XCOM 2 E3 Preview

The tables have turned since the first XCOM game. In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, humans protected Earth from an incoming alien invasion. In XCOM 2, the humans have lost. In the last couple of decades, the aliens have established a New World Order (Aryan aliens?), cured almost all diseases, and won over the native population--well--most of the native population. A small group humans have grown tired of the invaders’ totalitarianism and have organized a task force to end their rule.

The E3 hands-off gameplay demo begins with the 20th anniversary of ‘Unification Day.’ ‘Unification Day’ celebrates the moment the aliens finally broke the humans’ spirit and began their dominion over Earth (I guess history really is written by the victors). To commemorate their rule, the aliens (who now call themselves the Advent Coalition) have built a monument at the heart of the city center. On it, a giant gold alien stands over a fallen human. He reaches down to him, and the human takes his hand. Around the base, it reads “BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE TOGETHER.” The resistance (the remaining members of XCOM) have arranged a special contribution to Advent’s Unification Day celebrations. They are going to destroy that statue.

Gameplay

Gameplay is similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Combat is turn-based: players take turns moving characters into position, taking cover, and shooting enemies. The mission I watched at E3 was a Sabotage mission, one of several new mission types in XCOM 2.

Not much has changed, gameplay-wise. Movement, cover, and players actions remain the same for the most part, meaning XCOM still functions as a video game tabletop experience. And this is a good thing. With recent advancements in video game technology, a lot of games have moved away from the turn-based model. But XCOM remains true to itself. It harkens to its 90s roots and stands on the shoulders of titans like Sid Meier’s Civilization and Total War.

The developers have obviously taken their time making this the most beautiful turn-based strategy game on the market. A couple of features out-right blow my mind. A few minutes into the demo, for instance, I see a cutscene of a troop looking up at the statue. At first, I think nothing of it. Then it hits me. The cutscene reacted to his position. If the troop had stood somewhere else or if someone else had taken his spot, the cutscene would have played differently. In other words, the action of the “movie” was determined by the player’s actions in-game. Another cutscene is triggered about a minute later when a troop moves into position next to a news stream: “I would love to shut her up,” he whispers. “We’re working on it,” the voice in his ear says. At times, XCOM 2 feels less like a strategy game and more like an interactive film.

The game is difficult, proven when most of the team members die during the demo. Though the mission starts well, several tactical errors almost result in a total party kill. And the new aliens/creatures are incredibly difficult. A giant snake monster slithers out of a van and kills a troop from across the map. After the troops plant the ‘package,’ a giant brute arrives with a team of reinforcement droids. They’re strong. They destroy a hacked turret in one hit and almost annihilate the remaining soldiers. The team falls back and evacuates before the aliens can cause any more casualties. Some battles are left unfought.

Conclusion

XCOM 2 is a fitting addition to the XCOM franchise. The story is fresh, and the gameplay is incredible. Fans of tactical shooters and turn-based action games will love this.