three days before it is being released here.  :(
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Silas Vitalia on 09 Oct 2012, 12:01
It's good. It's very good.


I'm playing on 'classic' difficulty, which is damned hard and kicking my ass. Lots and lots of saving and restarting missions.  I'm trying to get through without losing people, I spent hours just getting through a handful of missions with no casualties.

You will curse the heavens when your inept and frail human troops completely miss targets right in front of them, and are then vaporized by the aliens on their turn.

You will also curse when your frail and weak human, panicked at the carnage around her, accidentally empties a clip into the squaddie right next to her.

There is an 'ironman' mode that does not allow you to reload saved games and autosaves for you, but I'm far to weak to attempt.

From what I can gather you can complete the missions far faster and with low casualties by using lots of 'explosives' (grenades, bazookas) but blowing up the aliens doesn't leave much wreckage for you to salvage for upgrades.  A tradeoff if you will.

Anyway its super fun, and super engrossing. GET IT.

Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 09 Oct 2012, 15:39
Hmph, will wait...

I the meantime I'm enjoying a remake of an even older, but golden game, than UFO: Enemy Unknown.

Carrier Command (http://www.carriercommand.com/)
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Graelyn on 09 Oct 2012, 21:36
I play Ironman mode always.

My awesome squad goes out and gets annhilated tryin to 'secure' some alien-loving politician....they all die and his unarmed ass makes it...

From that point on it was all downhill as my Skyranger full of wide-eyed rookies get shoved into mid-game missions full of truly fucked up enemies, get ripped in half, and start panicking all over each other...

Earth is lost...  :(

I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY AGAIN  :D
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Silas Vitalia on 09 Oct 2012, 22:04
Just lost to Koronakesh 0-5 multiplayer matches, he whupped me good.

I suggest new players take special care learning what constitutes 'visible' and where you are vulnerable near corners etc.

As an RTS guy I'm just going to have to learn the system and figure out how to break it. Right now it looks like there's no incentive to be offensive for any reason. Sit back and wait for them to come to you and one-shot kills to victory. 

 
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 10 Oct 2012, 06:11
Tried a run on Classic difficulty and Ironman right after finishing the tutorial.  Was down to two badly wounded soldiers by the end of March 2015.  :|  :D
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Logan Fyreite on 10 Oct 2012, 13:49
Money management is brutal in this game. Few problems I have with it so far.

1. Being unable to tackle more than one mission site at a time is kinda silly. If I could buy more skyrangers (maybe I can and I just haven't found out how to yet) and deploy to more than one site that would be amazing.
2. mid-game money management wins or loses you the game, no more cheating like in the original xcom where you could just mass produce laser pistols or rifles and sell them back to member nations for a nice profit.
3. recruit class designations - took one mission with 1 heavy and 4 rookies, ended up at the end of the mission with 1 heavy and 4 snipers. I do-not-need that many snipers!

Other than that game is pretty damn amazing.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Wanoah on 10 Oct 2012, 14:35
Thanks to the madness - MADNESS I SAY - of staggered release schedules, XCOM is sitting on my hard drive awaiting unlock. :(

In a similar vein: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/10/10/no-oceans-dishonored-uk-launch-trailer-takes-the-piss/


Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Rok-Yuni on 10 Oct 2012, 15:05
just as a slight aside...

The original games, UFO, TFTD, Apoc, Interceptor (and of course the uberfail that was enforcer) are all on steam in their cheap-ass section...

iir they are £2.99 for us brits, not sure what they are over in america.. but still, take a peek if you haven't played them before, or simply want a bit of good-old fun.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 12 Oct 2012, 04:54
Loving it.

One thing I'm looking forward to are possible expansions packs that might expand the aesthetic variations. Impressed by the environments so far (like a skyscraper rooftop in Japan complete with Asian script), but a lot of it is Western-centric. I know that when Firaxis first released Civ4, for example, all the cities were of a Western design. Within an expansion pack or two, they added variations.

That is mostly a First World concern, which goes to show how the rest of the game is great. Still, upping a little thing like that would increase the immersion.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Shaalira on 15 Oct 2012, 04:57
This game ate half a weekend.

My Sunday, where did it go?!

P.S. - Snipers with 'Double Tap' and a scope can be seriously awesome.  In my first playthrough, one such sniper literally saved the Earth.

