Usually I like my XCOM games with the ability to savescum. Looks right up my alley except for the permadeath thing.

It sure looks like something I might enjoy. I'll be looking out for reviews/impressions first though. Also, what's with the TBA system requirements on release day? Pssh. Only pansies are trying to cheese their way to victory. =P
< (including this one) ;)

I think this may be incentive to add a hotkey to copy the currently running game's save files without having to exit the game and do it manually, plus maybe a process to do it automatically every so often. I sort of did this for Invisible, Inc and a few others, but now I need to make it more generic. I don't like investing time in a game only to be told to effectively start over. Or, as I say to those who like this aspect of roguelikes, I don't like fighting kobolds that much. Kudos for not calling the game a roguelike, at least, even though it's probably more roguelike than most of the recent games given this tag. Really, all games should have a save system like the Legend of Heroes Trails... series (20 periodic autosaves plus save almost anywhere with 1000 save slots; it's only fault is occasional multiple boss battles in a row without saves in between).

In other words, Permadeath is not a feature, it's an anti-feature. A bug, if you like. Kind of like having a soundtrack for separate purchase.

Winners don't use drugs
Whiners don't like permadeath

However, many games now implement permadeath as an optional feature, even pure roguelikes like Caves of Qud do it. It is probably the best solution to satisfy everyone.

This game looks like my kind of game. However, I am quite sort of time and money to get it right now. Wishlisted.

Looks very interesting, and hits the right buttons for me (except the permadeath - but that can often be worked around).

Has sort of an FTL vibe, but underwater and with more RP. I love FTL!

Also has a vibe of Sword of the Stars: The Pit, which I also have enjoyed playing.

Maybe same engine or something, don't know..

So, I am interested...

The launch discount is rather paltry, and so, with not much in the way of reviews yet, it means I've Wishlisted it for the time being. If I get a round-tuit I may dig around the Steam Community to see if I can get more info. If I do, I may come back and grab it. Otherwise, will probably wait for a better discount.

Does look promising!

Which...very much has permadeath. Indeed, it's all about the permadeath. You don't even get any carry-over of any kind, unless you count unlocking ships.

Indeed.

It falls into the "(except the permadeath - but that can often be worked around)" category.

Although, I will say that I have played FTL so many times that I have unlocked most (but not yet all) of the ships, and I tended towards not "working around" it after a time, and just accepting my "fate". in FTL you can turn things around (with luck). I can recall playthroughs where my ship was done to only a few "health" (hull), and not much crew; and then somehow it gets turned around and you end up winning.

Could be the same with this game.

The main problem with permadeath, IMO, is that it punishes the player that doesn't have time to continually play over and over (due to life, work, whatever), that wan't to be able to "see the game world" without having to devote a "lifetime" to playing a single game over and over in order to do so.

The "longer" the game, the more "punishing" permadeath can be to the player in such a situation. FTL is really not that long, once you've played it through a few times. Sword of the Stars The Pit is similar in that way.

The whole point of games like FTL is to play them over and over. So "punishing the player" makes no sense at all to me. You play it because it's fun. If it's not fun, you don't play it.

Can anyone who has played this say more about what the gameplay is like? Does it have enough depth as an X-Com style game to hold your attention in the long-term?

.............. to hold your attention in the long-term ?

Do you mean the attention and will to finish the game and the replay value ?

Never played any Xcom.... the tbs(turnbased strategy) games i played like Jagged Alliance kept me playing for hours
and i still (re) play it again.
Todays games can't keep me playing a game for more then 30 minutes, maybe a little more ...
maybe because there is a serious lack of good games ( imho) that developers develop nowadays.

Anyway, most games i play are the good old games, those are the games i started with and kinda 'grew up' with , its hard to get used to nowadays games.... but once a while a few real gems rise among the latest games, but more often then not they really disapointment me, and end up collecting virtual dust on virtual shelves hidden from sight.