The Bureau X-Com Declassified

[Gelston]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/The-Bureau-XCOM-Declassified.jpg

A new X-Com set in the 60s. If it follows the same formula as the last, I'll get it and enjoy it for sure.

Coming out on August 20th. I didn't even know this thing was in development.

[Gizmo]

They delayed it a while ago, cause it was shitty, that's why.

Plus they opted to push the reboot out first instead.

This game is like a FPS and pretty shit compared to what X-Com is/was

[Gelston]

The description on steam says it is a third person tactical shooter. Maybe they changed it since then.

[Androidpk]

They delayed it in order to put out the other Xcom game out first as well as because there was a backlash against making it an FPS game. I'm not sure why they opted to change it though it was looking good. It still looks good but I'm not a fan of 3rd person shooters.

[Gelston]

They delayed it in order to put out the other Xcom game out first as well as because there was a backlash against making it an FPS game. I'm not sure why they opted to change it though it was looking good. It still looks good but I'm not a fan of 3rd person shooters.

I prefer third person shooters, to be honest. It is apparently compared to Republic Commando, which I sorta liked.

[Androidpk]

Wasn't Republic Commando first person view?

[Gizmo]

The description on steam says it is a third person tactical shooter. Maybe they changed it since then.

They may have changed it then since I remember.

I just know originally it was some weird FPS thing and alot of X-Com die hards freaked out.

I still like the original X-Coms and the Firaxis one myself, they just need to push out expansions now set in various timelines and not be as bad as TFTD was heh. The De-Classified game though just was unappealing to me in every way

[Gelston]

Wasn't Republic Commando first person view?

I believe it was switchable.

[Androidpk]

I thought what they were originally going for looked great. Fuck the whiny ass fanboys.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHGvNW4fhhI

[Tgo01]

This is for sale on Steam and there is some bonuses going on if enough people preorder. The first bonus has already been unlocked, 10% off the purchase price, currently costs 44.99, second unlock is a free game of "Spec Ops: The line" third unlock bonus is all past XCOM games, including the most recent one with its two expansion packs.

I don't know though, this game looks basically like the last game. If I didn't already own the entire XCOM franchise I would definitely buy it just for all of the past XCOM games alone.

[Taernath]

From the videos it looks like combat plays like Mass Effect. Chill out behind cover, and choose your abilities from the wheel, then combo them together. Mite be cool. It's better than the straight FPS that was presented a couple years ago at least. Still going to wait because a) I already own the other XCOM games plus PTSD: The Game, and b) combat was the least engaging aspect of Mass Effect. Oh, and c) Aliens Colonic Marines.

[Taernath]

Anyone pick it up? It looks like it's getting hammered pretty hard by a lot of reviewers

[Whirlin]

I picked it up... It's not like the last remake, but so far, not that bad... But I'm also an XCom Fanboy at heart...

[Gelston]

What I'm mostly reading is that the UI and the actual combat part of it is pretty good. Most people complaining about Peramdeath on the Squaddies and that is too different from XCom

[Whirlin]

What I'm mostly reading is that the UI and the actual combat part of it is pretty good. Most people complaining about Peramdeath on the Squaddies and that is too different from XCom

Perma death has always been XCom... People are too whiney about that. Give me a good Fire Emblem game with people's permadeaths. KIDS THESE DAYS!

The UI and combat seem fun at the moment, but yes, it is VERY different... it's like RTS Strategy FPS... Not sure if there were ever that level of squad command in another FPS style game before.

[Whirlin]

-Analysis of previous games versus recent game-

Ok... I've clocked in about 15 hours on 'classic' difficulty (3rd hardest of 4 initial difficulties).

Now... I mentioned earlier, that I am an XCom fanboy... I owned all three of the original games, which I played obsessively back in the day. I'll also say that across the board, ALL games nowadays are easier than they used to be!

The progression to this more real-time combat system is actually in line with old XCom titles. The most recent XCom Remake: XCom: Enemy Unknown is a direct revamp of the original XCom: UFO Defense. The progression timetable was expedited, the squad size reduced, aliens types decreased, classes for units introduced, difficulty decreased, and of course, complete graphics overhaul. All in all though, it was very true to the original game, and at the core, very similar.

The original XCom series followed with Terror From the Deep, which was almost a direct reboot of the XCom: UFO Defense title, but instead of being on land and air, you were in the Ocean. The main enemy at the end of the game for the original series was on some other planet, while this time, it was a localized invasion spurring from the depths of the Marianas Trench. The gameplay was a direct reboot with some minor graphical upgrades and general balancing of weapons, but overall, very similar research progression, squad usage, and basically the same game with a little more story aspect.