Now expansion conjecture.  Spoilers.
[spoiler]
In the original X-COM, you tracked the aliens to a Mars base and sent out a team to assault it.  It was a multi-level mission of doom.  I noticed in the mission control room there are at least two spherical wireframes lurking on the starry edges.  I kept expecting the plot to open up a similar option for traveling off-planet.  Perhaps a DLC or expansion will expand the campaign further, since the last scene was a bit open-ended.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Tiberious Thessalonia on 15 Oct 2012, 06:41
one thing Ive noticed is that there appears to be a bug in that the Council never actually pays you the bonuses it says you are entitled to for doing well in a month!
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Tiberious Thessalonia on 15 Oct 2012, 10:42
It's good. It's very good.


I'm playing on 'classic' difficulty, which is damned hard and kicking my ass. Lots and lots of saving and restarting missions.  I'm trying to get through without losing people, I spent hours just getting through a handful of missions with no casualties.

You will curse the heavens when your inept and frail human troops completely miss targets right in front of them, and are then vaporized by the aliens on their turn.

You will also curse when your frail and weak human, panicked at the carnage around her, accidentally empties a clip into the squaddie right next to her.

There is an 'ironman' mode that does not allow you to reload saved games and autosaves for you, but I'm far to weak to attempt.

From what I can gather you can complete the missions far faster and with low casualties by using lots of 'explosives' (grenades, bazookas) but blowing up the aliens doesn't leave much wreckage for you to salvage for upgrades.  A tradeoff if you will.

Anyway its super fun, and super engrossing. GET IT.

This is the incorrect way to play X-com, Silas.  I am dissapoint.

Losing your rookies (and more experienced soldiers) is what X-Com is all about.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 15 Oct 2012, 11:39
This game ate half a weekend.

My Sunday, where did it go?!

P.S. - Snipers with 'Double Tap' and a scope can be seriously awesome.  In my first playthrough, one such sniper literally saved the Earth.

How did you complete it so quickly?! After losing horrendously (http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=102465666) attacking a specific downed UFO(*see spoiler), I've been struggling since. It was back in May or June, and it's now October and I still haven't progressed past it, since all I got are squaddies and some sergeants that keep dying each time I attack. Lost Brazil and Argentina...I should have only attacked that UFO with plasma tech and titan armor...I have it NOW but it's still not enough. Just waiting for council missions and abductions to train them up.

[spoiler]*Overseer UFO. Fuck sectopods. Fuck them hard[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Shaalira on 15 Oct 2012, 12:59
Get a decent satellite network up with some interceptors early on.  Satellites lower panic levels.  Focus on one or two continents at first, and choose to stop abductions on the continents where you don't have coverage in order to minimize panic all around.  I didn't lose any countries on my first playthrough on normal difficulty. 

With more satellites up, you'll detect more random UFOs.  Downing UFOs (as well as hitting landed ones) means you get more opportunities to level up your squadron and get valuable alloys/elerium for upgrades.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 15 Oct 2012, 14:23
Get a decent satellite network up with some interceptors early on.  Satellites lower panic levels.  Focus on one or two continents at first, and choose to stop abductions on the continents where you don't have coverage in order to minimize panic all around.  I didn't lose any countries on my first playthrough on normal difficulty. 

With more satellites up, you'll detect more random UFOs.  Downing UFOs (as well as hitting landed ones) means you get more opportunities to level up your squadron and get valuable alloys/elerium for upgrades.

Thanks, the "satellites early on" thing I overlooked, since I only learnt it was a strategy further in. BTW, Ironman or not? :P
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 15 Oct 2012, 14:34
I might be playing on too low difficulty, but...

the game is too short.

In the original games (UFO, TFTD, APOC) you could spend hours on a mission, apparently that is a no-no in the game design philosophy of today. Action, action, action, visual effects, visual effects, visual effects...

UFO: Extraterrestrials (http://ufo.ufo-extraterrestrials.com/)* might have been a rip-off of the original games, but damn, that game took weeks, if not months, to get through. Lacked visual effects, though.

XCOM is a great/awesome game, but I fear the replayability value is low. Leaves me wanting for more, which is good if they manage to release some DLCs in the near future.


*: Oh, I see there is an UFO: Extraterrestrials 2 coming out soon. Will probably play that, regardless of visual standards and levels of action.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 15 Oct 2012, 14:48
I might be playing on too low difficulty, but...

the game is too short.

If you're not playing on Classic...

[spoiler]urdoinitrong :o[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 15 Oct 2012, 14:50
The first game is practically unplayable by today's standards IMO. Personally I have longed moved on from the 1990s-style 'long investment' game type...might be some people's fancy still but eh...

I just want to have fun...and the game is fun, and challenging! Not your cheap fun certainly.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 15 Oct 2012, 14:59
I do not see the reason why to cut it short, really.

They could have adjusted the size of combat zones, number of encounters and so on for the game to last for about a week of intensive gaming and people would still play through it.

