XCOM: Enemy Unknown - FIRAXIS, TURN-BASED

[sedition]

Looks like Arc Systems might develop a new IP for this coming generation.

[Anthony]

ArcSys has a poor track record (with me) for new IP's. Yes though, I know they are accessible blah blah blah.

[epmode]

This is pretty rad:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8zZsecTRfM#!

The lead designers of the original XCOM and the reboot meet for the first time.

[bVork]

http://www.xcom.com/enemywithin/us/

XCOM®: Enemy Within is the expansion to the 2012 Game of the Year award winning strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Enemy Within adds an incredible array of new abilities, upgrades and weapons to combat new enemy and alien threats.

This expansion pack also introduces new maps, new tactical and strategic gameplay, and new multiplayer content providing a fresh new gameplay experience.

New Soldier Abilities
Research a new alien technology to advance the capabilities of your operatives:
Gene Mods: Construct the Genetics Lab to physically enhance your operatives' abilities including augmentations to the chest, brain, eyes, skin, and legs.
MECs: Build the Cybernetics Lab to enable the construction of the new Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuit, or MEC. The new MEC Trooper class has specialized abilities and each suit can be upgraded with new weapons including the flamethrower and grenade launcher.

New Weapons and Equipment
Give your operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from your engineering team and the Foundry.

New Enemy Threats
Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from two new alien classes including the Mechtoid.• New Strategic Resource: A valuable new alien resource, known as MELD, has been released onto the landscape providing access to new research and upgrades.

New Tactical Challenges and Maps
New tactical challenges are introduced across an additional 47 maps.

New Multiplayer maps, units, and abilities
Create your custom squad from a wider array of options and dominate your opponent in intense, one-on-one, turn-based matches.
MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

47 new maps sounds like the biggest improvement to me. That's enough that hopefully I won't be going "oh, this map again, okay, time to spread to those cars and then the walls that I can't see but know are there."

[Anthony]

My roommate is really getting into this. Looks like a pretty rad game to be honest, go firaxis.

[Cowutopia]

I feel inspired to do a classic ironman run. I blew my first one, but I feel like if I can get past the first three months I am golden. One satellite in month one and two in month two and easy living.

[Cowutopia]

It's too bad too because I was annihilating the game. My first alien capture was the shard.

[Cowutopia]

I haven't figured out though if blitzing through the story increases the difficulty or makes it easier for you.

[Cowutopia]

Here is what drives me crazy: you can't pick up medalist or any carried items off of downed friendlies (or enemies). You can't scavenge extra grenades mid mission, or pick the medikit up off the rookie who got reamed and is bleeding out. Stupid.

[Cowutopia]

On my current classic ironman runthrough I almost had full satellite coverage (2 left) before losing a country. Unfortunately I wiped at a terrible time, lost all my major dudes, and then failed the next 2 missions, but got out with only losing Russia. (Not a good country to lose but whatever.)

I'm drowning in money now though and have no alien resources. I've only had 2 council missions, that's made the game incredibly difficult as I haven't been able to use them to reduce panic regionwide at all except for the two times. Also the UFO missions get considerably harder faster. I took down about 6 cyberdiscs and captured a beserker before the wipe mission, and all I had were conventional weapons + 2 light plasma. I still don't even have laser rifles.

The problem is with all my captains wiped, I can't compensate. I can't even hope to take on an ethereal with rookies, though the new crop is all getting +will bonuses.