The end of XCom: Terror From the Deep basically destroys the wormhole that the aliens are using to get to Earth, but at the cost of completely destroying the atmosphere, and spurring an all out invasion of earth via conventional means... not exactly a happy ending.

This sets up for XCom: Apocalypse. In this game, humanity is reduced to one city, which is run by 26 or so corporations, each of which are driven by individual needs, and have their own beliefs and reputation. Keeping all 26 happy is actually impossible, given their conflicting demands. Throughout the game, there are skirmishes on the last human city through warp gates, XCom operatives can raid corporate HQ for cash or to potentially neutralize an alien threat, and XCom is basically responsible for everything the aliens do (in terms of paying for building damage when aliens just show up and start being dicks).

Soldiers, Engineers, Scientists become a lot more individualized in XCom Apocalypse. And quite honestly, the game was far too advanced for it's time with both a political style system, the interactions between the factions, and the AI that controls the aliens. But, most of these mechanics were lost to most players.

Xcom Apocalypse also introduced a real time strategy option... This took the typical XCom turn based strategy of the previous games, and executed all commands in a 'closer to real time' option. You could adjust the speed, and even stop the clock in order to issue commands. Think of something like Baldur's Gates' take on turn based... They also introduced squads, and squad orders (most people hadn't developed the uber micro back in these days) for easier management of your team. Overall, it was a giant leap for the series, and didn't really 'fit' with the others, unless you could see that they were lining up this game with the conclusion of Terror From the Deep.

-Skip to here if you just want my review thus far-

Ramble-y enough? So, where I'm going with this is that XCom: Enemy Unknown was akin to the first games of the old series, but then the progression to a more squad based, less turn based game was a natural progression for the new series to make, as it basically mirrors the old series.

The system is good... but a bit incomplete in terms of squad management and squad commands... Like, when issuing a move command, they'll stick like glue wherever you tell them to move and basically shut off basic AI that says, "Hey, there's a grenade here, may be a good idea to shift over behind the same piece of cover." But that's really my only critique. You can either spread out to flank a series of aliens, or you can stay grouped up in case someone dies for easy revival. There are 4 classes of soldiers, plus the main character (unique). Each getting their own ability sets.

Like I said, I've clocked probably only 15 hours into the game, and my soldier's progression seems to be very quick, and I'm not anticipating more content than maybe a 40-50 hour game (based on soldier level), but decent replayability... definitely less replayability than XCom: Enemy Unknown. The action is a bit high/low, with basically high action battles occurring, followed by about 5 minutes of exploration before the next battle, with very little action in between... However, pre-established, background, save points, fits with the occasional battles rather than constant action. Because man ohh man... you can definitely game XCom: Enemy Unknown by just saving EVERY turn (if not on ironman mode).

All in all, I do recommend the game, I'm hesitant to give it a standing ovation at this price point. I bought it during the pre-sale, so I got a bunch of extras and 5% off... And while I may be completely wrong about the total gametime, for a game this length, in today's time of so many independent, good games to purchase for cheap, I'd put the price point closer to $30. It's a game that will definitely go on sale as a Steam Special, or be discounted heavily during their Christmas sale.

[Gelston]

Well, hopefully it does horribly sales wise and I can pick it up for 9.99 sooner.

[Taernath]

It's $12.50 right now for another 16 hours.

I got it. It's... I don't know. The gameplay is pretty much like I predicted, and the storyline is good. The AI however, holy crap, terrible and glitchy as fuck. Whirlin mentioned they don't use cover effectively, and that's definitely true. They'll ignore threats and just sit there, and even if you tell them to regroup on you they sometimes don't do anything. Getting a squadmate to revive you only works about 50% of the time as they'll sometimes glitch out on a corner and watch you bleed to death.

I'm only about 4 hours in but had to take a break after my engineer guy got himself killed by rushing 4 outsiders instead of placing a mine in front of his cover.

[Jarvan]

The original XCom series followed with Terror From the Deep, which was almost a direct reboot of the XCom: UFO Defense title, but instead of being on land and air, you were in the Ocean. The main enemy at the end of the game for the original series was on some other planet, while this time, it was a localized invasion spurring from the depths of the Marianas Trench. The gameplay was a direct reboot with some minor graphical upgrades and general balancing of weapons, but overall, very similar research progression, squad usage, and basically the same game with a little more story aspect.

The end of XCom: Terror From the Deep basically destroys the wormhole that the aliens are using to get to Earth, but at the cost of completely destroying the atmosphere, and spurring an all out invasion of earth via conventional means... not exactly a happy ending.



So Pacific Rim stole it's plot from the game, got ya.