Or maybe that is irrelevant marketing wise, because the moment you pay for the game; revenue ticks in. Whether you then get two hours or two months of entertainment out of the game, it does not provide any additional profit to the company. They might as well keep production costs low and limit the content.

Btw.:
Personally I have longed moved on from the 1990s-style 'long investment' game type...might be some people's fancy still but eh...
EVE Online? :P
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 15 Oct 2012, 15:05
I don't play EVE Online...well... <_<

What you said though...they intend to release mod tools for the game, no? So we might see stuff from that hopefully. :)

Making maps should be a simple affair too. In fact, the game is screaming for an easy-to-use map editor, since it's all on squares.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 15 Oct 2012, 15:18
Btw. here is an anecdote:

When I played the original XCOM: UFO game I remember I thought: "This game is great, it just needs a bit more fire". That was before I knew what 'incendiary (http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Incendiary)' meant.

I hope this new XCOM game will have similar surprises.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Shaalira on 15 Oct 2012, 16:05
BTW, Ironman or not? :P

ofc


What I dislike about this game is that it leads you right to the campaign solution.

[spoiler]In the original, there was no one holding your hand and walking you from one overriding objective to another.  There was only an escalating threat which ramped up indefinitely until you found out how to end the alien invasion at the source.  Unless you paid attention to briefings and autopsy reports, no one was going up and tell you that capturing a psionic-capable alien and interrogating them would reveal the existence of Caledonia.  And no one was going to tell you to reverse-engineer an alien space ship, put together a vessel capable of interplanetary flight, load up a squad with air-tight battlesuits, and launch your attack.

The original game would just continue indefinitely until the attacks ramped up to the point where you were overwhelmed on all fronts and died.  This game is a little too linear in its stages.

I also miss setting up multiple bases and having to defend those bases from alien attacks.  It was a cool experience when you loaded the stage and the layout matched your base design, and all the random recruits you had in the barracks flooded out to fight.  It was even more harrowing when the aliens attacked your base at the same time that your veteran, well-equipped troops were out on sortie.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Shaalira on 15 Oct 2012, 16:11
Btw. here is an anecdote:

When I played the original XCOM: UFO game I remember I thought: "This game is great, it just needs a bit more fire". That was before I knew what 'incendiary (http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Incendiary)' meant.

I hope this new XCOM game will have similar surprises.

I was disappointed that the intelligent pathing grenade launchers didn't make it in.    I enjoyed launching them around the corner, then setting up waypoints so that it veered around the street and zipped right into a window.

Of course, it wasn't as much fun when an alien shot one that zipped right up the docking ramp of your landing craft right as you were trying to get everyone onto the ground safely.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 15 Oct 2012, 16:17
[spoiler]
Aye, I was so looking forward to the base attack. One of my "fondest" memories from the original game was having my base attacked early on in one of my first playthroughs and the aliens killing everybody.

I am equally disappointed about the lack of attacks on alien bases (except the one). In the original game, the aliens would establish presence and you could derive from the level of alien activity, or supply UFOs going to the location, that they must have established a base there.

Again I am extremely annoyed that people cannot produce simple engaging game mechanics in this day and age, because the "overhead" demand on such mechanics visual wise explodes the budget.
[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 15 Oct 2012, 16:56
Hm, with those particular aspects in mind, I wonder if they could have pulled that off to this current standard? I think that age is just gone in terms of mainstream releases. You'll only get that through indie or downlow developers these days. There's no way the multi-million dollar market of multi-million players would have accepted anything that wouldn't give you a sense of forward direction, unlike the older games from the 1990s. Then there's the paradox of the producers assuming the market is more ADD than we actually are...who knows?

Heh, if they remade Transport Tycoon for this era, they would definitely have some 'campaign' mode to hold your hand.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 15 Oct 2012, 17:00
I also have this particularly badass-ly timed screenshot (http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/578969723728312282/3D08EFA43AD0E26426A10EC9C3E168EAF971B377/)
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Victoria Stecker on 17 Oct 2012, 12:58
For those interested, Steam is running a sale with all of the previous x-com games for $15. I'm very tempted.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 17 Oct 2012, 15:21
Anyone else think the deployment music is totally awesome? Topped off when the Skyranger pilot in his all-American radio voice goes "LZ in sight, prepped for landing!" or some such.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 17 Oct 2012, 17:03
Apparently there were some additional options that were originally intended to be shipped with the game on release but didn't make it in.  They can be enabled through a little bit of .ini tweaking.  Check it out: http://xcom.nexusmods.com/mods/7

