Now that the game has all DLCs, it finally feels complete.
It is complex without being too complicated.
The exploration is fun, the politics is great and there is a lot to do now.
This feels like a fun XCOM clone with novel shot mechanics.
Pros:
Fast and stable performance. Even using older hardware (GTX 970).
Good character leveling and development
Cons:
the DLCs are too much. They make an already large game overwhelming, especially on a first blind playthrough. If you have the complete version, consider deselecting most (or all) of the DLCs for your first playthrough.
Okay, so I share all the praise and criticism of the previous comments, but at the end of the day, the mechanics are what count most. The freedom of the geoscape, the free aim feature, the freedom of choice in handling the pandora virus outbreak.
I'm about halfway through the game and have not encountered a single bug. (To be fair I'm playing the "Terror from the Void" and I have not played Vanilla at all).
I'm not a fan of the Lovecraftian horror or the art but that's a matter of opinion. At the end of the day, this is the game that all future Turn-based squad tactics makers should refer to for their development decisions.
Reading up on the history of X-COM: UFO Defense, I came to realise that the greatest games of all time are very rarely the realisation of just *one* man. Many times, help and input came from others. Julian Gollop wasn't the only one who made UFO Defense what it was. There was valuable input from his brother, the top guys at Microprose, as well as the talents of many others on the team. They collectively made UFO Defense the unbelievably deep, engaging and immersive game it still is today. Lightning in a bottle -- that rare exception in the medium where people of exceptional talent were united and their vision unified into a cohesive whole. A true masterpiece.
Which brings me to this modern-day issue where old devs long past their prime are given money by faithful fans, based on the glories of their past work. But the old dev ain't what he used to be... and he's got other motives now. So, we end up with games like Mighty No. 9, Shenmue III, Yooka-Laylee, R-Type Final 2, Left Alive, et al. All spearheaded by once well-respected visionaries. And where's their reputations now?
Unfortunately, I have to add Phoenix Point to that list.
This game is a terrible disappointment coming fresh off playing X-COM: UFO Defense. It isn't unplayable, but so many things you'd expect to have control over in this game, you don't. It feels like a slog to get through, with some missions infinitely spawning enemies, lending to the game's already glacial pace. Multiple releases of paid DLC, some of which made the game worse. Main characters and story are souless clichés. Adding to that several selfish executive decisions, like the whole Epic Games Store exclusivity backstab, as well as the disgusting EULA agreement (you *must* accept) that is invasive to say the least, even for a supposedly DRM-free game. And trying this game for a second time with the new TFTV mod didn't even give it the complete overhaul I was hoping for.
In short, Gollop has sullied his reputation with Phoenix Point.
Did you play xcom and think that it would be much better if it was:
slower, much less fun and had terrible music?
Because that's what's on offer.
The game is a slow, dreary and boring slog.
Cannot recommend to anyone.
Enemies respawn endlessly and don't grant exp on killing them (the team gets a fixed amount for completing the mission) so combat just feels like busy work and when the core gameplay loop feels like busy work you've made a bad game.
I think the intent was to make the player feel pressured and on the backfoot instead you just feel like you're box checking.
It got a little more fun after I swapped the music for something with some energy but it's still too dull to enjoy.
This game is worse than xcom apocalypse, it's worse than xcom interceptor, it's worse than ufo aftermath and about on a par with ufo aftershock.