Robust Multiplayer
Another great thing about the reboot of the XCOM game is the addition of a multiplayer mode. In a skirmish-like map, you will play with another person where each of you will build a team under the points you are allotted. Once you build your team, you will then compete in a map, taking down each others’ group. Each side will get 90 seconds during their turn. While 90 seconds seems like a lot, it can end up not being enough, as it’s hard to figure out where you want to place your troops to make sure you won’t be ambushed on such a large map.
Enhanced Presentation
Since XCOM Enemy Uknown is a remake of the game that was made in the early 90s, you can expect the visuals in this remake to be a whole lot better, though it’s not the best looking game out there. You will still see some similarities to the game’s original design in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The characters look great, though Firaxis didn’t do a good job in lip syncing perfectly, but it has a great cast of voice actors to bring them to life. As for cutscenes, they are there as all missions have voice overs and a brief cutscene.
NOT
Camera & Control Issues
Regardless of if you are playing on a PC or console, you will notice that one of the most annoying aspects of the game is the way you control the camera. Despite rotating it the way you want, there will be times that you will still not be able to see your character. Even zooming out during battle will give you a hard time figuring out where or how you will put your unit on a certain area. Because of this, there’s a lot of risk in getting your unit killed. As for its controls, you will spend your first few hours getting used to it as it may feel weird when you first dive in. As I am playing on the PC, it took me a while to get used to moving the camera, zooming in and out and just about everything else since the learning curve may a bit high for some.
Maps Can Get Repetitive
One aspect that I’m disappointed in XCOM is how the map is designed. Through all of the missions in both single and multiplayer, you will notice how simple and bland it is. Every map that you get to play on looks similar to the last in some way or another. It will explain how the multiplayer maps are limited to a certain amount. When playing through the maps, it feels very uninspired and dull.
VERDICT
XCOM: Enemy Uknown may have a few mishaps, but overall, the game is still phenomenal, giving strategy-based game fans or newcomers to the genre another game to look forward to this fall. The challenging single player missions and robust multiplayer are some of the game’s most highlighted features in this remake. In remaking one of the best RTS titles of the past, Firaxis did a remarkable job adapting the classic gameplay and adding new things to it to make it stand out. If you are a fan of the strategy-RPG genre and just love a challenging game, XCOM: Enemy Uknown is a game that you shouldn’t pass up this year.
[Editor’s Note: XCOM Enemy Unknown was reviewed on the PC via Steam. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
