Recent reviews by unixgamerocker

The original XCOM is a classic (with bugs). This reimagining is an incredibly well-done, new classic (with bugs). How do I explain XCOM? Hostile aliens invade earth, and you are to shoot down UFOs, but you find that you're not able to for very long, and even if you succeeded you need to explore the crash sites for survivors. While exploring, action quickly becomes turn-based strategy which only serves to add to the suspense as you might suddenly discover yourself face-to-face with an alien at any moment.

There are a few moments where you will feel "robbed" by things like the hit/miss algorithm and such, but the fun you will have playing the game is too good to get in the way of that bothering me too much. The formula is great, there's a reason there are so many XCOM games. Replay value is high!

As it particularly applies to me: The linux version is crashy, sometimes frustratingly so, but I've been able to complete the game, so try not to tear your hair out or limbs off. Also, the crashes seem to be isolated to specific hardware configurations, so maybe you won't experience them at all?

Final words: PLAY XCOM NOW

This is *the* classic X-COM, which I spent countless hours playing in my youth(?) and getting my nether regions handed to me. The premise is simple: Hostile aliens are invading earth, and you have to bring down their UFOs, handle crash sites, stop them from terrorizing civilization, etc. You can customize your ships, crew, soldiers (down to renaming them), and your base.

I heard a rumor the Steam version is the bugfix-rewrite OpenXCOM, but the version I received is just DOSbox running the original. So, it is not bug free. However, it is just as immersive, atmospheric, and all of those adjectives I can throw into a glowing review, as I can remember. The tactical battles are a balance of exciting and harrowing turn-based fun. I would say this game has stood the test of time.

Advice for playing this game: Find the manual. Read it! Save early. Save often. Realise it's not a brand new game. Experiment. And of course, have lots of fun.

At first startup this game kind of puts you into a jarring "customize your player" mode, but once you figure out what happened and start playing the game, you see just how far the rabbit hole goes. Or so you think.

If you want a game that crosses Minecraft with Doom/Quake-style deathmatch, this is for you.