Here's something I don't tell many of my gaming pals. I've never played the original XCOM game. So, going into XCOM 2, I had only the basics of the original story to go off and absolutely nothing to compare it to. That has its pros and cons but overall, I was excited to finally give into the hype and become a part of the fans for a huge franchise in the videogame business.

Credit: 2K Games

Credit: 2K Games

What I find out quite quickly when delving into single player campaign mode is that this title is set 20 years after the first, with Earth occupied by the alien force that invaded all those years back. Winning the war they assumed power and forced their dominance upon the human race and now it's the job of the player to help bring back some of the control and reclaim the planet which once stood tall and mighty.

A week in and XCOM 2 has me hook, line and sinker. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't come without its grievances that need solving ASAP with a patch or two, but there is enough greatness included that it's worth pushing on through that to enjoy one of the meatiest turn-based games I've had the pleasure of playing.

Credit: 2K Games
Credit: 2K Games

Those issues include staggering frames despite having specs above those recommended, dodgy camera angles which sometimes see you missing out on the action (try disabling action-cam shots altogether), and longer than you'd think necessary loading times from one mission to the next.

What the game does well is the variety of classes on offer and their unique, individual abilities through the on-ground gameplay. You'll need a varying selection of different fighters to ensure success and a quicker-than-average mind to get to grips with not only those, but the old and new enemies you'll come up against. Like your fighters, the aliens offer a multitude of chaotic power plays ensuring every battle is a fresh one and you're kept on your toes. Is it frustrating? Of course, but that just means when you come home with the win, it's more satisfying than ever.

Another side to gameplay is the inclusion of one taking place entirely on a world map. You'll be able to fly around the globe in a base you're consistently adding to and improving, repurposing rooms once plagued by alien forces to give the humans the upper hand. It's a lot of fun and adds yet another layer to the interactivity and expansive gameplay.

Credit: 2K Games
Credit: 2K Games

Graphics are beautiful and look great when they run smoothly. There's sometimes almost a cartoonish look to some of the aliens but that only adds to their intrigue. Whilst some closely resemble humans when they're fully armoured up, you can for example spot a Muton a mile off.

Next week I'll be taking a look at the game's multiplayer mode to find out if it can match up to the singer player campaign but at this point, I'm already very impressed. XCOM 2 is available now on PC.


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