XCOM Enemy Unknown

[Mr E]

And I still haven't completed this on classic with ironman enabled. Must try again.

[JFReturns]

Got quite far now on Ironman Classic, and for the first time ever got spanked. Managed to save my sniper but the rest of the team were wiped out, mainly due to four heavy mutons, three(!) cyberdisks and a two outsider aliens all appearing at once!

[ArsE92]

Picked this up on PS3 a couple of weeks ago and really enjoying it. Such a time-sink!

I've already lost Nigeria, and I've got the option to raid the alien base, but I'm trying to make sure that my soldiers are all kitted up appropriately. Unfortunately, this meant I had to raid a landed UFO in the meantime and I lost four guys, two of them Majors

I've still got me though, as a Colonel. Everyone does that right? Customises a player to be themselves?

[Mr E]

JFReturns said:

Got quite far now on Ironman Classic, and for the first time ever got spanked. Managed to save my sniper but the rest of the team were wiped out, mainly due to four heavy mutons, three(!) cyberdisks and a two outsider aliens all appearing at once!

Loving the names.


I'm debating another run through with ironman on; got slaughtered mid game last time and never recovered....

[Shinobi]

Playing through with Marathon mode on now and the DLC great missions but quite short. Really enjoying it even on my fourth play through, classic ironman next.....

[Mr E]

Running through again with some second wave options on.

Quite different when being flanked absolutely definitely will get you killed (rather than just probably).

A wider range of damage makes snipers a bit more of a lottery as well.

[tenohfive]

Steam have knocked a fair chunk off this and I'm thinking about getting a copy. Any of the DLC worth the money?

[Flibble]

tenohfive said:

Steam have knocked a fair chunk off this and I'm thinking about getting a copy. Any of the DLC worth the money?

Not really, the slingshot stuff is too short to be worth it really, though they do provide access to some nice tech much earlier than usual and you get a decent free solider.

[Shinobi]

Very much looking forward to the Enemy within add on/game. Mech suits and genetically improved soldiers!

Roll on November

[tenohfive]

Thoroughly enjoying this, one of the best games I've bought in awhile. After a few hours I can now just about get through some of the missions without losing any of my squad which is progress.

Definitely an atmospheric game - I'm slightly less keen on playing it with the lights off than I was at first, and find myself clustering my squad together when the music get's creepy and I can't see any aliens.

[Flibble]

tenohfive said:

Thoroughly enjoying this, one of the best games I've bought in awhile. After a few hours I can now just about get through some of the missions without losing any of my squad which is progress.

Watch your flanks, keeping people in cover (full ideally) is how you stop them dying. That and blasting all the aliens on your turn so they don't get to shoot back. Moving the front people first really helps with this as then hopefully you discover aliens with the first 1 or 2 moves and have plenty left for shooting.

[Mr E]

Flibble said:

Watch your flanks, keeping people in cover (full ideally) is how you stop them dying.

Indeed. And once moderately levelled up and laser weapons are available, snipers become gods. Many an assault has flushed out bugs and been saved by an angel of death from afar.

There's a new one coming is there not?
http://www.xcom.com/enemywithin/us/

[Mr E]

Oh, and it's out on iOS as well. £14 though....

[Flibble]

Mr E said:

Indeed. And once moderately levelled up and laser weapons are available, snipers become gods. Many an assault has flushed out bugs and been saved by an angel of death from afar.

Double tap snipers with plasma rifles are basically orbital death cannons. Especially if you have the second wave options for random stats on and get one with randomly high aim...

[scrubchub]

Hmmmm... interesting game, that I have to profess I dont quite 'get' yet. I knew that it was difficult before I brought it, but it seems rather unfair to me. Just had a mission where the enemy were those annoying floaty aliens, and none of my squad could hit any of them Had a team of five pouring shots into one of them, every single one missed and then lo and behold, two shots from them and my most experienced soldier is dead. How do you compete with that?

I really want to like this game, but I'm feeling like I just won't have the time or patience to dedicate to this one.

Tips appreciated!

[Shinobi]

scrubchub said:

Hmmmm... interesting game, that I have to profess I dont quite 'get' yet. I knew that it was difficult before I brought it, but it seems rather unfair to me. Just had a mission where the enemy were those annoying floaty aliens, and none of my squad could hit any of them Had a team of five pouring shots into one of them, every single one missed and then lo and behold, two shots from them and my most experienced soldier is dead. How do you compete with that?

I really want to like this game, but I'm feeling like I just won't have the time or patience to dedicate to this one.

Tips appreciated!

Keep your squad close together, don't advance more than one turn so you have over watch and don't leave them without full cover. The point of the game is that at the start you are outmatched, you are a response team on the back foot. You need to survive and research.

Good luck

[Mr E]

said:

Tips appreciated!

