In regards of this review: I will only review the un-modded "vanilla" version of this game.

The game is quite badly optimized. To give you an idea of my specs:

Gtx 980
Intel i7 3.50
16 GB ram

--------

So, the game makes my pc STRUGGLE at max graphics, a pc that handles witcher 3 on max with no issues whatsoever. However, it only struggles when i maximize the settings. If i set them to medium, there will be some framerate stutters here and there. I do not know if this optimization issue is only relevant to the GTX 980, or if it is worse on other cards out there on the market.

The gameplay is the same as the first one, with some annoying things (that can be solved with mods, true- but we're reviewing the game itself here.) The gameplay has to be described as "annoying" because that's exactly what it is. If all of your squadmates are on the same extraction platform, why do you have to extract each and every one of them individually, why not add an exctract all button? (There is a mod that solves this, however.)

The game continiously annoys the living crap out of you with dialogue, dialogue hindering you from doing anything on your turn. "We've just recieved a transmission due to X". Or, one of your officers pop up in the right side window, mentioning you do not have many turns left. Why am I not allowed to do anything while he's talking? And this goes on and on and on in the game! I couldn't bring myself to play it any more. (However, there is a mod that fixes this.)

The worst experience so far- for me, Is the world map. I had one day left on my research, and I started it. One day usually takes 1.5 seconds to pass. This took me three minutes, due to dialogue popping up, that was unskippable, mentionings of the avatar project growing further. The camera pans to where the avatar project is on the map, but does not pan back to where you were before on the map. HALTING your production as well. So, I start it again and another dialogue pops up. It's atrociously annoying!

If you did dislike timed missions in the last XCOM game, then this game just isn't for you. 80% of all missions are "8 turns left to finish before X explodes" or something else. While, it encourages the player to use tactics, it is just too much of it. Almost every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ mission! (there is a mod that fixes this.)

The loading times are bad, just dreadful.

The game saves itself ONLY because of mods. Mods made by players to fix this boring & annoying game.

I would not recommend you buy this game. But if you do, I would recommend checking out the mods in the workshop section fixing this game!

In regards of this review: I will only review the un-modded "vanilla" version of this game. The game is quite badly optimized. To give you an idea of my specs: Gtx 980 Intel i7 3.50 16 GB ram -------- So, the game makes my pc STRUGGLE at max graphics, a pc that handles witcher 3 on max with no issues whatsoever. However, it only struggles when i maximize the settings. If i set them to medium, there will be some framerate stutters here and there. I do not know if this optimization issue is only relevant to the GTX 980, or if it is worse on other cards out there on the market. The gameplay is the same as the first one, with some annoying things (that can be solved with mods, true- but we're reviewing the game itself here.) The gameplay has to be described as "annoying" because that's exactly what it is. If all of your squadmates are on the same extraction platform, why do you have to extract each and every one of them individually, why not add an exctract all button? (There is a mod that solves this, however.) The game continiously annoys the living crap out of you with dialogue, dialogue hindering you from doing anything on your turn. "We've just recieved a transmission due to X". Or, one of your officers pop up in the right side window, mentioning you do not have many turns left. Why am I not allowed to do anything while he's talking? And this goes on and on and on in the game! I couldn't bring myself to play it any more. (However, there is a mod that fixes this.) The worst experience so far- for me, Is the world map. I had one day left on my research, and I started it. One day usually takes 1.5 seconds to pass. This took me three minutes, due to dialogue popping up, that was unskippable, mentionings of the avatar project growing further. The camera pans to where the avatar project is on the map, but does not pan back to where you were before on the map. HALTING your production as well. So, I start it again and another dialogue pops up. It's atrociously annoying! If you did dislike timed missions in the last XCOM game, then this game just isn't for you. 80% of all missions are "8 turns left to finish before X explodes" or something else. While, it encourages the player to use tactics, it is just too much of it. Almost every god damn mission! (there is a mod that fixes this.) The loading times are bad, just dreadful. The game saves itself ONLY because of mods. Mods made by players to fix this boring & annoying game. I would not recommend you buy this game. But if you do, I would recommend checking out the mods in the workshop section fixing this game!