XCOM Enemy Unknown
Discussion
I cleared the first set piece last night (trying not to give too much away).
Lots of dead aliens, all operatives survived. All operatives are wounded, so the next mission is not going to be fun at all.
Finding panic hard to handle. I have a particular heavy who is *very* susceptible to losing it. Problem is, she's a bloody good shot...
I'm going to have to reduce the add-ons/equipment I'm carrying for more nano-vests and medikits to enhance my survival, which means I'm going to be able to attempt to capture less live aliens.
And that's a problem because I *really* need their guns....
Lots of dead aliens, all operatives survived. All operatives are wounded, so the next mission is not going to be fun at all.
Finding panic hard to handle. I have a particular heavy who is *very* susceptible to losing it. Problem is, she's a bloody good shot...
I'm going to have to reduce the add-ons/equipment I'm carrying for more nano-vests and medikits to enhance my survival, which means I'm going to be able to attempt to capture less live aliens.
And that's a problem because I *really* need their guns....
hostyle said:
What I do find annoying though is that you can't choose wich role a soldier will get.
I think you can influence it by using rookies in a particular way.I've been plugging away a bit more now and I'm slowly coming round to it, but there's one thing I'm finding infuriating, and that's the AI of the aliens.
Twice now I've lost troopers because an alien has shot through objects or walls and killed them, despite them being completely hidden from the alien, and in cover. I just don't understand how putting a trooper on the corner of a building, hidden from view, can mean the alien will shoot at him and manage to kill him through two solid walls - all without even knowing he's there or damaging the walls!
It seems its lost a lot of its 'realism' for want of a better word; and just become an isometric cover-based shooter such as Full Spectrum Warrior or Gears of War. Full cover in XCOM should be exactly that, not just provide a reduction in your chances of being hit.
Oh, and the aliens getting a free turn when you first find them is annoying too. Putting someone on overwatch will only have an effect if the aliens are within their line of sight. All too often I've found two aliens right next to each other, thought "Jackpot, grenade double kill!" only to get a cut scene where they get startled and run off behind cover whilst my trooper stands there doing nothing. It's not turn-based gameplay when the other team gets to jump in and have a free move every time it looks like you have the upper hand.
Twice now I've lost troopers because an alien has shot through objects or walls and killed them, despite them being completely hidden from the alien, and in cover. I just don't understand how putting a trooper on the corner of a building, hidden from view, can mean the alien will shoot at him and manage to kill him through two solid walls - all without even knowing he's there or damaging the walls!
It seems its lost a lot of its 'realism' for want of a better word; and just become an isometric cover-based shooter such as Full Spectrum Warrior or Gears of War. Full cover in XCOM should be exactly that, not just provide a reduction in your chances of being hit.
Oh, and the aliens getting a free turn when you first find them is annoying too. Putting someone on overwatch will only have an effect if the aliens are within their line of sight. All too often I've found two aliens right next to each other, thought "Jackpot, grenade double kill!" only to get a cut scene where they get startled and run off behind cover whilst my trooper stands there doing nothing. It's not turn-based gameplay when the other team gets to jump in and have a free move every time it looks like you have the upper hand.
Edited by Brigand on Thursday 18th October 23:16
I have a single update from last nights efforts.
God-Damned chrysalids.
My snipers kick arse, but it doesn't help if the bloody things just walk through a hail of laser and plasma fire.
God-Damned chrysalids.
My snipers kick arse, but it doesn't help if the bloody things just walk through a hail of laser and plasma fire.
Brigand said:
Twice now I've lost troopers because an alien has shot through objects or walls and killed them, despite them being completely hidden from the alien, and in cover.
It is a bit odd, but to be fair to it, I've returned the favour on overwatch numerous times.Edited by Mr E on Friday 19th October 10:47
I've recovered the situation and am gradually stealing a lead. BUT, the game is heavily flawed in ways I don't remember the original being.
As mentioned above the preternatural ability of the aliens to see through walls is a PITA, but for me it's their ridiculous accuracy when in over-watch. Compare this to my sniper major fitted with an enhanced scope who seems incapable of hitting a barn door from 10ft when also in over-watch and it becomes no fun and just annoying. As for the rest of my troops - FFS they're supposed to be SF soldiers and missing a hulking monster that's only 2 squares away with a plasma machine gun is just daft. It combines to make approaching some levels almost impossible without taking heavy damage.
The final straw for me though was last night. I was on a terror mission in Egypt trying to save civilians and moving as fast as was possible - using sensor grenades to speed my advance - and I only managed to save three civies as on every turn the aliens killed a couple or three before I could even make first contact. And to cap it off one of my oldest soldiers spotted one of those massive bio robots, panicked, and instead of running away, went and stood next to it so was killed on the next turn.
Whilst I'm largely enjoying it, the AI and firing model needs a major overhaul IMO as it's seriously pissing me off now. You really shouldn't be in a situation where you have a squad of 6 vets all in over-watch and all miss an alien that's advancing.
As mentioned above the preternatural ability of the aliens to see through walls is a PITA, but for me it's their ridiculous accuracy when in over-watch. Compare this to my sniper major fitted with an enhanced scope who seems incapable of hitting a barn door from 10ft when also in over-watch and it becomes no fun and just annoying. As for the rest of my troops - FFS they're supposed to be SF soldiers and missing a hulking monster that's only 2 squares away with a plasma machine gun is just daft. It combines to make approaching some levels almost impossible without taking heavy damage.
