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Why You Should Care About XCOM: Enemy Unknown



Not sure if XCOM: Enemy Unknown is for you? Come see why fans of other popular franchises should have Firaxis' upcoming strategy game on their radar – or just to see three more new exclusive screenshots.

[Click any of the three screenshots on this page to view a larger version.]

Battlefield
Sure, Battlefield and XCOM are in two entirely different genres, but the core concepts of squad tactics and lethality are common to both. Do something stupid like poking your head out of cover with no support in either game and you're just as dead. On the plus side, since you're in control of everything in XCOM, you won't lose match after match because some idiot insists on flying a chopper filled with squaddies into a hillside.

Civilization
This one is obvious, but worth mentioning. Civ developer Firaxis is making XCOM as well, so that's an easy connection. Additionally, the strategy layer will resonate with any Civ fan with its global politics, gradual buildup of capabilities, always-improving technology, and resource management. And instead of doing lame things like building aqueducts and managing tax rates, you're immediately locked into a desperate fight for survival where the only way to win is to beat the enemy in the field.



Resident Evil

Any player of the original X-COM can tell you just how creepy a turn-based game can be. Ordering a soldier you've named, trained, and equipped to poke her head into a dark cabin in the woods that might house a gaggle of angry aliens is a nerve-wracking moment for any commander. Scraping together whatever resources you can in an effort to stave off impending doom should make any survival horror fan feel right at home in XCOM.

Mass Effect
Hmm, defending humanity from an alien invasion...sound familiar? Turning their own weapons against them ringing any bells? Mass Effect's tone and XCOM's couldn't be more similar. The sense of having your back against the wall and being forced into making tough decisions to win the larger war is XCOM's bread and butter. No hot blue chicks, though. Probably.



Final Fantasy Tactics
XCOM is certain to be a lot more difficult than Final Fantasy Tactics, but taking on turn-based tactical challenges with a customized squad is the heart of both games. You just know that the dude you name Thunder God Cid is going to end up with a face full of plasma blast, though.

Valkyria Chronicles
Who am I kidding? If you're a hardcore enough strategy gamer to be a fan of Valkyria Chronicles, you've already pre-ordered XCOM.

Did I miss your favorite franchise? Is one of the descriptions above way off base? Tell everyone why in the comments below. Alternatively, click the hub banner to see the rest of our month-long exclusive XCOM: Enemy Unknown content.

Email the author Adam Biessener, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Comments
  • Some interesting comparisons. I'm totally naming a guy T.G. Cid now. Assuming I can find a bad ass bearded man, and give him a hooded cloak and a giant sword. That's possible, right?
  • Can. Not. Wait.

  • So glad this article mentioned Valkyria Chronicles... What a game that was!!! So underrated in my opinion.
  • These screenshots have me even more excited for this game to release.  I loved the original and can't wait for more of the tactical turn based scifi warfare.  I'm a little worried about playing on a console (my laptop's pretty old) but hopefully the gamepad will work out okay.

  • As soon as seeing the global map, and the 2 other screen shots, as long as you guys stay true to all the customization options of weapons and armor and such, this game is going to ROCK!!!! I seriously just CAME in my pants after seeing this!! X-COM ROCKS!!! (Cept Enforcer, that one, doesn't count neither does the OTHER new one....what happens when modern trends FUX with a good thing...........)

  • They had me a Firaxis...

    Also it looks like my laptop shall handle it on high settings which is always a plus.
  • Or you should just check out something different. Expand your horizons. Put down Call of Duty for a day.
  • The only thing I'm excited about in this article is the world view.  That looks amazing...

  • Double post, I didn't even click twice. Oh well... Anyone else want to talk about their double post stories? It's happen to all of us at least once...
  • Some of those are a bit of a stretch in my humble opinion. At least based on what I know. Namely Battlefield and Resident Evil. However I was sold the first moment I learned it had a larger global strategy and deep customization to it. I've never played XCOM before, but I'm dead tired of FPS's. I've got nothing against them. I'm just so dang tired of them and I'm craving something new.

    I'm also really interested in the concept of building my own alienbusters organization from the ground up. Or, underground down, or, whatever.
  • I have been dreaming of this game for years. I'm so excited!! XCOM: UFO Defense is one of my favorite games ever.

  • Wow, you guys got me interested in this now. I'm sure I won't stick to it for long, but it will be a nice change of pace from all the RPGs this year.
  • That middle pic is classic xcom: a building with it's roof blown off, and a crouched soldier getting ready to rain down hell into the opening.

    Classic xcom is also him totally missing and getting one shotted by reaction fire from one of those green guys he thinks he has the jump on.

  • never played x-com, but if it's this awesome, then consider it bought

  • need this game now!!

  • As if 2012 isn't going to be awesome enough.  ME3, Diablo 3, ongoing SWTOR play, and now this.  Not sure there will be enough hours in the day to contain the gaming.

    P.S. That overworld screen is glorious.  That has made me realize I'm going to have to find time between SWTOR characters to crank up DOSBOX.

  • DP, sorry.
  • Ohhh im going to be broke this year...

  • Jim, this just does look like my flavor of game. I love the games you compre it to but separately.  I hate turned based games and the "unknown enemy" looks like it's been pulled straight from the 1980s Mars Attacks movie.  

  • Those dismissing this game already--wait. If Firaxis manages to pull off a remake that captures what made the original great, you'll finally understand why those who played X-Com are so passionate about getting a remake right. And this is starting to look _good._
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