Freebie Feelers... XCOM 2

Freebie Feelers is a series where we download the free monthly console-specific or newly released free-to-play games to test their worth. This series will contain some useful information as well as plenty of personal opinion. While these articles may not be reviews, we hope that you will be able to use them to help decide whether that free download is worth it.

What is it?

XCOM 2 is the sequel to 2012’s XCOM: Enemy Unknown, an award-winning reboot of the classic PC turn-based strategy game series. Starting from the assumption that humanity were unable to repel the alien invasion in the first game, players once again take the role of “The Commander”, as XCOM launch a campaign of guerilla warfare in order to retake Earth. It’s free throughout June on PlayStation 4 for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

What did you think?

As an avid fan of the PC version, I was eager to see how well the game translated to consoles. Turn-based strategy games - especially the new XCOM titles - are notoriously detailed, making a mouse and keyboard setup almost mandatory. However, to their credit, Firaxis Games have not only made XCOM 2 playable on a controller, but have done so without sacrificing any of the depth and polish of the game’s systems.

XCOM 2 is definitely for hardcore strategy gamers. Punishingly hard even on normal difficulty, you’ll be dealing with dwindling resources, timed missions which much be completed within a certain number of turns (thereby eliminating the ability to play overly cautiously), and powerful new enemies that can wipe out an entire squad in one turn if you’re not careful. However, it never feels unfair: If you use your brain to play smart-but-aggressively, you can and will succeed.

Your resistance is bolstered by new soldier classes and abilities, which go hand-in-hand with the more aggressive playstyle that XCOM 2 requires. There is also a greater variety of mission types, ranging from assassinations to sabotage. It really is everything a sequel should be, building on what made the first game great and then adding more goodness to the mix.

Is it worth downloading?

Absolutely, especially if you enjoyed the first reboot or are a fan of strategy games in general. It’s definitely not a casual title however: You’ll need to be prepared to put some serious hours into it before you stand a chance of success.