The final straw for me though was last night. I was on a terror mission in Egypt trying to save civilians and moving as fast as was possible - using sensor grenades to speed my advance - and I only managed to save three civies as on every turn the aliens killed a couple or three before I could even make first contact. And to cap it off one of my oldest soldiers spotted one of those massive bio robots, panicked, and instead of running away, went and stood next to it so was killed on the next turn.
Whilst I'm largely enjoying it, the AI and firing model needs a major overhaul IMO as it's seriously pissing me off now. You really shouldn't be in a situation where you have a squad of 6 vets all in over-watch and all miss an alien that's advancing.
Mr E said:
I lied. I've remembered another one;
"Aaah, a cyber-disc; I remember these guys.........holy hell what has that just done?"
Completed it last night, I feel I perhaps may have waited a tad too long to launch the final mission as my chaps pretty much smashed all opposition out of the way. (All six are colonel rank, and sodding great shots)"Aaah, a cyber-disc; I remember these guys.........holy hell what has that just done?"
Overwatch is critically important, especially when equipped with a sniper. (Around 200 kills with my best chap. The 'free' shot when killing an alien when out of cover from the 'In the Zone' perk comes into it's own when on overwatch. Never been more pleased when he dropped a hoard of Chrysalids one after the other.)
Did anyone notice that there seem to be less in the way of UFO intercepts now?
Also finished it. The ending - um what? What the fruck was the last alien going on about?
So, yes, dumbed down for the consoles. My heavies were useless.... their weapons nothing in comparison to Assault's alloy cannon, and Snipers Plasma. The only redeeming factor for my heavy was HEAT ammo and 100% damage on robotic units, but to be honest, most of the time I left him at home.
Usual squad layout: 2x Support, 2x Assault, 1x Sniper. Last spot would be between heavy, another sniper, or someone I wanted to level up in case he was needed later - a good tactic for when Psi abilities come unlocked to have a lot of people levelled up - no fun taking rookies in to face mechs.
So, why cant we get a proper inventory? A heavy with 1 rocket was pathetic. I understand the original may have been too much, but 1 grenade? Seriously? If I was going to face some aliens I'd be packing an arsenal.
I'm going to play on Iron Man to up the challange, as I find I reload saved games if things go pear shaped.
Look, its a step in the right direction. Its XCOM, and a pretty fine attempt at a remake, but out of combat things irritated me a little.
How do I add a spoiler? I have a funny tale of the last fight.
So, yes, dumbed down for the consoles. My heavies were useless.... their weapons nothing in comparison to Assault's alloy cannon, and Snipers Plasma. The only redeeming factor for my heavy was HEAT ammo and 100% damage on robotic units, but to be honest, most of the time I left him at home.
Usual squad layout: 2x Support, 2x Assault, 1x Sniper. Last spot would be between heavy, another sniper, or someone I wanted to level up in case he was needed later - a good tactic for when Psi abilities come unlocked to have a lot of people levelled up - no fun taking rookies in to face mechs.
So, why cant we get a proper inventory? A heavy with 1 rocket was pathetic. I understand the original may have been too much, but 1 grenade? Seriously? If I was going to face some aliens I'd be packing an arsenal.
I'm going to play on Iron Man to up the challange, as I find I reload saved games if things go pear shaped.
Look, its a step in the right direction. Its XCOM, and a pretty fine attempt at a remake, but out of combat things irritated me a little.
How do I add a spoiler? I have a funny tale of the last fight.
First tried on classic difficulty but struggled quite a bit so I restarted on normal and I'm now doing pretty well. At first I found the game frustrating probably because it is not like the original X-com games that I've played a lot of. Once I'd stopped picking at it for not being like the originals and accepted it as it is (well mostly) my enjoyment playing it has gone up quite a bit.
There are still somethings from the original that I still feel are missing though such as being able to pickup dropped equipment, shoot directly at the scenery and having more than one squad. I've been caught a couple of times now when I've just finished a mission only for an abduction or terror mission to come up and then disappear before I can get my squad back out. The other thing that is a bit dumb is being able to fire through obstacles and other units along with missing enemies when you're in their face, personally I'd have liked it if hostile and enemy shots are unmissable from at least one or two grid squares distance. The only other thing is the locked out actions bug during a mission but hopefully it should be fixed soon as it appears to have been acknowledge by Firaxis on their forums.
There are still somethings from the original that I still feel are missing though such as being able to pickup dropped equipment, shoot directly at the scenery and having more than one squad. I've been caught a couple of times now when I've just finished a mission only for an abduction or terror mission to come up and then disappear before I can get my squad back out. The other thing that is a bit dumb is being able to fire through obstacles and other units along with missing enemies when you're in their face, personally I'd have liked it if hostile and enemy shots are unmissable from at least one or two grid squares distance. The only other thing is the locked out actions bug during a mission but hopefully it should be fixed soon as it appears to have been acknowledge by Firaxis on their forums.
My first game went pearshaped very quickly, all my vets were one-shotted by mutons. On my new game all was going swimmingly, except for research. All countries that were in a high state of panic gave me engineers or cash, no scientists. So now I'm facing mutons again, with just some laser rifles and no extra armour yet. And 4 countries on the brink of throwing in the towel.
Do I play through or start again? My soldiers are all pretty good, almost no rookies. Choices, choices...
Do I play through or start again? My soldiers are all pretty good, almost no rookies. Choices, choices...
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