XCOM®: Chimera Squad

This is a Xcom spin-off, not Xcom 3. As long as you go in expecting a low budget spin-off that is not Xcom 3, you will probably have a good turn based time. I have to reiterate that it's a low budget spin-off that is NOT Xcom 3 because every single low star review I have seen is related to nitpicking about how this game is a low budget spin-off that is not Xcom 3. A few things. I never stopped anyone "with the power of friendship". Every human and alien corpse I left behind is probably in need of a hug though. The characters aren't overly complicated, nor should they be, given this is a budget video game, with a large cast of characters, in a series which best entries have no character at all; the complaint of the characters being one dimensional is laughable. It also never feels like we are aping "Aliens" instead landing on more Men in Black esque cops raiding alien gangs. Graphics and music are as good as Xcom.. but not special? Sorry but Xcom classic and new have some of the best soundtrack in a strategy game. Over all don't buy an Xcom game unless you like Xcom. What a revolutionary statement firekracker. Maybe next I won't order the steak with cheese rare, if I don't like the steak with cheese rare.

I already own this on another platform but had to give it some love here. If you enjoy X-Com-type games but struggle a bit with the difficulty or complexity, you might enjoy Chimera Force. I found the game really solid and fun. It's a lot easier than standard X-Com, somewhere on par with the Shadowrun games. The story and characters are pretty cool, but it's the unique Breach Mode and general combat mechanics that appealed to me. And of course, the setting! Getting to play with human and alien characters with their own abilities was so much fun. Hard-core X-Com players seem to find this title a little too simplistic or easy, but I really enjoyed it. Just crank up the difficulty if you're worried about it being a little too easy. It's very customizable.

Well, ages of XCOM were like this: Ufo: Enemy Uknown, where you had commanded dozens of special forces operatives, a mercenary army in a sense, with multitude of bases, airfighters, dropships, tanks, etc. It was even counting spent bullets, encumberance, morale - pretty complex for precursor of a genre. Grim, deadly, unforgiving. Firaxis' remake XCOM cut elements which made mission lenghty (like you command during mission at most six operatives instead of twenty six soldiers freshly delivered by avenger). It felt more partisan - especialy XCOM2, than regular platoon/company. Also mechanics were much simplified, no action points, auto-cover, unlimited ammo - just reloading - yet it created engaging and dynamic, very fun game. On the other hand it added classes, special abilities, and more cinematic aliens. Tough and demanding but in different way than it's predecessor - more like a tactical puzzle to be solved. Chimera squad pushes this simplicity thing even more. You don't groom custom soldiersanymore - instead of classes you get pregens, each one with unique skills and purpose. It is no longer military - you are small policing force - Men in Black or buddy cop movies come to mind. It stays rather light-hearted. It is trying to answer how earth would look like after failed alien invasion. Quite political correct, but overall interesting storyline. Battles were replaced with 1-3 encounters, where you breech into part of building/area and then clear / neutralize remaining hostiles. Very fast and entertaining. Especially if you don't have time to play 100+hours long campaign. Anyway, it is still Firaxis XCOM - high quality, reimagined brilliant tactical strategy - why not to try?

An excellent if somewhat different take on the Firaxis XCOM formula. Shorter battle scenarios, with the interleaved (but modifiable with some abilities) turns turning the fights into a bit more of a puzzle instead of one-sided pod massacres (or getting massacred if things go not as well). Good enough story for a smaller sequel while we wait for a proper XCOM 3, with three enemy organizations each with their own goals, in one case you might even really feel for them, if not for the danger their plans pose for the city. Probably also quite a bit easier than the full XCOM games, judging by me actually having managed to get all the achievements over at Steam.

I'll admit that I had my doubts about this game. I am a fan of XCOM and enjoyed the recent installments in particular. When I then had a first look at Chimera Squad I was irritated: From what I could tell from looking at screenshots, the graphics looked almost amateurish and the gameplay made a half-baked impression. At first, I thought I was looking at some sort of spin-off or remake by an independent studio or maybe a fan-made sequel. Then I played it anyways. Twice, I have beaten the game so far and it is a lot of fun! Finally, XCOM is garnered with some heroes you can play and grow attached to while the original formula remains intact. The graphics are humble in places, but do justice to the series of games that were released under the XCOM-moniker as a whole. Clearly, keeping them simple in parts of the game was a design desicion. Even the high replayability that is an important factor in XCOM's success story is still there and its even more fleshed out than it was before. The turn-based combat-system is still intense and fun, but emphasises role-playing a bit while sacrificing freedom of choice. All in all, I feel that this game is a more mature and thought-through, sometimes ironic look at what XCOM was, was not, has become and just might be in the future. XCOM was always a bit pulpish, especially the spin-offs and add-ons. This one is no exception, except that, unlike older spin-offs, it is a great game since it is reflecting on this.