X-COM: Terror from the Deep

This game is better than the so-so reviews it got many years ago. I have a greater appreciation playing it now than I did back then. It takes a lot of time and effort to complete. On the negative side, the graphics are grainier than the first game and this game has some bugs in the research tree which I didn't hit originally, but did this time. Specifically, if you don't research some things in the correct ascending order, the research tree gets broken and you get stuck, unable to go back and research the missing item to move on within that category. This happened when I didn't do the sonic pistol before doing the rifle and cannon. I could not develop the sonic oscillator for my craft weapons . The same problem occurred with not doing the M.C. Reader early on, as I was denied Molecular Control development even if I researched it later on. On the positive side, the music is really effective in creating a Davy Jones feeling on the ocean floor intercept missions, and the alien base missions are just, plain creepy all the way around. It's quite something when you think of the emotions it can elicit as you're pushing around little aquanauts on a two-dimensional chess board. Finishing this game will give you a real sense of accomplishment. If you do get stuck behind a research bug like I did this time, there is a great little program available online called “xcomed.exe” which allows you to change almost everything in the game. I used it to up the power of my gauss rifles and store-bought grenades, as well as my non-sonic oscillator craft weapons, speed and shields. It's a lot of fun to tinker with and see what excessive fire-power can do, as long as you're careful to do just one change at a time and zip up your game files every time in case of disaster. It works with both the early X-COM games. I did have a problem with the GOG version rendering properly on Win 7 GeForce 1060 systems, but was able to use DOSBOX on my own and all was O.K.

The second installment of X:COM series is, basically, X:Com Enemy Unknown with game-breaking design flaws straightened out for much better replay value. The one real problem of the original X-Com was that a player who already knew the research three could jump to endgame technology in just few months, then turn the tactical part into point and click slaughter, delivered by mind controlling soldiers in flying suits, armed with automatic heavy plasmas of doom and guided blaster missiles. TftD goes to great lengths to re-balance the game and keep it challenging until end stage; more complicated research tree stops player from getting endgame tech and mind control early on, surface missions stop some game-breaking equipment from working and the most powerful guns are semi automatic option. Along with more challenging aliens it forces player to stick to squad level tactics (with emphasis on concentration of fire and mutual support) to the very end, rather than coordinating invincible exterminators. If you start X-Com series with this one rather than Enemy Unknown, the original game will always feel simplistic . The changes to the story, artwork style and atmosphere - which was very generic in original - may be a welcome change, too, depending on your tastes.

I have been playing this game on and off for more than twenty years now. Still, I never finished it. Back then, when I was still a teenager, it didn'nt occur to me that it was exceptionally hard. Most games back then were equally demanding. It was normal. I used to play the game with a friend: We would sit in front of the computer together, takting turns, advising each other, figuring out the next move together. The game is still a lot of fun, altough I play alone by now and know most of it well. Nevertheless, it was my buddy from back in the day who mentioned some years ago that the game was almost unbeatable. That's when I found out about the now known bug that made it almost impossible to finish it. Among all the other challenges the games includes, that one flaw just didn't stick out as such, I guess. At least not to me. Maybe it just made it perfect. Getting there is usually have the fun. In this game, it used to be all of it. I read the other reviews and cannot quite understand why the game is called frustrating or a grind at times. I enjoy it a lot. It occured to me that the fact that it is a war game may be overlooked or not fully understood: Everytime you think you develeoped a gamechanger that keeps your troops from dying, the enemy will fight back even harder. There'll be waves of attacks, conterattacks, defenses, assaults and so on with different outcomes. For me, it's not that much about winning, really. Although I can understand that it is for most people. In the end, it's the immersion that does the trick, I think. A term, by the way, that came about only recently to describe games if I remember correctly. But you have to be sort of open for it: If your not ready for some terror from the deep, ready to spent hours on a scenario, if necessary, evaluating every threat, considering every possible move carefully, every step even, every shot of the rifle and every grenade, while forgetting time and your real-life, you will not be getting that x-com-experience. Take cover, always whatch your back and don't forget your flares!

Great game, as everyone else says, a re-skinned X-COM UFO, but underwater. 5 stars, one of my favorites. Quick fun fact though. For those who have ever played the original release of the floppy disk version, there were many missions where you would find a crashed airplane underwater. Usually something resembling an MD-80 or something of that size. However, because of a significant number of serious air disasters (three unique US planes crashing with all 100+ people aboard dying), they removed any underwater mission that had these planes underwater, unrelated to the mission. If you got the updated version of the game, or the version on CD, it would have had this stripped. If I'm not mistaken, simply updating the game removes these potential mission levels as well. Would be nice to see someone put them back.

I have the Windows Collector's Edition (CE) version on CD-ROM so I never bought it here. Some of the down sides are the larger maps, which at first sound good, however it tends to make ending missions tedious as you are hunting down this one last alien who has panicked and dropped his weapon. You spend at least half the time it takes to complete a mission just looking for the last alien who is often literally hiding in a closet, then when you do find him he doesn't even resist when you kill or capture him. Another thing are some near-game breaking bugs in the research tree. They aren't technically game breaking, but they make the game 10 times harder if you can't research proper armor because you didn't get a chance to capture a calcenite or deep one. If you get the game, grab a live Calcenite and Deep One ASAP, and make sure to read an FAQ on the proper research order for them. Seriously, capture them at all costs ASAP as you might not get a second opportunity. If you capture one in part one of a potentially 2-part mission, make sure to pick them up in your inventory so you have the capture after the second part, and capture another one if you get a chance on that mission. '