Who's preordering X-COM?

[Howard]

One tactic that I quite like is MC the last baddie on the block. Then I have four rounds to position guys in strike range with Arc Throwers. When the Baddie comes around, ZAP, ZAP, ZAP and down they go. If nothing else, you get a free plasma gun out of the deal.

If you think about it, it is a real shame that you can't zap them WHILE they are under. or at least shoot them defenseless. Yeah, it is morally ambiguous, But then they are plundering our planet, so... All's fair in war. etc....

Once you get MC you don't need live captures anymore...

One interesting thing I learned is that you can kill stunned enemies with explosives. I was so happy to stun an Ethereal that I was bewildered when I noticed at mission-end that I plundered an Ethereal corpse. I realized it was because I used grenades in the area after stunning.

 

[Howard]

Another thing you can do with Ghost Armor and Bulletstorm Heavies is shoot _then_ cloak.

What's going to stand up to a two-shot in the first place?

Does anybody have a transcript of the mastermind's speech in the boss fight? Couldn't hear everything clearly.

 

[thespyder]

Once you get MC you don't need live captures anymore...

To get free alien tech, you do.

 

[Howard]

To get free alien tech, you do.

Like what?

EDIT: Oh, you mean free loot. My point is, MC's basically the last thing you end up with, so you should already be decked out with Plasma Rifles.

 

[kevinsbane]

I learned to start carrying more grenades just for that reason. I could always get the victim to get to low HP easily, and then I would have one of my guys mop up with their own grenade if it was the end of the mission.

I'd rather not start tying up slots with grenades just to kill MC'd aliens. I found niche uses for MC, but I just couldn't bother with it after a while. It always seemed to boil down to... "Do I MC this muton? Or do I leave it alone and blow up that sectopod?"

On their last turn, put them out in the open and have all your guys in full cover and overwatch. Since they don't have a grenade (you should've used theirs already), they will probably miss and are going to die quickly.

I did that once... and the elite muton decided it wasn't gonna move and shot at once of my guys... hit him... and sent him critical :-/

Oh, if you MC a baddie... you get their items regardless if you kill them or not. Bit of a bug, that one.

 

[Howard]

I'd rather not start tying up slots with grenades just to kill MC'd aliens. I found niche uses for MC, but I just couldn't bother with it after a while. It always seemed to boil down to... "Do I MC this muton? Or do I leave it alone and blow up that sectopod?"



I did that once... and the elite muton decided it wasn't gonna move and shot at once of my guys... hit him... and sent him critical :-/

Oh, if you MC a baddie... you get their items regardless if you kill them or not. Bit of a bug, that one.

You only need to kill the MCed if all the other aliens are dead. If they aren't, keep sending them forward to scout and deal damage. It really isn't a big deal.

Maybe you need to prioritize other items in Classic or Impossible but I figure by the time you need to start worrying about what to do with MCed aliens, the game isn't nearly as difficult.

 

[Martimus]

Like what?

EDIT: Oh, you mean free loot. My point is, MC's basically the last thing you end up with, so you should already be decked out with Plasma Rifles.

I got mind control relatively early. I had 2 light plasma rifles when I got it on the first guy, and only carapace armor piece on the armor side.

 

[thespyder]

I got mind control relatively early. I had 2 light plasma rifles when I got it on the first guy, and only carapace armor piece on the armor side.

This. I also got MC significantly before I was "All Decked out". Plus, you can never have enough loot.

I do have to say that I miss the fact you can't sell excess equipment. That was a revenue stream in the earlier games. It also shows a more normal economy.

 

[nanobreath]

This. I also got MC significantly before I was "All Decked out". Plus, you can never have enough loot.

I do have to say that I miss the fact you can't sell excess equipment. That was a revenue stream in the earlier games. It also shows a more normal economy.

You cant sell them, but you can get requests from countries wanting the weapons, and they usually give a large cash reward for it.

 

[thespyder]

You cant sell them, but you can get requests from countries wanting the weapons, and they usually give a large cash reward for it.

