XCOM Enemy Within preview

[Daverino]

Kokatu link:
http://kotaku.com/xcom-enemy-unknown-gets-its-first-major-expansion-this-1175378649

Interview with designers and discussion of new features:
http://youtu.be/GCSoqdOZ0-M

My quick take
The good:
1. Lots and lots and lots of new maps (47!) including an urban UFO crash.
2. Two new soldier types and at least one new alien. I'm hoping there are more and they just didn't want to spoil the fun.
3. Second wave option that gives flanking bonus the closer you are to flanking (no more binary flanking)
4. Map rebalancing on ALL the maps, tweaking cover and locations.
5. Flamethrowers

The questionable:
1. 'Meld' resource is scattered around the map and you need to collect it. Resource is needed for big upgrades. This feels very very VERY contrived to me.
2. No new story line. Apparently you will play the XCOM EU story line with all the new toys.
3. MEC soldiers appear creepy, as they look like a decapitated head on top of power armor.
4. MEC soldiers also appear overpowered as hell. XCOM EU squads were all about balance. I don't know how I would feel about a class that was superior to all others.

The unknown:
1. No mention of base defense, which I think was probably the number one request from the community.

The amusing:
1. Second Wave 'Save Scum' option will cause the RNG seed to reset upon reloading, allowing you to take that 1% sniper shot over and over and over until you hit.

I'm cautiously optimistic. They have to do 'Meld' in a really clever way to win me over, though.

Update:
New video showing gameplay of the new psionic and mech units:
http://youtu.be/buW1FtMOTwI
New trailer showing second new alien unit:
http://youtu.be/byi7TA4iaEU

 

[surfsatwerk]

So this is different than the other x-com game that is on presale at steam?

 

[WiseUp216]

So this is different than the other x-com game that is on presale at steam?

Very different.

You're thinking of XCOM Declassified: The Bureau which, as far as I know, has a very different game play mechanic than XCOM: EU and this Enemy Within DLC.

 

[Daverino]

Very different.

You're thinking of XCOM Declassified: The Bureau which, as far as I know, has a very different game play mechanic than XCOM: EU and this Enemy Within DLC.

It appears that XCOM Declassified is getting savaged by critics at the moment. I had a bad feeling about that game.

 

[WiseUp216]

It appears that XCOM Declassified is getting savaged by critics at the moment. I had a bad feeling about that game.

Yea, mixed reviews for sure.

I'm interested but not full price interested.

 

[Dankk]

It appears that XCOM Declassified is getting savaged by critics at the moment. I had a bad feeling about that game.

I wouldn't say it's getting "savaged", but it is getting some mediocre reviews. I'm still kinda interested in trying it though.

 

[irishScott]

The questionable:
1. 'Meld' resource is scattered around the map and you need to collect it. Resource is needed for big upgrades. This feels very very VERY contrived to me.
2. No new story line. Apparently you will play the XCOM EU story line with all the new toys.
3. MEC soldiers appear creepy, as they look like a decapitated head on top of power armor.
4. MEC soldiers also appear overpowered as hell. XCOM EU squads were all about balance. I don't know how I would feel about a class that was superior to all others.

The unknown:
1. No mention of base defense, which I think was probably the number one request from the community.

1. Contrived? No more "contrived" than having to capture live aliens to get their tech intact. Or Elerium required for big upgrades. It could suck if the timing is off though, I don't want to be losing more than half my squad every mission.

2. Where did they mention this? Also XCOM never really had a "story", it's plot is "aliens are invading earth, defeat them." It's never been a story-driven game, so even if it is the original EU "plot" I wouldn't mind all that much. However, the title "Enemy Within" would seem to imply some sort of infiltration, so while the overarching plot may be the same it might add a few chapters (which would make sense, as this is an expansion, not a new game)

3. I thought they looked kinda cool. If you want a more mech-ish look, remember you can always change the "hairstyle" to one of the helmets.

