Is this better than X-Com: Enemy Unknown and UFO series?

[Rontemon]

I never played the original X-COM but I played UFO:Aftermath, Aftershock and Afterlight.

I also own the Firaxis X-COM: Enemy Unknown. While it was fun for awhile, it was casualized and I didn't even want to buy the DLC Enemy Within as I was just sick of the lack of information the game provided. Line of fire, and the controls are all so dumbed down.

Is this game better than the UFO series and X-COM Enemy Unknown?

[[Han Solo]]

if you want a real challange yes. it is good. more like old x-com than any other

[kabill]

I never played the UFO series, so can't comment on that. In terms of a comparison with the Firaxis game, I'd say that Xenonauts is different, rather than better. I have a lot of time for both and like them for different reasons, But from what little you've said, I think you might prefer Xenonauts over XCOM: EU.

[Gorlom[Swe]]

I suggest that you take a look at some of the videos of Xenonauts gameplay on youtube.

also "Original X-COM: Enemy Uknown" is a bit hard to know which game you are talking about. Firaxis XCOM2012 isn't really an/the original (as in this game was not based on Firaxis in any way), nor does it use a hyphen. It's unfortunately named beccause the original microprose game was named "X-Com: Ufo Defense" AND "UFO: Enemy Uknown" depending on which region it was sold in. Which causes refering to Firaxis game a bit difficult without causing some confusion.
I usually try to divide them up as XCOM2012 and X-com94

[light_gemini]

This game is better in terms of complexity and depth than the new X-Com, although you may miss the cool eye candy and camera.

UFO series are designed to be played abusing save reloading, so its hard in difficulty and impossible to "Ironman" it by default. Xenonauts has less eyecandy (again lol) but a little more complexity in the form of budget and costs management. Battles are different since there are far more maps (wich have random elements). Also the game is not meant to have lots of aliens get mowed down by a few soldiers, it plays more in "fair ground" were your gear and numbers Vs the gear and numbers of aliens do affect the outcome a lot. You can expect to get wiped out by a smaller group of aliens, the inverse, or have both sides equally tear each other apart. And theres permadeath, so expect lots of casualties and new faces coming and going at your base.

[Salami]

For me who playd them all to death i feel this one is the best so far. The feeling and combat etc are perfect IMO. Feels like a game and not virtual combat simulator like the newest one.

[Kraft ☢ Squad]

imo Xenonauts is the best, enemy unknown being the last.

[Morgian]

It is a modernized version of the original game of the 90ies and much closer to the UFO series than XCOM: EU, which shares mostly the theme, but has other mechanics. I think I can recommend it to you, if you liked the UFO games.

[Gorlom[Swe]]

Originally posted by Morgian:

It is a modernized version of the original game of the 90ies and much closer to the UFO series than XCOM: EU, which shares mostly the theme, but has other mechanics. I think I can recommend it to you, if you liked the UFO games.

By UFO series do you mean the AfterX series by Altar games or Do you mean the Original X-com by microprose (also known as UFO: Enemy Uknown)? Or could you even be refering to the UFO: Extraterrestrials series by paradox interatctive/chaos concept? (well only one game has been released so far, the sequel is still in development afaik, so it's hardly a series yet :P)

[Wowee]

Originally posted by Ronald:

I didn't even want to buy the DLC Enemy Within as I was just sick of the lack of information the game provided

XCOM:Enemy Within is very good I must say, it adds depth to Enemy Unkown. Highly recommended.

[Qutsemnie]

I am suspicious of this games tactical map game play after watching youtube. I think the decision to not use the 3 mob drop mechanic could be better, but not if the AI doesn't understand itself as a squad. In XCOM the pressure comes from multiple things acticating at once. It gives the illusion of a squad resisting you, but if you remove the illusion, you are not automatically better off, you could simply have no illusion of a squad resisting you and no AI that builds the aliens into squads.

What do you guys think that have played both? Is there anything really compelling about the tactical play versus your experience in xcom? A lot of people look at more options and go "must be better", but to me it is all about the AI, and that is difficult to judge from youtube.

[JohnnyTheWolf]

XCOM:EW is unfortunately still buggy and unpolished. It is a PC port and not a very good one.

The Long War mod does improve things considerably, but there is so much you can do without proper modding tools.

[Gorlom[Swe]]

Originally posted by Qutsemnie:

I am suspicious of this games tactical map game play after watching youtube. I think the decision to not use the 3 mob drop mechanic could be better, but not if the AI doesn't understand itself as a squad. In XCOM the pressure comes from multiple things acticating at once. It gives the illusion of a squad resisting you, but if you remove the illusion, you are not automatically better off, you could simply have no illusion of a squad resisting you and no AI that builds the aliens into squads.

What do you guys think that have played both? Is there anything really compelling about the tactical play versus your experience in xcom? A lot of people look at more options and go "must be better", but to me it is all about the AI, and that is difficult to judge from youtube.

There are a few discussions on the goldhawk forum about the AI. Some even directed towards the AI programmer responsible, and iirc he is fairly involved in and responding to the discussion.

I would suggest that you take this to the Goldhawks forum rather than try to "hijack" this thread :p (discussion about the AI is slightly offtopic, it's only tangially related imo)

[Hathur]

As a big fan of the classic and someone who also enjoys the modern X-COM, I'm finding Xenonauts to be a delight. Lots of strategic and tactical depth, lacks the flashy fanciness of the new x-com but makes up for it with excellent gameplay.

Definitely is more advanced than the classic game. I couldn't recommend this game enough to anyone who loved the original X-COM.

[Goobercat🍁]

I have played both and I must say I love the freedom Xenonauts gives you. The decisions you make (or dont) can have a huge impact on your game. With XCOM-EU I felt like the plot brought you along with it and it was just waiting for the player to trigger the next phase. In Xenonaunts, the player has complete control on where they go.

As for the tactical game.... I do miss the shiny graphics and intense battles of Firaxis' game but that was mostly when I just started playing Xenonauts. Now that I have been playing Xenonauts more... Im finding the tactical battles much more rewarding with a lot more strategy involved (Ie. weapons to take into battle, armour your wearing... where to breach and how best to survive that breach).

Also, with Xenonauts being openly moddable.. players from the community are able to make new map packs to keep the game fresh.

If you liked the orginal Xcom series... you will enjoy this!

[Vash]

Have a few questions here:

How long does is take to get from start to end on medium difficulty?
How deep is the tech tree, as in just a few tiers or like a dozen tiers of technology?
Additionally, how bugged is it still?