Which is better: XCOM 2, or XCOM Enemy Unknown?

[wowzerz]

Interested in XCOM right now. Never played any of them ever. Which one would be best for a beginner like me, and which one is better overall?

[twopointfour]

They're both rad

Enemy Within is the expansion to EU and is the better version to play
Then play XCOM 2 when you've played EW to death, the expansion is getting announced on Monday so there is that going on as well

For now I'd say stick with EU/EW as we don't currently know how X2 and whatever is coming on Monday is going to happen, ie if they get bundled etc

[The Safe and Sterile Bread-Tan]

They're both pretty fun. Base-wise they're similar but the DLCs add a whole different level unique to each one. (Man I miss mutating all my soldiers but I looooooove monarch hunting)
I'd say EU just because everything is out already, no need to restart just to play with the newly released DLC and such.
Plus mutating everyone!

[Roflberries]

I think 2 is better overall, but EU/EW has an easier learning curve so it's a better start point to break into the series.

You're probably best waiting for the steam summer sale (usually late June to early July) to see if you can pick one or both up cheap.

[ASA275]

personalmente me gusto mas xcom que el xcom 2

[76561198034396398]

XCOM Enemy Unknown......until you meet a Sectopod (unless you can do this)
https://youtu.be/m8H-FDOLxz0

[Nu-men von Kryt !!XD]

XCOM 2 overall is way better than vanilla XCOM EU and still significant improvement to the game in comparison to XCOM EW which is the definitive version of the 2012 game.

You have to look what XCOM EU provided and then what was improved in XCOM EW and later in XCOM2.

XCOM EU
- Small amount of premade maps with overall nice destruction
- 4 Classes and 1 subclass
- Shiv's
- The classic enemies
- Second Wave
- Barebone Geoscape & Interception
- Decent Battlescape
- Continental bonuses
- Barebone customization in terms of look and voices.

XCOM EW
- Many new maps(which is great since EU was lacking in that department)
- New resource MELD
- new class and subclass
- new gear, research and upgrades
- 2 new alien enemies, one new enemy faction and rebalance of old enemies
- New missions and mission types(which was a big problem in EU)
- Slightly improved Geoscape with new mechanics and nice upgrade to Battlescape.
- All continental Bonuses are more viable with added stuff
- Improvemen in customization which is largely due to using voice packs from all localizations of the game

XCOM 2
- Procedural generation of the maps(this is very big change and improvement over the previous game)
- Big improvement to the level of destruction.
- 5 Classes which fill the role of all classes and subclasses from previous game and expansion.
- The game is randomized in many terms such as for example "random continental bonuses" which mean continental bonus is not fixed to the same continent every time.
- Greatly improved Geoscape with additions like Doom Clock, Dark Events, New Resources, Supply pickups etc.
- Nice selection of enemies.
- Quite variety in mission types.
- More fleshed out RPG mechanics with introduction of Loot, PCS's, new stats for soldiers
(which are Armor, Dodge and seperation of Will and PSI.) and of course ability to choose the rookies carrier path with GTS etc.
- Improvements to the battlescape with timers, stealth mechanic, hacking etc.
- Improved research & foundry upgrades (aka Proving grounds)
- Way more gear for soldiers like ammo types, grenade types, vest types etc.
- Somewhat improvement to the base management(i am not a fan of the old ant farm) with excavations and putting engineers in specific rooms.
- Very big upgrade to customization.
- Also on PC only Steam workshop support.

[KRON]

Originally posted by Evil Doctor Porkchop:

XCOM Enemy Unknown......until you meet a Sectopod which makes the ones in X2 look like a tin can

They're especially fun in Enemy Within where on Normal difficulty they have 30 HP and the most damage you can do to it with one hit is like 9HP(upgraded MEC's kinetic strike or critical hit with plasma sniper rifle).

[Nu-men von Kryt !!XD]

Originally posted by Evil Doctor Porkchop:

XCOM Enemy Unknown......until you meet a Sectopod (unless you can do this)
https://youtu.be/m8H-FDOLxz0

But here is the thing in XCOM 2 Sectopod is your priority target once it shows up unlike the XCOM EU/EW where you see a sectopod which always be a secondary target(even on classic) unless there is nothing else on the site.

[KRON]

Originally posted by Nu-men von Kryt !!XD:

Originally posted by Evil Doctor Porkchop:

XCOM Enemy Unknown......until you meet a Sectopod (unless you can do this)
https://youtu.be/m8H-FDOLxz0

But here is the thing in XCOM 2 Sectopod is your priority target once it shows up unlike the XCOM EU/EW where you see a sectopod which always be a secondary target(even on classic) unless there is nothing else on the site.

For me Sectopod was always a priority target because it could fire twice in one turn and then enter overwatch. But under suppression fire it was pretty much harmless for my guys in cover.

[Bullett00th]

Jumping the 'both are amazing' bandwagon.

What I like the most about XCOM2 is that it's really not the sequel we're used to seeing: one that feels different enough to not make its predecessor obsolete.

And both Long War 1 and 2 are like huge conversions which are great as well.

Originally posted by KRON:

For me Sectopod was always a priority target because it could fire twice in one turn and then enter overwatch. But under suppression fire it was pretty much harmless for my guys in cover.

The sectopods were scary until I started taking disabling shot snipers on missions))

[R1B$]

Enemy Unknown is unplayable compared to Xcom 2.

no random maps and unpunished overwatch spam. :(

[Syndra]

Loved the story and shooting down UFOS and then trying to clear the UFO in X1. With all the mods and customization. X2 is far better.

[Adeptus Stark]

I would say pick up both. Play the first without the expansion. Then play with expansion and then xcom 2. ;)

[easytarget]

Originally posted by R1B$:

Enemy Unknown is unplayable compared to Xcom 2.

no random maps and unpunished overwatch spam. :(

This has at least one nice element to it, it's such a complete exaggeration everyone who reads it knows to ignore it.

[The Unmobable spés]

Try xcom e:u and Finish it. Then play xcom e:w to see the improvements it gives the game.

Then play Long war mod for xcom e:w and spend probably 400 hours in it, you will enjoy it. Until then it'll be christmas 2017 and you'll grab xcom 2 in christmas steam sale.

Just go this order to simply understand the way xcom changes, improves and grows.

I had much fun with e:w and maybe 550 hours with Long war, Just started a new campaign two weeks ago.

All of them great games but you won't like the older parts if you're starting with xcom 2 i suppose.