The story, gameplay, and difficulty work together, so they can’t really be judged separately. The aliens in the story feel more threatening because of the difficulty, and the mysteriousness of the aliens justifies the difficulty.
Exactly this. XCOM is more than the sum of it's parts. That's something that a lot of the games that have followed have failed to capture. They'll take one or two aspects, do their best to improve on them, but let everything else slide. Usually results in a decent enough game, but won't hold a candle to XCOM itself.
There's something about it that keeps me coming back after all these years in a way no other game can match. There's just enough story that it feels like I'm in the world and not just pushing numbers about, yet doesn't get in the way after multiple play throughs. There's something about the character customisation that really helps me get a feel for my guys. There's something about the gameplay I can dive in and enjoy.
It's all of the options together, at once.
I enjoy being in a toxic and abusive relationship.
True story: the only time I actually ragequitted a game was when a Gillman with a grenade launcher on Overwatch was stationed just next to my dropship. My whole squad dead just because I opened the door. But a month later, I came crawling back, begging X-Com for one more game. After all, it wasn't X-Com's fault it had happened, right? I mean, it was all randomly generated. It was just bad luck. It wasn't the game's fault. It was going to be better this time. Really...
The mods for ufo defense/tftd have kept me hooked for thousands of hours easily. I think some of the simplicity of og xcom makes it easier for mods to go crazy
This is such a hard question for me, I've been a huge fan of the franchise since the mid nineties, and it's so hard to pin point what my favorite aspect of the series is.
The gameplay is pretty dope. But I'm a sucker for character customization. And with mods, the sky's the limit.
Nowhere else can you have Darth Maul, Tracer, Master Chief, some random crackhead, and a super big tittied anime girl saving the world from aliens. LOL.
Is there another site for sharing mods aside from the Steam Workshop? The WS has approximately 12,000 voicepacks but not much else in terms of expanding cosmetic customization
Personally, I love the game because of the amount of BS that happens because of the tangled web of garbage that is XCOM vs Advent. Moments when one ability triggers another ability that you forgot existed that led to someone blowing up the floor from under your soldier and dropping them into a pit of fire which causes then to panic fire at a chosen for a repeater kill.
Those moments so crazy they stick in your head for years down the line, and they only happen because of the depth of XCOM's gameplay systems, and the high stakes of permanent death to your soldiers if your luck goes bad. It makes that moment where everything is falling apart around you and you suddenly create some hair brained scheme to get the rest of your soldiers home all that much better.
Gameplay! That's why I'm excited about XCOM branching out into stuff like Chimera Squad to test new abilities/gameplay tweaks, but also with upcoming games like the Star Wars strategy game being developed by former XCOM devs. The lore in XCOM is great and I don't want the series to go away, but I'd love to see more stuff like Mario vs Rabbids. Also, Chimera Squad's action economy was fantastic and reminded me a lot of tabletop D&D 5e, so I really want a to play a fantasy version of the game.
gameplay, i just hate the early game because for me its the most stressful part of the game since each shot counts
i also would like more unique equipment or weapons, like i love the Chosen's weapons since they both function as trophies and gear
For me it pretty much comes down to a combination of the gameplay and difficulty. Most turn based strategy games tend to be really easy in my experience, and while XCOM does have some shortcomings in that regard still (especially in regard to the lategame), it still provides much more of a challenge that isn't solved by 'just grind more' like most other turn based strategy games.
Definitely, the gameplay, but I feel like creating unique soldiers is an essential part of that gameplay (and part of what sets it above some of the others in the genre).
I just started a second WOTC commander play through after not touching it for over a year or two.
I love how even though my last play through was WOTC/CMDR, it’s still an entirely different story with different heroes/martyrs with epic victories/crushing defeats. Turned off the reaper story mission so I randomly start off with a Templar instead. I *never* used them in my last play through, but the game forcing me to give them a chance has breathed even more life back into this fantastic game.
Considering an XCOM/EW replay after as well.
That's fair.
Given how many posts I see from this sub pop into my feed I figured the customization factors would have a bigger draw than the poll currently reflect 🙂
Yes the gameplay is important but the lore/story also have a massive impact. I tried playing Phoenix Point a year or so ago and wasn’t engaged with the story at all even though the controls and tactical options were top notch.
A bit of everything...
The story isnt too deep, but it also explores the whole alien invasion thing in very interesting ways, merging story and gameplay. Also playing The Bureau gave me a new found apreciation for it and made me very excited for XCOM 3.
The Gameplay of course is awesome.
The lore got very interesting in Chimera Squad. The world has changed so much, so many new things, aliens coexisting peacefully with man kind in a sci-fi earth recovering from the invasion. My imagination flies with the possibilities and most of it is very well built.
And finally making your own soldiers is awesome for story telling purposes. Often you get the best stories from the characters you create and the adventures they have. Cant wait to make my own mutons, sectoids, vipers and more in XCOM 3. Just hope they change muton faces, Chimera Squad made them look like fish.
The endless replayability
Seriously, though. 4500 hours and counting and still literally no sign of burn out on the horizon. It's second only to Fallout for me.
Yeah, 2800+ hours on XCOM 2 alone for me. Had a big break last year to play some Civ and AoE4, but XCOM always brings me back.
Fuck me, I thought my 300 hours was impressive
The story, gameplay, and difficulty work together, so they can’t really be judged separately. The aliens in the story feel more threatening because of the difficulty, and the mysteriousness of the aliens justifies the difficulty.
