XCOM 2 was first launched in 2016, however even in 2024, it’s nonetheless the most effective turn-based technique video games available on the market. This title was adopted by two mini DLCs that added small bits of recent content material. However, the large replace occurred a 12 months later with the War of the Chosen DLC, including three new boss enemies to battle all through the sport and three Rebel factions built-in into the story.

Since XCOM 2, developer Firaxis has launched two main video games in XCOM: Chimera Squad, and the Avengers-saturated Marvel’s Midnight Suns. The former takes place within the constructive timeline of XCOM 2 the place people and aliens now reside in a shaky peace. However, whereas this recreation stored features of its predecessor, it had extra tactical puzzle-like mechanics. Midnight Suns was an entire deviation from the norm, and whereas it was a vital success, it did not garner the gross sales to see the teased main DLC and solely acquired the pre-planned character packs.

A Beautifully Crafted Strategy Game

XCOM 2 could not have as a lot to handle as different technique video games, nevertheless it greater than makes up for it in quite a few methods. Story-wise, this recreation follows the unhealthy ending of its predecessor the place the aliens received and kidnapped the participant/Commander. Once free, the Commander then must unite the world’s completely different insurgent factions and cease the Elders earlier than their plan is full. This story was enhanced within the DLC by including three extra Rebel teams within the scavenging Reapers, ADVENT-defecting Skirmishers, and Psionic Templars.

The fight and techniques of XCOM 2 are additionally top-notch. The tougher difficulties posed an unforgiving problem for many who desired it, whereas the lower-tier choices had simply the correct tempo for studying the sport or having fun with the story. War of the Chosen enhanced this by including the three Chosen who needed to be actively combated to keep away from a brutal assault that will result in an prompt game-over. The varied soldier courses and quite a few XCOM alien variants with completely different skills hold the sport contemporary, with no two missions feeling the identical.

Though taking on a place and capturing at a goal with occasional potential utilization is probably not demanding, XCOM 2 simply feels proper. Solider positioning is an important a part of all of this, as each playstyle comes with its professionals and cons that stability out. Gear upgrades are additionally substantial to the purpose the place the resistance feels as if they’ll moderately win this battle of overwhelming odds. If XCOM 2 has one difficulty, it’s that a lot of the story could be stalled to the purpose the place the participant is so highly effective that the missions really feel unbalanced until the ultimate few.

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An enormous a part of what has stored XCOM 2 in style and contemporary for therefore lengthy is the wonderful group mods, starting from marketing campaign adjustments, new enemies, soldier courses, objects, and QOL additions. One of the most well-liked is the Long War mod. This behemoth of a mod adjustments the entire panorama of the sport into one that’s meant to take years in-game to beat relatively than a couple of months. It is likely one of the final assessments of endurance and ability locally.

For those that prefer to have extra soldier class selection, the choices are practically countless. The easiest possibility is to go along with full courses which are added to or take the place of the bottom recreation’s. The extra superior mods for this are RPGO and Amalgamation. The former makes characters into clean sheets that may be edited with expertise and fill varied roles on their paths to turning into tremendous troopers. Amalgamation is a little more true to base XCOM 2 however units itself aside by giving characters three or 4 random class specializations, with hordes of specs to select from.

Another in style space within the modding group is new enemies. These vary from new aliens to completely different branches of ADVENT forces. However, mods like this are sometimes extraordinarily highly effective, that means they’re for many who have expertise. Good recommendations for mods like this are Bio Legion, Frost Legion, A Better ADVENT, Requiem Legion, and MOXC. For those that need a extra balanced problem, there are additionally quite a lot of third-party raider factions that may seem that can battle each side.

Overall, regardless of being eight years previous, XCOM 2 remains to be an unbelievable sci-fi technique recreation. Everything from the sport and the group itself helps make up for its few faults and delay its longevity. Though many within the fandom are interested by a sequel, as one was teased on the finish, no information has come. Due to the lackluster gross sales of its newest entries, Firaxis could not have the flexibility to make it proper now. Regardless, till an XCOM 3 does come out, XCOM 2 will stay the most effective turn-based technique video games.

XCOM 2

Franchise

Xcom

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC , Android , iOS

Released

February 5, 2016

Developer(s)

Firaxis Games

Publisher(s)

2K Games

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer , Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unreal Engine 3

ESRB

T For Teen as a consequence of Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence

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