XCOM 2 Collection

XCOM 2 Collection: Game Overview

From the acclaimed developers at Firaxis Games, XCOM 2 stands as a monumental achievement in the turn-based tactical strategy genre. Brilliantly adapted by Feral Interactive, the XCOM 2 Collection delivers the definitive experience, encompassing the expansive War of the Chosen expansion and four additional DLC packs, ensuring a complete and immersive journey into humanity’s desperate fight for survival. This collection showcases the developers’ pedigree in crafting rich, strategic environments that challenge the mind and capture the imagination.

Set two decades after humanity’s surrender to alien invaders, Earth is now an occupied world under the iron fist of the ADVENT administration. As the Commander, you lead the remnants of XCOM, a clandestine resistance force operating from the Avenger – a mobile, repurposed alien supply vessel. Your mission: ignite a global rebellion, expose the aliens’ sinister agenda, and reclaim Earth from its oppressors. The game masterfully blends narrative and gameplay, painting a bleak yet hopeful future through its art style, which depicts a world scarred by ruination but imbued with the spirit of resistance. This visual tapestry is further enriched by a haunting audio landscape of atmospheric soundscapes and frenetic combat crescendos, where every gunshot and alien shriek intensifies the immersive experience.

At its core, XCOM 2 offers deep and rewarding gameplay mechanics that cater to a variety of playstyles, from brute force assaults to stealth and cunning guerrilla tactics. Players can forge their path by recruiting and customizing specialized units, each with unique abilities and progression paths. The game innovates with features like soldier bonds, which create powerful combat synergies, and covert actions that add a layer of strategic espionage. The introduction of The Chosen – dynamic, persistent adversaries who evolve and counteract player strategies – demands a profound tactical repertoire and adds an unparalleled layer of challenge. While the journey may present a steep learning curve for newcomers and occasional technical hiccups like sluggish load times, the intense atmosphere, the weight of each decision, and the profound personalization of your squad forge an unparalleled connection between player and game, solidifying XCOM 2’s status as a masterpiece in gaming narrative and strategy.

Getting Started: A Tactical Briefing

Embarking on your mission to reclaim Earth requires a firm grasp of XCOM 2’s core mechanics. Here’s a brief guide to help you navigate the strategic and tactical layers of the game:

1. Initiate Your Campaign: Begin by launching a new campaign in the XCOM 2 Collection. For those new to the series or the genre, it’s highly recommended to start on ‘Rookie’ or ‘Veteran’ difficulty. This allows you to acclimate to the intricate gameplay mechanics without being overwhelmed by the challenge.

2. Master the Avenger: Your mobile base, the Avenger, is the heart of your resistance effort. Spend time familiarizing yourself with its various sections. Here, you’ll manage crucial research projects to unlock new technologies, construct vital facilities, manufacture advanced equipment, and recruit, train, and customize your soldiers. Understanding the Avenger’s functions is paramount to your war effort.

3. Engage in Turn-Based Combat: Combat missions are turn-based, demanding careful planning and execution. Each of your soldiers has two actions per turn. Typically, the first action is used for movement and positioning, while the second can be used for an offensive action (like attacking an enemy), a defensive action (like Hunker Down), or setting an Overwatch, where your soldier will automatically fire at enemies moving into their line of sight during the enemy turn.

4. Prioritize Tactical Positioning: Success on the battlefield hinges on superior tactical positioning. Always utilize environmental cover to reduce the enemy’s hit chances against your units. Conversely, flanking enemies (attacking them from an exposed side) significantly increases your hit chance and critical hit rate. Don’t underestimate verticality; climbing buildings or elevated terrain can provide crucial line-of-sight advantages and strategic high ground.

5. Drive Research & Development: Back on the Avenger, maintaining a constant flow of research and development is essential. Prioritize projects that unlock new weapons, armor, and gadgets, as these are vital for countering increasingly dangerous alien threats. Assign engineers to construct new facilities and improve existing ones to boost your productivity and expand your strategic capabilities.

6. Execute Missions with Caution: In every mission, your primary goal is to complete objectives while minimizing risks. The loss of experienced soldiers can be devastating to your campaign. At the start of many missions, your squad will be in concealment, allowing you to set up devastating ambushes. Always strive to have a contingency plan in place, anticipating potential complications and preparing for when things inevitably go south.

7. Develop Your Soldiers: As your soldiers gain experience and are promoted, they will unlock specialized classes such as Ranger, Specialist, Grenadier, or Sniper. Carefully customize their skills and abilities to fit your preferred tactics and squad composition. Additionally, pay attention to the soldier bond system; pairing compatible soldiers can unlock powerful cooperative abilities and provide significant advantages in combat.