Recommended with the DLC: Enemy Within

In Short: This game marked the beginning of my exposure to strategy turn-based industry with tactical gameplay elements. Modern gaming industry owes an appreciation to this game specifically for popularizing this genre and bringing attention to it, which was how I learned about this awesome series. This game has aged when compared to its sequel, XCOM 2. If you are considering purchasing this game in 2021+ for the narrative before playing the sequel, I do not recommend spending your money. Purchase it only if you genuinely enjoy the genre of turn-based strategy, but do be warned this game can be harder and more punishing than XCOM 2. More challenging!

The review is organized by categories with additional notes if I have something to add.

Game's Visuals (Graphics)
[] Beautiful
[x] Good
[] Decent
[] Bad
[] Poor

Personal Note: I love cartoony style! I'm biased. That's all I have to say. To most, it may look decent, but it's definitely not bad. I find this artstyle pleasing to the eye without ruining the immersion, atmosphere or feeling of realism.

Game's Sound Design
[] Beautiful
[] Good
[x] Decent
[] Bad
[] Poor

Personal Note: Solid sound design. Not a masterpiece, but it gets the job done. Weapons sound fitting, the alien sounds match, voice-actors are fair, and so on. Plus, this game provides voice-acting for soldiers on multiple languages, including Russian! The language the second installment didn't include...

Gameplay Mechanics
[] Beautiful
[x] Good
[] Decent
[] Bad
[] Poor

Personal Note: For its time, this was a one-of-a-kind turn-based strategy. There were not many options on the market with similar gameplay to XCOM. Now, it's a different story. However, if you wish to experience one of the Founding Fathers of the strategy turn-based games, you will definitely hear about XCOM!

Story/Narrative
[x] Beautiful
[] Good
[] Decent
[] Bad
[] Poor

Personal Note: If taking charge of an international organization, that is similar to the real life U.N., in response to an alien invasion in order to combat the foreign and unknown enemy as humanity unites in its darkest hour doesn't sound EPIC to you, I don't know what could impress you! Personally, I've really enjoyed the narrative and story. I felt engaged and curious about the intentions of the alien invasion. In some cases, it was even brutal. Again, it's not a masterpiece, but I really enjoyed the story this game told me as I, the player, progressed it forward.

Replayability
[x]Yes!
[] Kinda
[] None

Personal Note: Definitely! The story never changes, it ultimately comes down to your victory or your defeat. However, the journey to the end of game in each campaign will be different. The nature of this game will never have the exactly same experience, with an exception of few scripted mission. There is no direct Steam Workshop for this game, but there is a well-known mod for this game known as "Long War." Recommended if you wish to change up the gameplay.

Final Note:
One of the best strategy games out there, hands-down!

The story is intriguing and engaging. Strategy and tactical gameplay is the strongest appeal, though. I also enjoy any game that offers character customization, and here you can personalize each soldier under your command! However, be prepared to dedicate a long-term strategy and time since this game takes careful planning. Of course, you are at liberty to rush in and see what happens, but trust me: it's a very punishing strategy.

Don't be ashamed when your favorite soldier, friend or relative dies to a ridiculous chance and you are forced to reload a save file. We all know you will do it, we all know you did it, and we all know that we would do the same. ;)

[h1]Recommended.[/h1] [u]Recommended with the DLC: Enemy Within[/u] [b]In Short:[/b] [i]This game marked the beginning of my exposure to strategy turn-based industry with tactical gameplay elements. Modern gaming industry owes an appreciation to this game specifically for popularizing this genre and bringing attention to it, which was how I learned about this awesome series. This game has aged when compared to its sequel, XCOM 2. If you are considering purchasing this game in 2021+ for the narrative before playing the sequel, I do not recommend spending your money. Purchase it only if you genuinely enjoy the genre of turn-based strategy, but do be warned this game can be harder and more punishing than XCOM 2. More challenging![/i] The review is organized by categories with additional notes if I have something to add. [b]Game's Visuals (Graphics)[/b] [ ] Beautiful [x] Good [ ] Decent [ ] Bad [ ] Poor Personal Note: I love cartoony style! I'm biased. That's all I have to say. To most, it may look decent, but it's definitely not bad. I find this artstyle pleasing to the eye without ruining the immersion, atmosphere or feeling of [i]realism[/i]. [b]Game's Sound Design[/b] [ ] Beautiful [ ] Good [x] Decent [ ] Bad [ ] Poor Personal Note: Solid sound design. Not a masterpiece, but it gets the job done. Weapons sound fitting, the alien sounds match, voice-actors are fair, and so on. Plus, this game provides voice-acting for soldiers on multiple languages, including Russian! [i]The language the second installment didn't include...[/i] [b]Gameplay Mechanics[/b] [ ] Beautiful [x] Good [ ] Decent [ ] Bad [ ] Poor Personal Note: For its time, this was a [i]one-of-a-kind[/i] turn-based strategy. There were not many options on the market with similar gameplay to XCOM. Now, it's a different story. However, if you wish to experience one of the [i]Founding Fathers[/i] of the strategy turn-based games, you will definitely hear about XCOM! [b]Story/Narrative[/b] [x] Beautiful [ ] Good [ ] Decent [ ] Bad [ ] Poor Personal Note: If [i]taking charge of an international organization, that is similar to the real life U.N., in response to an alien invasion in order to combat the foreign and unknown enemy as humanity unites in its darkest hour[/i] doesn't sound EPIC to you, I don't know what could impress you! Personally, I've really enjoyed the narrative and story. I felt engaged and curious about the intentions of the alien invasion. In some cases, it was even brutal. Again, it's not a masterpiece, but I really enjoyed the story this game told me as I, the player, progressed it forward. [b]Replayability[/b] [x]Yes! [ ] Kinda [ ] None Personal Note: Definitely! The story never changes, it ultimately comes down to your victory or your defeat. However, the journey to the end of game in each campaign will be different. The nature of this game will never have the exactly same experience, with an exception of few scripted mission. There is no direct Steam Workshop for this game, but there is a well-known mod for this game known as "Long War." Recommended if you wish to change up the gameplay. [b]Final Note:[/b] One of the best strategy games out there, hands-down! The story is intriguing and engaging. Strategy and tactical gameplay is the strongest appeal, though. I also enjoy any game that offers character customization, and here you can personalize each soldier under your command! However, be prepared to dedicate a long-term strategy and time since this game takes careful planning. Of course, you are at liberty to rush in and see what happens, but trust me: it's a very punishing strategy. Don't be ashamed when your favorite soldier, [i]friend[/i] or [i]relative[/i] dies to a ridiculous chance and you are forced to reload a save file. We all know you will do it, we all know you did it, and we all know that we would do the same. ;)