Good things come to those who wait.
I have had my eye on XCOM 2 for a few months now, and since it’s often on sale I got tempted every time and nearly bought it.
However, I haven’t played a game quite like this before and was worried that I wouldn’t like it.
However, thanks to PS Plus I finally got it for free. Cheers!
20 years after an alien race successfully invades and conquers Earth, a resistance group known as XCOM refuses to give up without one hell of a fight. You lead your soldiers in the fight to reclaim the Earth.
The gameplay sounds simple when written, you give your team orders to complete the objective. However, there is a bit more to it than that. With every attack there is a chance it might not hit, you are given a percentage of how likely it is that attack will work.
There are different enemies with different abilities and vulnerabilities. You need to be careful as once a character dies there is no way to bring them back.
Well, unless you are like me and quit and redo the level when your favourite fighter bites the dust. I am slightly ashamed but I will not apologise.
Anyway, as it is a turn-based tactics game you take it in turns to position your troops and attack then the aliens get their turn.
As I said at the beginning, this is the first tactical RPG I have played. So far I am enjoying it but man, has it been a learning curve. The combat is only half the game, the other half is running, maintaining and upgrading The Avenger, your base of operations.
On top of that, you need to keep an eye on the enemies progress which is a ticking clock that makes every choice matter.
I would describe XCOM 2 as frustratingly fun. Sure you get some rounds that are easy and straightforward but at least in my experience the second you think to yourself “Hey, this is going well” the tables turn and you are frantically trying to keep the rest of your team alive as you complete your mission.
Something I really appreciate is just how much you can customise your soldiers. I didn’t know until digging around in the options that you can create Scottish characters! After years of complaining about the lack of Scots in games, it is such a joy to finally have that option.
In fact, my team is nothing but Scottish women. After all, nothing is more terrifying than a raging Scottish lass. Get an army of them and watch the bloodshed. There would not be a war for Earth, it would be an alien massacre.
Tell me I’m wrong.
Needless to say that I made myself, but I also made my sister who ended up as a ranger. The annoying part is her attacks keep failing even when the percentage is over 80% leaving her in the open and often dying. I have lost count of how many times I have quit and redid a level because of her.
XCOM 2 is one of those games that makes you feel like a strategic genius one minute, then a complete idiot the next. Which is part of the reason I love it so much! Nothing is more satisfying than completing a mission with your full team still alive.
I highly recommend this game, even though I’ve been caught screaming that it should have hit IT IT WAS POINT BLANK RANGE ahem, I find myself coming back for more every chance I get.
Speaking of which, time to save Earth. See you later!
Nerd Rambles 