Cover cover and more cover. And expect to die. You're puny humans engaging technically advanced bad guys, death is reasonably certain.

Push forward slowly, and move the front man first. Worst case he can scuttle back to cover and the rest of the squad can sit in over watch.

As discussed, snipers are gods.

[scrubchub]

Thanks for the tips, quite looking forward to getting back into it. Feel like a bit of a twonk for the whiny post earlier, but the game had put me in a bad mood!

I'm only a couple of game months in and have already lost China and panic is building everywhere, but i don't think I've done much wrong. Haven't failed any missions and followed some online tips for base building. Definetly need some better armour and weapons but haven't got the materials to buy them and spent all my money on getting satellite uplinks installed!

Is there a game over in this game? I assume when you lose all the countries? Doesn't seem like it will take long!

Also, is there anything I'm doing wrong with shooting? My guys hardly ever hit and when they're in overwatch it's basically never, near as makes no difference. Very frustrating to have your whole squad unload on a bad guy and have them all miss. I'm not shooting with a ridiculously low percentage either, normally around the 50% to 70% chance to hit.

I hate losing the veterans as well so frustrating and the rookies are gash.

[JFReturns]

scrubchub said:

Thanks for the tips, quite looking forward to getting back into it. Feel like a bit of a twonk for the whiny post earlier, but the game had put me in a bad mood!

I'm only a couple of game months in and have already lost China and panic is building everywhere, but i don't think I've done much wrong. Haven't failed any missions and followed some online tips for base building. Definetly need some better armour and weapons but haven't got the materials to buy them and spent all my money on getting satellite uplinks installed!

Is there a game over in this game? I assume when you lose all the countries? Doesn't seem like it will take long!

Also, is there anything I'm doing wrong with shooting? My guys hardly ever hit and when they're in overwatch it's basically never, near as makes no difference. Very frustrating to have your whole squad unload on a bad guy and have them all miss. I'm not shooting with a ridiculously low percentage either, normally around the 50% to 70% chance to hit.

I hate losing the veterans as well so frustrating and the rookies are gash.

Hi mate,

I loved the original X-COM and I love this one more, and have completed it twice (Iron Man Classic most recently) so have learned a few things. In fact I only lost two soldiers the second time round.

Your early priority is satellites. Build them ALWAYS, and if you can, launch them on paniced countries just before the monthly reviews.

In terms of in game tactics, there are loads of guides online that talk you through research builds and in battle tips. What I have found is:

- Overwatch is key. Move one squad member forward, and advance no others further. Overwatch the lot. Theres nothing worse than on your final move discovering a group of mutons that flank you
- Use explosives A LOT. Ignore the scientist, she talks b0llocks. First few rounds, grenade the 'nids, then use your heavys to blast their cover away with rockets
- Level up a sniper to get squad site as soon as possible. You can use grenades to aid this. Once done, get them onto higher ground with good visibility and leave them there
- Advance with assault troopers. Rapid reflex is very useful
- Don't worry too much about capturing the insider. Get researched up, get good satellite coverage, take your time. Before using the arc thrower, soften the target up with a pistol first. Increases the chances of a successful stun
- Scopes are very useful, are you using them? Replace grenades with them
- Once you research lasers, you are in a strong position. Keep units overwatched and covering each other and lack of armour shouldn't matter too much

If you need tips on the final mission, let me know. I've mastered it

[Shinobi]

JFReturns said:

Hi mate,

I loved the original X-COM and I love this one more, and have completed it twice (Iron Man Classic most recently) so have learned a few things. In fact I only lost two soldiers the second time round.

Your early priority is satellites. Build them ALWAYS, and if you can, launch them on paniced countries just before the monthly reviews.

In terms of in game tactics, there are loads of guides online that talk you through research builds and in battle tips. What I have found is:

- Overwatch is key. Move one squad member forward, and advance no others further. Overwatch the lot. Theres nothing worse than on your final move discovering a group of mutons that flank you
- Use explosives A LOT. Ignore the scientist, she talks b0llocks. First few rounds, grenade the 'nids, then use your heavys to blast their cover away with rockets
- Level up a sniper to get squad site as soon as possible. You can use grenades to aid this. Once done, get them onto higher ground with good visibility and leave them there
- Advance with assault troopers. Rapid reflex is very useful
- Don't worry too much about capturing the insider. Get researched up, get good satellite coverage, take your time. Before using the arc thrower, soften the target up with a pistol first. Increases the chances of a successful stun
- Scopes are very useful, are you using them? Replace grenades with them
- Once you research lasers, you are in a strong position. Keep units overwatched and covering each other and lack of armour shouldn't matter too much

If you need tips on the final mission, let me know. I've mastered it

This guy above knows his stuff, only hing I would disagree with is don't use explosives unless it's your only option. My reason for that is to sell the weapon fragments etc.