If any X-COM game has a chance of being good, this is it.

[Marchable]

I just watched the video Deep Dive of this new X-COM game and I simply had to post on your forums and express my excitement for this new game. If you developers are even bothering to read stuff like this (and I know most don't), I hope at least my enthusiasm will come across at a glance. I just have to say I feel Firaxis is on the right track with this one. You guys and gals appear to have a good understanding of everything that made the original X-COM great. I know it's too early to tell, but this "re-imagining" is doing it all right so far. The game mechanics, the look, the atmosphere and the visuals all feel like X-COM should. Perhaps even better! I feel all the core elements are there but now with new technology and innovative features that make this game shine. Of all the X-COM games that have come and gone (official and otherwise) this looks like the first attempt that is getting it far more right than wrong.

Me and my friends were cautiously discussing this title for the last few months, but sicne the gameplay video we are now all cautiously optimistic (we are in the era of anti-hype and disillusionment, so take that as high praise). I hope for all the best with this new title and look forward to geeking out a bit about it on your forums.

[timewatch]

I'm loving the trailer too, mostly because the turned base aspect look very updated. The new base apperance also rocks, I really like the little details they put into the base. This xcom looks like it has more details than other turned-base games, soldiers can do more stuffs, and that's what is drawing me in. Also I'm curious to see how the new move-action play out, I kinda like that over the old TU system.

[Rugster]

Looks AWESOME! Feel like i'm 20 and abit again! Tried all the spinoff UFO games, what a joke they were, the developer even tried to deny that they're bought the UFO licence. But this.. this looks like UFO EU. Except maybe for the pre specified team. I like my old team of randoms, that usually got slaughtered by PSI wielding grey midgets.

Hope the Snakemen and Greenmen make it into the game as well, those snake men made my skin crawl when i knew my guys were woefully underpowered. And that Blaster Bomber Gun.. with the ability to setup the route the bomb takes.. hope that's in the game too...otherwise, it's looking good. Just hope they don't dumb it down for 3yr olds to play it like most other strategic games these days.

[SectoidSquisher]

Yep, I love the look of the game. As you've said, it appears to be packed with attention to detail - the thing that elevates a very good game to true greatness.

[Dn0uk]

My only problem is that they announced it 9 months before release..........I don't think I can stand the suspense much longer!

[Inkidu]

My only problem is that they announced it 9 months before release..........I don't think I can stand the suspense much longer!

If I could wait for Skyrim I can wait for this, if I can wait for Skyrim I can wait for this...

NO I CAN'T! >__< O__O;

[b15h09]

I pray this game isn't as deeply flawed as Skyrim.

[SectoidSquisher]

How can a game, that has gathered 9/10 reviews all over the place, be deeply flawed? It's not just the critics either, it's the general public. 4.5 stars across 18 reviews at play.com, 4.5 stars across 233 reviews at amazon! This is the PC version by the way. I suppose you were one of the people who thought Oblivion was 'unplayable' straight out of the box?

For me, what I've played of Skyrim so far is - A-bloody-mazing.

[Gazz]

I rate "the general public" at 6.5 / 10.

[Gen_Pho]

I like Skyrim, it is fun. Sure it has its flaws, but to be "deeply flawed" it needs to not be fun because of those problems. Maybe I am just more willing to overlook some problems, and others really let the problems get to them and diminish their fun level.

It's kind of like relations in a way, if you become so focused on people's character flaws you will never have any friends

note: I can't believe I actually compared personal relationships with video games....Time to go apologize to my wife.

[Inkidu]

My point was it was a game I was looking forward to. Actually, announced in the early year, comes out in the fall. It's 2011 all over again!

[b15h09]

How can a game, that has gathered 9/10 reviews all over the place, be deeply flawed? It's not just the critics either, it's the general public. 4.5 stars across 18 reviews at play.com, 4.5 stars across 233 reviews at amazon! This is the PC version by the way. I suppose you were one of the people who thought Oblivion was 'unplayable' straight out of the box?