Quote
(WORKS) Damage Roulette: Weapons have a much wider range of damage

New Economy: The funding offered by individual council members is randomized

(WORKS) Not Created Equally: Rookies will have random starting stats

Hidden Potential: As a soldier is promoted, their stats will increase randomly

(BUGGED) Red Fog: Any wounds taken in combat will degrade a soldier's stats for that mission

Absolutely Critical: A flanking shot will guarantee a critical hit

The Greater Good: The secret of psionics can only be learned by interrogating a psionic alien

(BUGGED. GAME UNWINNABLE) Marathon: The game takes considerably longer to complete

Results Driven: A country will offer less funding as it's panic level increases

(WORKS) High Stakes: The rewards granted for stopping alien abductions are randomized

(WORKS) Diminishing Returns: The cost of satellites increases with every one that is built

The Blitz: The aliens will target a larger number of cities every time they launch an abduction attack

More Than Human: The psionic gift is extremely rare
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 17 Oct 2012, 17:19
Interesting how there are already mods for the game...only a matter of time before we see really good stuff.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: lallara zhuul on 18 Oct 2012, 02:17
The odd bit is that the amount of cash you get from a nation lowers as their panic increases...

Isn't it the opposite in real world when it comes to military threats and spending?
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Ken on 18 Oct 2012, 05:28
The odd bit is that the amount of cash you get from a nation lowers as their panic increases...

Isn't it the opposite in real world when it comes to military threats and spending?

Maybe, but I think "panic" in XCOM is meant to represent the level of alien success/unchallenged alien activity in a given country and the amount of civic unrest (and alien infiltration) present there rather than the level of seriousness paid to the situation by the local government.  More "panic" means the government assesses that XCOM is unable to defend the country and their money is better spent trying to tackle the problem themselves rather than funding what many in said government must then see as an international boondoggle.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 18 Oct 2012, 06:15
Maybe, but I think "panic" in XCOM is meant to represent the level of alien success/unchallenged alien activity in a given country and the amount of civic unrest (and alien infiltration) present there rather than the level of seriousness paid to the situation by the local government.  More "panic" means the government assesses that XCOM is unable to defend the country and their money is better spent trying to tackle the problem themselves rather than funding what many in said government must then see as an international boondoggle.

I think that's exactly it. The original XCOM's defeat message says how "Each country will now deal with the problem as they see fit" when they all announce to withdraw funding from the project.

But also, when a country withdraws, if you look in the Situation Room, there's a news story which details what's going on there. When Brazil and Argentina left, it said how their respective governments have announced that they will be "cooperating" with the aliens leading to popular protests, while a Nigerian story said that soldiers there are kidnapping citizens for the government.

Outwardly, we'll hear "The XCOM project is useless, we're wasting money to save OTHER countries when it's better spent on trying to save ourselves"...secretly, the country's government has been infiltrated by the aliens. Effectively, that country hasn't so much withdrawn but has been lost to the alien menace (hence the vortex swirl over it in mission control)

Tis dark.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Logan Fyreite on 18 Oct 2012, 10:26
Some of things that ultimately ended up making me enjoy this game less than the original though it is still a good game.

[spoiler]1. the "false choices" where I can only choose one out the three missions at a time. Because even though I can produce every other ship and or weapon in the game, including highly advanced alien ships, I can't manage to put another skyranger together?
2. is linked, I can have up to 99 people in my barracks but out of those 99 people I can only field 6 at a time? Why no "b" team skyranger?
3. Satellite coverage, like I have to build uplinks to each satellite, and somehow these uplinks that are quite honestly in one geographic location, like Asia, or the US, or where-ever are some how able to connect to the satellites "over the horizon." It's not like there arent already 10k spy satellites in orbit, the fee should be to lease them from google or someone :)
4. real bad interceptor game play. It's only marginally better than the original, they should have done something to improve that aspect of the game.
5. research was really dumbed down so you get blinking light indicators on what you need to do in order to complete the game. The orignal handled this much better in my opinion.
6. I too miss them attacking my base, god damn that was good shit when you had to control a million of your own units, some without guns, spread out through your base, trying to get some to safety or weapons. Where base layout actually mattered.[/spoiler]

There's a bunch of good to go with all that bad.