True enough. But it isn't the same thing. I can't go into mass production of weapons like you could in the old game, knowing that there was a ready market (which there would be). It is a very small thing in the grand scheme of things in any case.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

True enough. But it isn't the same thing. I can't go into mass production of weapons like you could in the old game, knowing that there was a ready market (which there would be). It is a very small thing in the grand scheme of things in any case.

But once you had 2-3 bases mass producing gauss cannons and swapping the technicians from base to base every month to take advantage of the payroll glitch, it was kind of OP.

(You could also basically fund from selling salvage by the time you have advanced fighters with plasma cannons and advanced HWPs to kill the aliens without risking your troops. My best score was 25k points in a single month, virtually all from recovery missions.)

 

[thespyder]

But once you had 2-3 bases mass producing gauss cannons and swapping the technicians from base to base every month to take advantage of the payroll glitch, it was kind of OP.

(You could also basically fund from selling salvage by the time you have advanced fighters with plasma cannons and advanced HWPs to kill the aliens without risking your troops. My best score was 25k points in a single month, virtually all from recovery missions.)

So then you are in agreement with me that it isn't the same thing?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

So then you are in agreement with me that it isn't the same thing?

Well, yeah. It just sounded like you were lamenting the change and I'm saying it's better. Or at least less exploitable.

 

[nanobreath]

Well the big difference between the two is in the original there was a manufacturing time on everything, whereas now they only exist on the bigger items. So you could manufacture simple things and make some money selling them because it was balanced by the time to manufacture them. But now, a lot of the smaller items manufacture instantly. So if you could sell them, it would have to be at a loss in order to balance it. Which would only be nice to sell old equipment you don't use anymore.

 

[Howard]

This. I also got MC significantly before I was "All Decked out". Plus, you can never have enough loot.

I do have to say that I miss the fact you can't sell excess equipment. That was a revenue stream in the earlier games. It also shows a more normal economy.

Weird. I don't know why it took me so long to get.

If it works out for you that way, great. Just got to make sure you survive their reverting shot.

 

[Clinkster]

Weird. I don't know why it took me so long to get.

If it works out for you that way, great. Just got to make sure you survive their reverting shot.

You may have taken your time, or tech rushed.

To get MC, you have to rush through the main story objectives.

 

[thespyder]

Well, yeah. It just sounded like you were lamenting the change and I'm saying it's better. Or at least less exploitable.

I was lamenting the change. And although the new way is (arguably) less exploitable, it is less realistic. I think that an alternate solution could have satisfied both needs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the game. but I likewise understand why it is only getting an 8.5 instead of a 9 or 9.5. There are a number of changes that were made for the console ports, and a few others (plus a few significant bugs) which hold it back from the greatness it could have been.

Still loving the game though.

 

[you2]

So I've been reading this thread for a bit and have two questions:

Does the demo accurately represent the game?

Is the game any good ?
-
Please note I have never played the original xcom so no need to compare;

 

[nanobreath]

So I've been reading this thread for a bit and have two questions:

Does the demo accurately represent the game?

Is the game any good ?
-
Please note I have never played the original xcom so no need to compare;

You obviously have NOT read this thread, because everybody has answered the question of it's quality and how good it is a dozen times.

No, the demo is the first part of the tutorial, and does a crappy job of giving a good taste of what the game is really like.

 

[Martimus]

Yeah, the demo sucks. I avoided the game for the first week based on the bad demo. I read through this thread, and saw what people were saying about the game, and I couldn't help but buy it on the week I didn't have my daughter. The game is very good, with a few niggling issues.

 

[Ashenor]

I never played the first one, played the Demo and i am interested in more.

On the fence between the xbox and PC version. I assume most here will say PC version, any Xbox voters at all?

Anything i should know watch out for going in as a newbie to the series?

Thanks

 

[thespyder]

So I've been reading this thread for a bit and have two questions:

Does the demo accurately represent the game?

Is the game any good ?
-
Please note I have never played the original xcom so no need to compare;

So my assessment of the game is as follows. It is an excellent squad based turn based tactical simulation game with an excellent story.

