XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Classic turn-based tactics game that is still very fun and challenging to play today. Although it is not deck verified, playing it on steam deck still provides a perfect experience as long as the linux version is chosen.
The difficulty of the game is quite high on classic+ difficulties, even without Ironman. Overall a must play for anyone who loves strategy games.
It will take more than 150 hours to get all achievements. There are several challenging achievements.
- A continental fellow: requires at least 5 runs and the achievement is bit buggy. The achievement did not pop for me after my latest run. Then it pops after I loaded all five saves and watch all endings again.
- Ironman classic+: this is the best achievement in my opinion. Definitely a big challenge and not recommended in the first run.
- impossible: not as difficult as ironman classic+ since save / load is allowed. still difficult especially for the first two months.

The game is split into 2 parts - the combat and the base-management.
I found that I very enjoy the combat part, but after a while the base management becomes very tedious. Mistakes that I made early on, while not understanding the mechanics too well came to bite me in the ass later and eventually made me reconsider even booting up the game.
But the combat by itself is without a doubt worth a recommendation. The adrenaline rush you get when the last 2 surviving members of your squad slowly advance though last parts of a downed UFO is just great.

In my humble opinion this game was the best thing that could happen to the XCOM/UFO franchise and maybe turn based games in general. Its success opened doors for so many others.

It might not have the depth and complexity of the original X-COM: UFO Defense, but XCOM: EU from 2012 is a remarkable new attempt at strategy and tactics games with just enough strategic interest and value to keep you going, but not enough that choices become overwhelming. There's room for both this reboot and its progenitor to exist, and both are among the greatest games ever made. Must-play.

i review games on steam after i 100% complete them! check out my reviews to see all the games i have completed!

xcom: enemy unknown is a 2012 turn-based tactics game developed by firaxis games, an american developer best known for developing the civilization & xcom franchises, as well as many games bearing sid meier's name. it was published by 2K, who purchased firaxis in 2005 (firaxis was founded in 1996). this is a 'reimagined' & 'rebooted' version of the classic 90s x-com games, namely the 1994 classic x-com: ufo defense. the player controls a worldwide military organization called 'xcom' during an alien invasion of earth. you control troops in the field during tactical turn-based missions, but between missions, you direct the research and development of technology using things you recover during missions in the field. after a failed reboot attempt in 2003, development of what eventually became this began in 2008 and lasted over four years. while it was initially envisioned as an exact remake of the 1994 game, the dev team streamlined various gameplay mechanics and introduced improvements to modernize the franchise for a new audience. it was revealed/announced in january 2012, and ended up releaseing in october of that same year for pc, ps3, and xbox 360. mobile ports came at various points between 2013 & 2014, and a ps vita port released in march 2016.

this 2012 reboot stands as a monumental achievement in the turn-based strategy genre. firaxis masterfully blended intense tactical action, deep strategic gameplay (in multiple ways), & and a genuinely gripping narrative. aesthetically, the game is way more polished and stylized compared to the 90s games, using way more realistic graphics overall (going from the 90s pixel graphics to early 2010s animations was a huge jump in quality obviously), and the isometric view gives a good vantage point to view all the detailed environments. the audio design further elevates things, as the soundtrack complements the ambiance, whether you're in the middle of tense combat or in eerie calm moments exploring the map.

the biggest strength however lies in the turn based tactical combat. the game strikes a delicate balance between accessibility for newcomers and depth for strategy enthusiasts like myself, especially given difficulty variance. the isometric grid-based maps provide ample opportunity for tactical maneuvering and strategic tactics. the variety in soldier classes allows for diverse squad compositions and personalized playstyle(s) no matter what. the macro-management experience of the geoscape offers further strategic elements of the game. making critical decisions on research priorities, engineering projects, and more adds an interconnectedness to missions and keep players engaged throughout the entire campaign. it would be remiss if i didn't mention permadeath, which heightens the stakes in every way during every mission. mis-clicks, mis-judgments, and any kind of (even minor) mistake can lead to losing a soldier, which can be genuinely heart-wrenching and helps emphasize to players the importance of careful planning and keen decision-making.

the narrative is slightly generic, as a rehashing of the 1994 classic nit still does an amazing job introducing new players as well as veterans to the rich lore, conveyed through a combination of in-game events, research discoveries, and character interactions. the urgency of the alien threat is effectively conveyed, and the player's emotional investment in the fate of humanity grows as the narrative unfolds. the simplicity of the plot and quickness in which it can be completed leads to the game offering substantial replay value. the dynamic nature of the campaign ensures no two playthroughs are exactly alike, encouraging exploration with different soldier classes, strategies, and research paths. there is also ironman mode, which disables save scumming, enhancing the challenge and replayability for those seeking an even more hardcore experience. there's also a ton of mods, but as i played the entirety of my playtime in vanilla, i can't speak much more to it than i know there's a solid modding community compared to most games.

xcom: enemy unknown stands as a testament to firaxis games' ability to revive a classic franchise while maintaining its core essence. the immersive presentation cements its status as an early 2010s classic not even just in the turn based strategy genre, but in gaming in general. regardless of whether you're a fan of the original x-com series or a newcomer to the xcom games or the genre as a whole, this is a must-play title that should continuously be celebrated for the depth of strategic gameplay.

Col. Nathan Aerts served me from tutorial to the final room of the final missio . Slaughtered by a particle cannon reaction shit whilst mind controlled. I promptly requested compassionate leave

very fun game. although you get to know the enemy pretty soon. so the title is a lie. also, another lie is that 95% chance to hit.