XCOM 2 Reviewed at RPS

[Huw the Poo]

Hmm...that doesn't sound like fun.

I was planning to buy this when (if) I ever finish the first game, but the more I hear about it, the less I want it.

[Grim.Reaper]

Hmm...that doesn't sound like fun.

I was planning to buy this when (if) I ever finish the first game, but the more I hear about it, the less I want it.

To be fair...my fault for not figuring out where to go in time....but if I had a choice, would prefer optional time constraints, especially when playing on the EASY level.  Still having fun though playing the actual battles, really enjoy those....

[undercovergeek]

theres a big piece on the .ini files over at RPS today, lots of scripts effecting AI and game components - however, theyve confirmed the timers are in the mission scripts that isnt open - yet

[Shelldrake]

Thanks for the comments and insights guys.

At this point I am inclined to have a go at the original with the Long War mod, which will keep me occupied until XCOM2 appears in a Steam sale.

[bbmike]

Hmm...that doesn't sound like fun.

I was planning to buy this when (if) I ever finish the first game, but the more I hear about it, the less I want it.

To be fair...my fault for not figuring out where to go in time....but if I had a choice, would prefer optional time constraints, especially when playing on the EASY level.  Still having fun though playing the actual battles, really enjoy those....

You did finally figure out there's a little icon at the top of the screen that shows you where to go?  ::)

[Grim.Reaper]

Hmm...that doesn't sound like fun.

I was planning to buy this when (if) I ever finish the first game, but the more I hear about it, the less I want it.

To be fair...my fault for not figuring out where to go in time....but if I had a choice, would prefer optional time constraints, especially when playing on the EASY level.  Still having fun though playing the actual battles, really enjoy those....

You did finally figure out there's a little icon at the top of the screen that shows you where to go?  ::)

It wasn't originally visible on my screen until I moved the view around...once I did that, I then saw it but by that time it was too late.

[bbmike]

That happened to me on my first 'timed' mission. I had the guy I broke out of prison on the other side of the screen and had one turn left when I noticed the icon.  ;D

[JasonPratt]

I know the mission y'all are talking about. I made sure to keep in mind where the extraction point was from the first turn, and STILL only got everyone out on the last turn. Losing a guy in the process (but they were all rookies I was seasoning up in the early missions). The last couple of turns I wasn't even fighting, just rushing people past the final blocking force and into the extraction zone, and praying the RNG would dodge and miss enough. The last guy ran facefirst into opportunity fire from at least two enemies no more than three squares away, and literally one square away in one case -- managed to dodge everything.

There's a mod on Steam Workshop already which eliminates the timer from every mission but the story ones; and while I don't know how well that one works, there's another mod (actually rated by users) which adds a couple of turns or removes a few rescue requirements. But neither mod can affect main missions.


I kind of understand the point in-story: we're the scrappy underdogs and have got to get things done before the ADVENT and/or ELDER forces hammer down on us. But it's a royal pain because, as AB put it:

Lesson learned : play fast and loose and you will get royally worked over.  :-[

BUT THE TIMER REQUIRES YOU TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE OR LOSE!!

Argh.

I'm going back in, but my previous recommendation remains: spend your money on EW (maybe with the Long War mod, maybe not) and even on The Bureau, and you'll have plenty of money left over to buy something else (like maybe Xenowar. ;) )

[JasonPratt]

Oh, and be warned that modders are having a hard time getting XC2 to properly mod without breaking game saves and other fatal oddities. Even the three initial mods from the Long War guys are having problems (or one of them is, the Leader type of soldier.)

I was thinking of trying a few, until I saw this. I'm leaving mods alone for now.

[undercovergeek]

"There's 2 mods up in the workshop now; one that increases the turn limit by 4 for most turn-limited missions (2 for UFO missions), and one that eliminates them as much as possible. I'm glad they're up for people who really want them."

[JasonPratt]

Just played my first sort-of-timer mission (aliens semi-randomly shoot at an item, which they happened to quit doing eventually), and my first completely non-timer mission (securing a wrecked supply train). Both were a lot more like regular XCOM, so that was nice -- I nearly died hard in the second mission anyway, but it was still nice to be able to move securely as much as feasibly possible.

In the second mission, I finally pulled out an acceptable win by having my Grenadier (who carries the heavy weapons but who looks like a hot librarian  ) lob her one maximum distance grenade (normally she'd have 2, but I got tired of being psionic attacked and have given everyone shields against that) into a square where it could not only damage the sectoid and reptilian standing nearby, but also detonated something in range of hitting them again. "Surprise!" indeed! -- not only did that instakill them with two explosive hits, but it consequently killed an ADVENT soldier the sectoid was reanimating.

It was still a close match. Whew.

[Boggit]

My current dog still has his balls and is currently playing through the last mission of the original XCOM. Unmodded.

And is Clyde winning? ;)

[Grim.Reaper]

Regardless of timers and other things.....I find the game brutal even on the EASY setting...likely just me sucking!

In most missions, I either get most of my team killed or gravely injured while trying to complete the objectives....I try and be tactical and sneak around the map, but as soon as the enemy spots you, all heck breaks loose.  The enemy becomes very aggressive and really forces the issue, forcing you into a firefight with little option to sacrifice some of your crew since they really come at you.  Although I may kill the enemy, they typically get a number of shots in to wound me.

With me being killed all the time, I wonder why even bother customizing soldiers...they don't last long enough to warrant anytime customizing.  So its great they have an awesome editor, but can't see wasting my team using it with such short term rewards.

Question about concealment....I like the idea, but not sure doing it right.  Is there any way to attack an enemy without every enemy being alerted?  I can usually sneak up on the first enemy, but after taking them down, everyone knows I am there....any way to stealth kill them and stay concealed?

[IronX]

I find the mind control aliens the worst. The worst! They either have your team shooting at each other, running away in panic or resurrect the dead to increase the odds against you.

[Grim.Reaper]

I find the mind control aliens the worst. The worst! They either have your team shooting at each other, running away in panic or resurrect the dead to increase the odds against you.

Agreed!  Haven't found a good way to prevent that yet....plus, the snake people are no picnic either where they reach across the map and grab you....then your team has to make the decision of trying to kill the snake to free your team member...and if they do that, then another enemy takes advantage by trying to killing the other person...a no win situation:)