Graphically it may not be ground breaking, but it is appropriate for the type of game that it is and doesn't leave you feeling like it is last year's technology. There are one or two notable programming bugs which, although annoying, don't ruin the game.

Strategically, there are a lot of elements and many moments in the game where you just want one more turn. Or where you are on the edge of your seat when you make a move or hit the turn button. And there are enough tough decisions that you really have to think out a strategy in most encounters. Plus, your soldiers aren't Rambo and they do die. More often than you will want unless you are playing the easiest level. There were a few choices that were clearly made for the purposes of making it console accessible, but nothing that will sour the experience.

Game play elements are good and well thought out. The story is well done and unfolds over time. The voice acting is appropriate if not necessarily award winning.

I can't speak to Multi-player as I haven't tried that yet. But from what is presented and what I have read, i would imagine that it is a decent add on, but not much more than that.

Overall, barring a few notable bugs and some minor consolization choices (both hardware and for the purposes of making it accessible to more casual gamers), it is a very good game. And quite enjoyable, particularly if you like turn based strategy games.

And no, the demo is not indicative of the game as a whole.

 

[Howard]

What's going to stand up to a two-shot in the first place?

Does anybody have a transcript of the mastermind's speech in the boss fight? Couldn't hear everything clearly.

Anyone?

 

[you2]

Thanks thespyder and others who responded.

So my assessment of the game is as follows. It is an excellent squad based turn based tactical simulation game with an excellent story.

Graphically it may not be ground breaking, but it is appropriate for the type of game that it is and doesn't leave you feeling like it is last year's technology. There are one or two notable programming bugs which, although annoying, don't ruin the game.

Strategically, there are a lot of elements and many moments in the game where you just want one more turn. Or where you are on the edge of your seat when you make a move or hit the turn button. And there are enough tough decisions that you really have to think out a strategy in most encounters. Plus, your soldiers aren't Rambo and they do die. More often than you will want unless you are playing the easiest level. There were a few choices that were clearly made for the purposes of making it console accessible, but nothing that will sour the experience.

Game play elements are good and well thought out. The story is well done and unfolds over time. The voice acting is appropriate if not necessarily award winning.

I can't speak to Multi-player as I haven't tried that yet. But from what is presented and what I have read, i would imagine that it is a decent add on, but not much more than that.

Overall, barring a few notable bugs and some minor consolization choices (both hardware and for the purposes of making it accessible to more casual gamers), it is a very good game. And quite enjoyable, particularly if you like turn based strategy games.

And no, the demo is not indicative of the game as a whole.

 

[Madia]

I never played the first one, played the Demo and i am interested in more.

On the fence between the xbox and PC version. I assume most here will say PC version, any Xbox voters at all?

Anything i should know watch out for going in as a newbie to the series?

Thanks

I went in completely blind not even playing the demo. As a newb to the series expect a bit of a learning curve and for it to be pretty tough at the beginning. Don't be surprised if you have to start over. It might be best to play it for 5 or 6 hours to learn the basics then start over once you got the basics down. Strategically I'd recommend postponing the priority missions for as long as possible. Also, satellites are a must and don't be surprised when a country or two withdraws from the Xcom project.

I'd go with the pc version but I still found it a bit buggy in spots. On missions with alien ships I'd often have problems when I took a shiv (robot) unit. I took one on the last mission and it prevented me from completing the game.

For anyone who never played an Xcom game before like me I'd highly recommend it. It's a great game and quite addictive and you really get invested in the fate of your soldiers. I would've liked a bit more customization for the soldiers though. To remember them you end up naming them after your friends, players on your favorite team, characters from your favorite films/tv shows, etc. However, the customization is pretty limited and it's hard to make them look similar to ther persons you're naming them after. I named most of my soldiers after characters on Lost and couldn't get the soldiers remotely close to looking like Hurley, Benjamin Linus, etc. I doubt anything official will change this but hopefully the mod community can.

For those of you on the fence I'd highly recommend the game but would wait until a patch since some parts are still buggy.