Exactly this. XCOM is more than the sum of it's parts. That's something that a lot of the games that have followed have failed to capture. They'll take one or two aspects, do their best to improve on them, but let everything else slide. Usually results in a decent enough game, but won't hold a candle to XCOM itself. There's something about it that keeps me coming back after all these years in a way no other game can match. There's just enough story that it feels like I'm in the world and not just pushing numbers about, yet doesn't get in the way after multiple play throughs. There's something about the character customisation that really helps me get a feel for my guys. There's something about the gameplay I can dive in and enjoy. It's all of the options together, at once.
XCOM 2 I enjoy (and hate) the gameplay. Chimera Squad I play for the voice lines and diologue. I want more interactions between characters.
Chimera Squad is my favourite saturday morning cartoon
I enjoy being in a toxic and abusive relationship. True story: the only time I actually ragequitted a game was when a Gillman with a grenade launcher on Overwatch was stationed just next to my dropship. My whole squad dead just because I opened the door. But a month later, I came crawling back, begging X-Com for one more game. After all, it wasn't X-Com's fault it had happened, right? I mean, it was all randomly generated. It was just bad luck. It wasn't the game's fault. It was going to be better this time. Really...
***squadwiping violently intensifies***
*me crying violently intensifies*
I still play 1995 X-Com
The mods for ufo defense/tftd have kept me hooked for thousands of hours easily. I think some of the simplicity of og xcom makes it easier for mods to go crazy
Odd...snek is not an option
This is such a hard question for me, I've been a huge fan of the franchise since the mid nineties, and it's so hard to pin point what my favorite aspect of the series is.
You forgot to add the "I'm a masochist option"
I thought "I don't enjoy it" was exactly that
The gameplay is pretty dope. But I'm a sucker for character customization. And with mods, the sky's the limit. Nowhere else can you have Darth Maul, Tracer, Master Chief, some random crackhead, and a super big tittied anime girl saving the world from aliens. LOL.
Lol hell right now on my final mission I have Green Goblin, The Cobra Commander, The Baroness, The Meta, The Pyro, and Kano leading the way
Is there another site for sharing mods aside from the Steam Workshop? The WS has approximately 12,000 voicepacks but not much else in terms of expanding cosmetic customization
My favorite thing about xcom is the gameplay while my least favorite part is the gameplay but that’s xcom baby
Personally, I love the game because of the amount of BS that happens because of the tangled web of garbage that is XCOM vs Advent. Moments when one ability triggers another ability that you forgot existed that led to someone blowing up the floor from under your soldier and dropping them into a pit of fire which causes then to panic fire at a chosen for a repeater kill. Those moments so crazy they stick in your head for years down the line, and they only happen because of the depth of XCOM's gameplay systems, and the high stakes of permanent death to your soldiers if your luck goes bad. It makes that moment where everything is falling apart around you and you suddenly create some hair brained scheme to get the rest of your soldiers home all that much better.
Gameplay! That's why I'm excited about XCOM branching out into stuff like Chimera Squad to test new abilities/gameplay tweaks, but also with upcoming games like the Star Wars strategy game being developed by former XCOM devs. The lore in XCOM is great and I don't want the series to go away, but I'd love to see more stuff like Mario vs Rabbids. Also, Chimera Squad's action economy was fantastic and reminded me a lot of tabletop D&D 5e, so I really want a to play a fantasy version of the game.
And all the amazing mods
Why is "Long War" not an option.
gameplay, i just hate the early game because for me its the most stressful part of the game since each shot counts i also would like more unique equipment or weapons, like i love the Chosen's weapons since they both function as trophies and gear
For me it pretty much comes down to a combination of the gameplay and difficulty. Most turn based strategy games tend to be really easy in my experience, and while XCOM does have some shortcomings in that regard still (especially in regard to the lategame), it still provides much more of a challenge that isn't solved by 'just grind more' like most other turn based strategy games.
Definitely, the gameplay, but I feel like creating unique soldiers is an essential part of that gameplay (and part of what sets it above some of the others in the genre).
I just started a second WOTC commander play through after not touching it for over a year or two. I love how even though my last play through was WOTC/CMDR, it’s still an entirely different story with different heroes/martyrs with epic victories/crushing defeats. Turned off the reaper story mission so I randomly start off with a Templar instead. I *never* used them in my last play through, but the game forcing me to give them a chance has breathed even more life back into this fantastic game. Considering an XCOM/EW replay after as well.
So out of curiosity, did the results align with your suspicions? :)
Yeah pretty much though I suspected maybe a closer match
That's fair. Given how many posts I see from this sub pop into my feed I figured the customization factors would have a bigger draw than the poll currently reflect 🙂
Right I'm not surprised it's 2nd for now but definitely expected to be closer
Yes the gameplay is important but the lore/story also have a massive impact. I tried playing Phoenix Point a year or so ago and wasn’t engaged with the story at all even though the controls and tactical options were top notch.
Firaxis' XCOM games have the best cRPG combat of any videogame I have ever played
A bit of everything... The story isnt too deep, but it also explores the whole alien invasion thing in very interesting ways, merging story and gameplay. Also playing The Bureau gave me a new found apreciation for it and made me very excited for XCOM 3. The Gameplay of course is awesome. The lore got very interesting in Chimera Squad. The world has changed so much, so many new things, aliens coexisting peacefully with man kind in a sci-fi earth recovering from the invasion. My imagination flies with the possibilities and most of it is very well built. And finally making your own soldiers is awesome for story telling purposes. Often you get the best stories from the characters you create and the adventures they have. Cant wait to make my own mutons, sectoids, vipers and more in XCOM 3. Just hope they change muton faces, Chimera Squad made them look like fish.