[spoiler]1. Loved the newer alien classes and what they did with the Cyberdiscs and those massive rolling aliens, whatever those are called with like 30 HP or more.
2. The sniper class is fun (if a bit overpowered) and the new sniper guns are fun to use and the various sniper abilities, especially when you unlock "double tap" and Angel Armor.
3. Some of the missions were very good at conveying scope, like the underground base mission for me seemed to go on and on. (I'm playing Ironman so I had to carefully approach every turn, there is no benifit to being reckless.)
4. Taking out the time point system was a good move for the whole game, even if it dumbed it down a little, it seemed more like it was complexity for complexity's sake.
5. Explosions were cool
6. grappling hooks n such were nice addition to armor and being at a high point to "spot" or Snipe from was pretty cool. Until a cyberdisk shows up in the building you are sniping from, and kills your high ranking sniper right before the final mission that is.
7. Ethereals were a lot of fun to fight against though I think that Assault class + shotgun was their effective and easy counter, or a well placed "few" sniper rounds.[/spoiler]
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 23 Oct 2012, 18:08
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/firaxis-talks-future-xcom-content-slingshot-dlc-announced/ < First batch of DLC.

BTW, trying to get into the original Xcom, but it's just too dated (I'm long past the 1990s era), but I do like the depth. Therefore, I'm looking at Xenonauts. Worth grabbing for £15?
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Silas Vitalia on 23 Oct 2012, 22:57
WTB Warhammer 40k Mod for this game.

WTB so much.


Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Wanoah on 29 Oct 2012, 15:40
I urge caution with Ironman. I have had four instances of a bug in missions where the game continues to run, but most of the interface stops responding. You can hit F1 for info, but can't select any actions, select another soldier or end the turn. After some wailing and gnashing of teeth I have elected to have a save regime of 1 save for the Geoscape, 1 save at the beginning of a mission and a quick save at the beginning of each turn just in case the bug strikes.

I played through a game on Normal then immediately started over on Classic. Classic is a better experience IMO.

Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 30 Oct 2012, 10:16
Sadly, I have parked this game; too little variation between play-troughs. I love their turn based combat but this game really has low replay-ability value and I find it finishes too fast. The only random factor, I can recognized, that makes the long term plan different between games is the placement of titles with steam in your base.

So, instead I play Civilization V, which I have already put twice the amount of hours in than X-com. Lucky for me it has this 'marathon' mode that turns the game more into the way I remembered it.

I do not not have many games I play, but those I do, I tend to spend hundreds of hours on. The content in X-com is a bit low for that goal.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 31 Oct 2012, 12:36
The thing is with XCOM is that if your top squad gets wiped you might as well give up the whole game. Not very well-balanced in that regard...also Yahtzee's view was amusing...

"XCOM traditionalists might moan a bit cause the original XCOM's tactical interface was about as intuitive as a control panel for a nuclear submarine but fuck those people! :D"

Heh.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Wanoah on 31 Oct 2012, 14:36
The thing is with XCOM is that if your top squad gets wiped you might as well give up the whole game. Not very well-balanced in that regard...

Squad rotation is the answer to that. I always plan on getting an A and B team that are more or less on equal terms, with a few perennial benchwarmers and potentials able to slot in at a push.

That said, it's quite possible to get the sort of failure cascade that leads to you having only two rookies left to send on that terror mission... :)
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Myyona on 31 Oct 2012, 18:16
"XCOM traditionalists might moan a bit cause the original XCOM's tactical interface was about as intuitive as a control panel for a nuclear submarine but fuck those people! :D"
Funny as at sounds, I was 15 when I figured it out. Maybe I have a natural talent for operating nuclear submarines.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Khloe on 01 Nov 2012, 11:04
I love this game. It takes a lot for me to really invest my time in a game, and so far I've sunk quite a lot without even realizing it. And while I agree that the game is short and the strategy base-building aspect rather linear, what keeps me coming back is the tactical side of the game. I've never had a repetitious experience on the combat end, and that's where I think the game shines despite some minor bugs.

They could have done much more with the game, but what they have now is fairly polished; I'm curious how they are going to handle future DLCs beyond the upcoming China event.
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Wanoah on 01 Nov 2012, 15:25
I'm curious how they are going to handle future DLCs beyond the upcoming China event.

I don't really see a lot of scope for DLC. Which isn't to say that there won't be plenty. :)

I do see plenty of scope for a sequel, though. Maybe something underwater? ;)
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: Seriphyn on 01 Nov 2012, 16:26
"XCOM traditionalists might moan a bit cause the original XCOM's tactical interface was about as intuitive as a control panel for a nuclear submarine but fuck those people! :D"
Funny as at sounds, I was 15 when I figured it out. Maybe I have a natural talent for operating nuclear submarines.

We weren't faced with much choice back then :yar:
Title: Re: Enemy Unknown
Post by: lallara zhuul on 02 Nov 2012, 05:51
There was a bunch of old C64 and amiga games that had the interface already.