Xenonauts

I had some fun with X-COM:EU but it fell flat for me on the strategy factor. Here, the indie team have not only kept the overall strategical gameplay from X-com 94 but radically deepened the fighter engagements. I loved the old X-COM:UD and Terror from the Deep and it is a true joy to be able to play that kind of game with decent resolution and more intuitive controls. Sure, there are blemishes but on the whole the ground combat is the best turn based tactics game I have played for at least a decade. Aliens are tactically devious and the AI is the best I have seen in ages. So much fun!

Xenonauts is a Remake of the old XCom, which is probably one of the best games ever created. So basically all that is good in Xenonauts comes from the original XCom. Xenonauts took the approach to change as little as possible, which leaves the interface graphically updated, but mostly untouched. Changes include, of course, updated graphics, very slight changes to the tactical system, new minor aerial combat system, a lot of balancing, a new inventory system for bases, you now don't need to buy trivial stuff, such as ammo for weapons, and the removal of the build and sell "exploit" to generate credits. They have done a good work at emphazising what XCom meant to be, for example, satisfying countries to gather funding was almost irrelevant in the original, while in Xenonauts it's essential. Thus you will probably restart over and over again, because you mismanaged. The difficulty curve is done very well, don't expect a cheap tactic from the beginning to work for long. This is a retro game in all respects. If you want the original XCom, Xenonauts is the game for you, if you expect a modern game, you'll want to look at the alternatives. Xenonauts fixes the major mistakes of XCom, but not every quirk.

This game is really close to the original X-COM series. I had a lot of fun playing it. But it also felt some annoyances, it happens to often you shoot an enemy with a shotgun standing just one or to tiles away and you miss even with full skills. A 50% chance to hit an enemy seems to be a 25% chance in reality. I don't know how anyone could be able to play this game on iron man. It can get boring after the 100th ground mission which you need to play to earn money. I wish the fights on ground would be more dynamic with more random and unexpected things happen. But however, Xenonauts offers a solid gameplay.

Xenonauts is a game with different aspects of strategy involved (Real-time, turn-based, accelerated time and paused progression). Between base management, the protection of Earth and the general survival of the human race you have to manage a large amount of other things in-between. It won´t get boring! Here are some more details: • The game sets a nice pace for you (not slow mind you, just appreciative of your being new to this game) to understand how it is controlled. You are introduced to a few important hotkeys, core UI elements, the various keyboard and mouse commands and you are able to get a feel for the inner workings of the game as it progresses. After that, the speed and difficulty are increasing rapidly! o On the one hand, you have the global alien invasion situation to manage in a real- time overview of Earth.(There are 4 different speeds to choose from) o On the other hand, you need to engage the attackers from out there somewhere in turn-based ground-combat. You need to take down their “flying saucers” first of course. The Interception of UFO´s gives you the choice between automatic resolution and manual intercept. o Furthermore, you have to manage one or more bases of operations from where you launch intercepts and recover/fight missions. You build the bases up from scratch (except for the first one, which comes basically operational but with expansion options). In those bases you manage research, troops and equipment, defence, radar observation as well as your air and ground vehicles. Xenonauts is the graphically unimpressive but mechanically maybe even superior or more complex sibling of the new Xcom Games and the faithful Heir, as true to the heritage as possible and healthy, of the spirit and challenge of the old X-com games. Make of that what you will. It is a truly well-made game. It shines without being glittering. It is for everybody who wants a strategically challenging game.

I remember being blown away by the original x-com when it was included on a PCGamer 'best of' CD in the late 90's. I was blown away by how incredibly deep and fun the game was despite the old graphics. Xenonauts has re-created that experience to incredible accuracy. I played on normal mode and got my butt kicked a good amount. I think I got at least sixty hours out of it on one playthrough. Even my nitpicks about the game I have some fondness for, since they seem to reflect classic x-com quite closely. For instance, shots can be blocked by some pretty silly obstacles even when your sniper is sitting three stories above said obstruction. Additionally, the UI isn't entirely intuitive, though it works well enough. The AI can be fairly hit or miss as well, but again, that hearkens back to the classic experience. I got Xenonauts on sale and I believe that even if I paid full price I would have gotten my money's worth. If you want a cleaned up classic yet modern x-com, this is your jam.