For me, what I've played of Skyrim so far is - A-bloody-mazing.

-CTDs every couple hours
-horrible menu system, sometime unresponsive UI
-slapdash perk system (if you actually put many points in the perk trees, you're likely just wasting points because of the game using hard caps in it's mechanics that you'll likely reach without going far into the perk tree. too many useless perks to go through to get to something useful. just bad design)
-broken leveling system that scales your enemies, but not your damage output, so that after you reach a certain point, leveling is a detriment

I could go on about endless fetch quests or the lack of a journal, or how you go from zero to hero in every faction in the game in just a few quests, but why bother. And actually, I hadn't touched a TES game since Morrowind, missed out on Oblivion, was quite stoked for the new iteration... then I started to understand it's mechanics better, and uninstalled it. Had a lot of content, but most of it didn't strike me as great content, though that's just a matter of opinion. It's technical problems alone should have barred it from being GOTY 2011, but it's just another reason I don't trust AAA professionals or their often bought reviewers. I will say the game makes an incredible first impression, though. It's just that when you look at how the mechanics fit together, you realize they really don't...


And Gazz, you're being very generous to the general public.

[SectoidSquisher]

I like Skyrim, it is fun. Sure it has its flaws, but to be "deeply flawed" it needs to not be fun because of those problems. Maybe I am just more willing to overlook some problems, and others really let the problems get to them and diminish their fun level.

That's very true.

As to CTDs all the time - are you sure there isn't an issue with your system? I was having endless CTDs with F1 2010 - no other game, mind - and after some troubleshooting, decided the RAM was to blame. Replaced the RAM - no more CTDs - in a game that used to do them all the time.

note: I can't believe I actually compared personal relationships with video games....Time to go apologize to my wife.

Ummm, yep!!! Especially if wifey actually saw your post.

[b15h09]

Well, considering it's the only game I've had a problem with in the last 4 months, and I don't plan to reinstall it, if it is a RAM problem, I don't care However, Skyrims CTD issues have been pretty widely reported, so I think my hardware's probably okay. Granted, it hasn't been on my hard drive since the beginning of Dec, so they may have patched those issues out.

[Gen_Pho]

Ummm, yep!!! Especially if wifey actually saw your post.

HAH! I totally wasn't thinking about THAT....Now I have to apologize for being a nerd AND for being cruel!

[b15h09]

I like Skyrim, it is fun. Sure it has its flaws, but to be "deeply flawed" it needs to not be fun because of those problems. Maybe I am just more willing to overlook some problems, and others really let the problems get to them and diminish their fun level.

The thing is, character development is generally my favorite aspect of RPGs. Exploring the systems are usually where I get the majority of my fun. After getting a good grasp of Skyrim's systems, I just couldn't justify wasting another minute of my life developing my character, and so my fun factor was neutered. I'm sure a lot of people just want to hack away at critters and look at boatloads of content, in which case, Skyrim definitely delivers.

[Inkidu]

The thing is, character development is generally my favorite aspect of RPGs. Exploring the systems are usually where I get the majority of my fun. After getting a good grasp of Skyrim's systems, I just couldn't justify wasting another minute of my life developing my character, and so my fun factor was neutered. I'm sure a lot of people just want to hack away at critters and look at boatloads of content, in which case, Skyrim definitely delivers.

Actually, Skyrim does have character development, it just doesn't do it through narrative. Skyrim has a very internal narrative, just like X-Com!

Aaaand, back on topic.

[b15h09]

Actually, Skyrim does have character development, it just doesn't do it through narrative. Skyrim has a very internal narrative, just like X-Com!

Aaaand, back on topic.

Talking about the mechanical side of character development, not narrative or the role of my imagination.

But yeah, X-COM. Hopefully not a turd polished to the blinding brilliance of the sun.