With the release of XCOM Chimera Squad upon us, I thought it’d be the perfect time for a retro-review of one of the greatest strategy games in recent memory, XCOM 2.
Fair warning, this game is a CHALLENGE. If you’re the type of person who’s not looking to overclock their brain trying to figure this game out, you might be better off trying something else. But if you’re the sort of person who loves the challenge that comes with games like Dark Souls and Hollow Knight, you’re going to love this one.
Picking up after the events of the previous XCOM, you take on the role of the commander of a rebel force desperately fighting against aliens that have invaded and now control the Earth. The story isn’t winning any points for originality, but the addictive gameplay more than makes up for a basic narrative. If you’re anything like me you’ll probably have more fun coming up with your own stories for the squad-members than engaging with the actual narrative (RIP Lt.Evans your sacrifice will always be remembered)
XCOM 2’s tactical gameplay has two very different facets. The first is the mission-to-mission combat, where you take command of a ragtag squad up to 6 customizable agents, and use a combination of teamwork and luck to try and complete objectives in randomly generated maps. Objectives range from hacking a terminal to rescuing a VIP, to killing absolutely everything in sight and getting out alive. Each member of your squad gets a limited number of actions to move, take cover, shoot enemies, use grenades and other tools, or activate special abilities.
While there is a STEEP learning curve and making the wrong move can be brutally punishing, pulling off a perfect ambush can make you feel like a strategic genius. The fights are often long-drawn-out affairs that really require you to think about using the environment to your advantage. If your enemies are hiding behind a low wall, why not use a grenade to destroy their cover and let your sniper go to town? Squad members level up and gain new abilities the more you use them, and half the fun is figuring out new combinations between different units. One of my favorite late-game combos was having a pistol sharpshooter weaken every enemy in sight, then have my blademaster ranger go in for a massive combo kill.
The other half of the game happens between missions on the Avenger, your flying base-of-operations. As the commander you have control over how the Avenger’s resources are used. Will you order your limited team of engineers to clear out another room for use, or get them working on a new prototype armour? Will you ask your scientists to prioritize the autopsy of a captured alien corpse, or have them work on decoding alien intel? While this might not sound as exciting as a firefight against alien shocktroopers, this part of the game is often MORE important than the missions.
Your rebel forces are in an urgent and constant arms race against enemies with greater numbers and greater resources as they slowly construct a doomsday weapon. Once that Avatar Project timer clicks up to 100% it’s Game Over. And improper management of your resources WILL lead your campaign to a permanent ending. On the other hand, playing this part of the game correctly can lead to massive tactical advantages during your missions (pro-tip: INVEST IN THE ARMOUR UPGRADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OH MY GOD).
XCOM 2’s emphasis on permanency is really what makes it so nail-biting and addictive. One wrong move in combat can lead to the death of a squad member, and character death IS final. Losing one of your oldest and most battle-hardened squadmates can be a devastating loss, especially if they were vital to your overall strategy. Making the wrong choice back in the Avenger can lead to crippling setbacks that leave you scrambling to keep the aliens off your back. Your enemies WILL take advantage of every mistake you make, and sometimes you’re going to have to make sacrifices for the greater good of the mission. In one of our last few missions, I ended up losing three of my most powerful units, but their deaths meant that the rest of my team could get away with vital resources I needed to begin our final strike on the alien stronghold.
XCOM 2 was my entry point to the series and introduced me to the franchise’s incredible tactical gameplay. Very few games have the ability to suck me in SO completely that I lose track of time; but one mission in XCOM very easily becomes two, which becomes a few upgrades back at base, which unlocks a weapon I’ve had my eye on, then a sudden rescue mission needs completing and whoops, there goes the day!
If i’m being honest, I had to restart my entire playthrough 3 times before the games mechanics finally clicked for me, but once they did, I was hooked. Don’t be discouraged if your first few tries look like the cutting room floor of the Game of Thrones writing room, you’ll get there in the end, and the Earth needs you now more than ever.
