The Bureau: Xcom Declassified

[Jarhead0331]

I recently picked this one up on sale for $16.  Due to the negative reviews, I refused to pay full price.  Anyway, I've played the opening missions and its not half bad for what it is worth...so long as you can handle the fact that this is not your traditional Xcom, but rather a third-person action game with a tactical squad management system built-in, you may get some enjoyment without throwing a fit like most of the commercial press.  Yes, the story is not great and the cut scenes are very campy, but when it comes to the game play there is some fun to be had.

Where else can you shoot aliens with an M14?

So, at a discount, for approximately 15 bucks, I say give it a shot if you are like me...curious by the gameplay videos out there, but cautious due to all the negative fuss.

[Bison]

Yeah your impression supports my line of thought.  I've got it on my wish list on steam waiting for a big sale on it before purchasing.

[JasonPratt]

Where else can you shoot aliens with an M14?

Xenonauts?  ;D

[Greybriar]

I recently picked this one up on sale for $16....

Was it worth the $16 you paid for it, Jarhead?

Is anyone playing it?

The reason I ask is that I saw the retail boxed version of this for sale for $10 + $2 shipping and the bargain hunter in me couldn't resist snatching it up (it's priced at $49.99 at Steam, GamersGate, and Amazon ($41.94 + Free Shipping for the retail boxed game).

Now I'd like to know if it's any good before I tear off the shrink wrap and register it on Steam. If it isn't, I'll sell it to some sucker fellow gamer who will appreciate it.

[jomni]

Half price at Get Games.
http://getgamesgo.com/product/the-bureau-xcom-declassified

Did anyone get it aside from Jarhead?

[JasonPratt]

I've stayed away in droves so far, but since I'm curious for impressions from other Grogs I'm registering for comment tracking. :)

[Greybriar]

Half price at Get Games.
http://getgamesgo.com/product/the-bureau-xcom-declassified

Did anyone get it aside from Jarhead?

I bought the retail boxed version of it for $9.99 + $1.99 shipping on eBay.

I still haven't played it, although it got me interested in playing XCOM: Enemy Unknown again.

[eyebiter]

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[Jarhead0331]

Tough industry...sorry I've been short on imperessions.  In truth, I've been so preoccupied with other releases that I have not played any more Bureau since the first mission.  I'm sure, eventually, I'll get around to it.

[Greybriar]

My curiosity got the better of me and, being the fan of the X-COM series that I am, I installed The Bureau: XCOM Declassified to try it out myself. To be honest, that is really the only way to know whether I like a game or not because tastes vary.

To begin with, since I detest using the WASD keys for movement, I went into the Options menu to remap the keys. Much to my surprise I found it was possible to do so. I also learned that there are many, many keyboard shortcuts. Learning them all in one setting would be overwhelming. But due to the way the game was set up, a prompt appears at the appropriate time that lets the player know which key to press to perform the appropriate action.

Although I usually do not play shooters, I have to say that I am impressed with this game. It seems to me that a lot of work went into it and that it was meant to be playable by even those unfamiliar with this type of game. In other words, someone like me. Perhaps that is nothing new. It may have been the same with BioShock 2; but I never played BioShock 2. At any rate, the controls aren't as daunting as they first appeared to be.

The graphics are good. They make the 1960s setting appear realistic. I think they set the mood well.

Something I had never seen before in a PC game was the way orders were given to the members of the team. So far, I've had two team members assigned to me and I can order each of them to perform certain actions using a special interface that is activated by pressing the space bar. It doesn't pause the game but slows it down sufficiently to make things much less hectic.

My character has survived long enough to make it to the new base, which isn't very far into the game at all. But I hope what little I have shared here has helped someone learn just a little bit about the game.

[JasonPratt]

Thanks, GB! -- if you're inclined, keep up your impressions as you go!

[W8taminute]

The fact that you got distracted with all the other gaming goodness out there and haven't been back since playing the first mission is more than enough info on this game for me.


GB your assessment was useful as well. 

[Greybriar]

Thanks, GB! -- if you're inclined, keep up your impressions as you go!

You're welcome, Jason.

But it might be awhile before I get back into The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. It reminded me that I hadn't played  XCOM: Enemy Unknown for quite awhile and I ended up playing it instead of The Bureau. I finished my first game of XCOM: Enemy Unknown in the wee hours of this morning and started a new one about 7 a.m. For some reason I like it a lot more than I did a year ago.

....GB your assessment was useful as well.

Thanks, W8taminute. I'm glad you found my post useful.

[JasonPratt]

GB has summarized my main worry about investing in The Bureau: I'm afraid I'll sit there thinking, "I could be playing (one of) the real XCom(s) right now!"

[eyebiter]

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