Andy Naylor reviews XCOM 2…
XCOM 2 is the successor to the impressive XCOM: Enemy Unknown (and XCOM: Enemy Within, which was essentially an expansion pack). Set 20 years after the original, Earth has since been conquered by the aliens, known as Elders, and the planet is run by a government of alien collaborators called ADVENT, who have a hidden agenda and mercilessly target anyone who opposes them. You take command of a mobile battle station called Avenger, your job is aid resistance cells around the world and inspire the forces of humanity to fight back against the alien threat and end the occupation.
XCOM 2 starts off with a nice simple opening mission designed to reacquaint you with how the franchise functions, which is always handy. However, the developer has beautifully melded this tutorial of sorts in a manner which links Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2 together in spine-tingling fashion. Straight away, you’re hooked and the addictive gameplay is unleashed upon you.
XCOM 2 incorporates everything that is loved from the first and either improves upon it or changes things with a juicy twist, Thin Men, I’m looking at you! The time difference set between XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2 has allowed Firaxis to play with the character classes, tweak the weapons and change up the armour. Each class has nifty new perks and abilities, but not so much that they feel unfamiliar and strange. The biggest change is the use of the Specialist, who has a robotic partner in crime on missions called a Gremlin. His use can be upgraded as you level up, from helpful field medic to a thorn in the alien’s side with it’s ability to nip in and steal a few health bars with a well-timed attack.
While gameplay remains very similar to Enemy Unknown, with things like cover, half-cover, flanking, the levels are bigger and more diverse than the predecessor. All too often the same level would reappear as a new mission in a completely different continent and while it wasn’t a big problem, all these little problems did tot up. It is very good to see that this has been addressed and each mission feels wholly unique.
Graphically, XCOM 2 is superior to Enemy Unknown, as you’d expect seeing as Enemy Unknown was released on an older generation console. However, compared to many of the AAA games released on this generation of gaming consoles, it is decidedly average. Unfortunately, some of the issues from Enemy Unknown remain. The cut-scenes suffer from a little stuttering, while the sound drops out for a second from time to time; this was particularly noticeable during any autopsy FMV. While it may be nit-picking and a minor complaint, it’s something you hoped would have improved with a more powerful machine.
When playing any game, what really draws in the player is the addictiveness, that need and desire to boot it up and see what happens next. The late night dilemma of choosing between one more mission and precious sleep before a busy day. XCOM 2 has that addiction in bucket loads. Once you start you won’t want to stop until it’s complete. It also has that replay ability, with more testing modes and challenges after an initial play through, XCOM will still drag you back for more. Unfortunately, the one mode I was unable to have a go of, due to time constraints for this review, was the online mode. I do look forward to exploring that once I’ve had my fix of the fantastic narrative.
While XCOM 2 might not receive the same adoration and attention that Battlefield or Destiny receive, nor does it have anywhere near the budget, it is the top of the class when it comes to the genre of turn-based strategy. Its unique blend of storytelling, combined with an intuitive control system make it a must own for any fan of the genre and this franchise. If you have never played XCOM before and are tempted by it, trust me, take a leap of faith and buy it, you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 9/10
Andy Naylor
Originally published October 5, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