4. The apparent justification is that you're resource-limited, so you won't have that many and I'd imagine you have to use them wisely. All they've shown so far is combat with sectoids, and it makes sense that the MECH would wipe the floor with them. Remember, the aliens have these suits too. They also showed foot-soldiers taking out MECHs.

1. He said at the end of the interview that there was some stuff he really wanted to talk about but wasn't going to. Base defense may very well be that something, and would be a logical extension for an expansion.

 

[irishScott]

I wouldn't say it's getting "savaged", but it is getting some mediocre reviews. I'm still kinda interested in trying it though.

Same. Looks like it's going to be one of those love/hate games. I'm not going to be spending $50 on it though.

 

[taq8ojh]

Someone over at 2k forums pretty much summed up the thoughts about this expansion, saying more or less "I've just wet myself a little."

Please, take my $30! Take it right now!!
I know what will I play along with BF4.

The trouble is: 1) day only has 24 hours 2) I have a wife.

 

[Daverino]

What I mean by 'no new storyline' is that when you install Enemy Within and start a new game, you'll start with one satellite over one nation and two abduction missions per month. You'll start with no tech except a medkit. You can expect the same progression of

Spoiler

capture and alien -> capture an outsider -> raid the base -> capture the Ethereal device -> use the Gollop chamber -> Raid the enemy boss ship

that you have in XCOM:EU. Personally, I would have liked XCOM:EW insert more story elements into that line. As it was, I thought there was too little time between

Spoiler

getting Psionics and the end of the game,

but that's just me.

 

[taq8ojh]

I would have liked XCOM:EW insert more story elements into that line.

That might still happen. We don't know much yet.
And even if it doesn't, there will be so much new stuff it probably won't matter.

 

[acheron]

I think the idea with the "meld" resource is that in the original game, the best way to play was super-conservative, moving slowly etc. This way they are trying to get you to move your dudes more and take more risks to get the new resource and the upgrades.

 

[irishScott]

I think the idea with the "meld" resource is that in the original game, the best way to play was super-conservative, moving slowly etc. This way they are trying to get you to move your dudes more and take more risks to get the new resource and the upgrades.

True, but at the same time I really hope they don't end up like the bomb-disposal plot missions from the EU DLC, where the timers were so tight you were essentially forced to sacrifice units to achieve the mission. I'm not opposed to encouraging risk taking, but as they said in the interview, I can see myself putting two "red shirts" in every squad.

But it might not be so bad. New weapons/abilities could compensate. There might be some way up genetically modify a soldier for max movement, give them the most powerful armor, and have them be a designated meld retriever with enough HP to take the punishment from being exposed.

 

[taq8ojh]

True, but at the same time I really hope they don't end up like the bomb-disposal plot missions from the EU DLC, where the timers were so tight you were essentially forced to sacrifice units to achieve the mission

That was one of the easiest missions ever I found the train (where you have to activate some things) much, much harder, mostly because not fighting loust tin men, but rather mutons

 

[Daverino]

I've updated the thread with two new videos.

 

[thespyder]

I enjoyed Enemy Unknown, but after playing it to death, I am not necessarily seeing anything in the expansion that makes me want to get back into it. Personally, although EU was a good and fun game, it wasn't a great game like the original. And the new soldiers and additional maps merely look like they are trying to fix some of the problems of the original game that all of the reviews pointed out rather than actually giving new content.

 

[QuantumPion]

I hope they come out with the iOS version at the same time or shortly after.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

Looks awesome.

 

[Yreka]

Hmm November 12th for 29.99..

Fingers crossed for $9.99 during the winter steam sale

 

[irishScott]

TotalBiscuit PAX Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqqSRxuD_TM

Seekers (cloaking aliens that are programmed to sneak around, uncloak and ass-rape your lone snipers) sound like a bitch. They've also weakened squad-sight, heat ammo, added some cool 2nd wind options, more enemy types and apparently more mission types, and lots of other stuff.

All in all this sounds like it'll be what EU should have been, and given that it's using the same engine the bug level should be low. I'm psyched.