As with most games, however, the answers didn’t appear overnight. Constant iteration throughout development is why XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2 are such great games. Even the original XCOM titles such as X-Com: Apocalypse went through quite a chaotic development cycle. Here are 10 facts about the XCOM franchise’s development most don’t know about. This list is in no particular or

While we ran into a few sporadic graphical and gameplay glitches, the game is a very polished title that should entertain fans new and old. At the end of the day, XCOM 2 is the poster boy of the modern turn-based Slg Strategy Guide game. The game can feel unfair at times, but Firaxis has crafted a dynamic experience with virtually limitless replay value and a constant level of challenge. Fans of the series will find plenty of enjoyment watching the XCOM troops struggle to protect mankind once again, and Firaxis can pat themselves on the back for making one of the most addictive and rewarding strategy games of all t

Many XCOM fans were shocked that Firaxis announced and released a new XCOM game within the same month. XCOM: Chimera Squad is a strange title that changes much of the core XCOM formula. Regardless of someone’s stance on the game’s changes, it was intended to be a giant experiment and entry point for the ser

Unlike Sharpshooters, they can unload their entire magazine at once if one bullet doesn’t cut it. Banish allows Reapers to unload their entire magazine into a single target, with that single target restriction removed with an upgrade later on. With an extended mag modification, Reapers can take down the toughest enemies in XCOM with a single action, making them incredible for harder late-game cont

XCOM 2 introduces plenty of new gameplay elements that fit this new style, like player-placed extraction zones, the aforementioned ambushes, and a complete restructuring of character classes to reflect the focus on guerrilla combat. Players will find themselves thinking hard about which classes to bring into a particular firefight, and finding the right combination of soldier types will be a hard-fought trial-and-error process. Likewise, when players start in concealment – a new stealth aspect that is brand new to the franchise – they’ll find themselves tediously organizing ambushes to maximize their overwatch impact, and we found the new gameplay complimented XCOM 2 quite nic

Some XCOM players swear that the percentage chance they have to hit a target is factually incorrect . Incredibly unlucky players have expressed that they miss 100% shots even though they should always land while players have sworn that an 85% chance to hit almost always la

If it isn’t evident already, this is a meaty expansion. Firaxis Games has done a splendid job adding details that have far-reaching implications for the game as whole, and this makes playing through the game with the expansion enabled feel like a completely new experience. It’s a huge challenge to take all the new introductions in stride at once, but nobody plays XCOM because it’s e

The Lost add an entire new layer of strategy to missions, as players need to tread carefully lest they find themselves boxed in a back alley surrounded by swarms of ashen zombies on all sides. They’re not a huge threat compared to the ADVENT, but they certainly throw a wrench in otherwise routine missions. That’s likely why Firaxis Games has introduced unique mission modifiers called sit reps, which can fill a map with volatile explosives or require that only low-ranked soldiers be sent on certain missions. It’s all about a variety of added challenges, and War of the Chosen provides this in spa

A decent tank in a game where they are needed, the Assault class does what it needs to in Enemy Unknown . All of the Assault Class’s abilities help it do what it needs to: get in the enemy’s face and shoot it with a shot

This class is overshadowed by its successor because the Ranger gets more utility-based abilities. The Assault class only gets abilities centered around fighting. While this is great for Enemy Unknown, it wouldn’t work well for a game like XCO

Beyond this, players can bolster their own forces with a few clever additions to the original formula. Soldiers can now gain ability points for performing tactical moves, like flank shots or ambush kills, and spend them on additional skills to use in battle. While the original menu of two skill options still exists, a few seemingly random third skill slots are available for purchase now, making each soldier’s respective skill tree even more unique. Soldiers can also bond with squadmates they spend time on the battlefield with (a la Fire Emblem ), and commanders will even be able to rank up these skills so that bonded soldiers can utilize unique combat moves in battle. Soldiers also require rest after each mission lest they become fatigued and more susceptible to developing fears that can impact them in bat