I should also warn you that, during my time with the game, I ran into some minor bugs and glitches. Without an active threat on the world map, that sense of urgency that is so sharp on the battlefield feels dulled. Gradually, however, these various assignments narrow down to a fine point, at which time you can comfortably ignore certain requests because, hey, you already have plenty of supplies thank you very much. The fact that you can see the enemy UFO zipping around the map - and must actively avoid it - makes the alien's presence known.Īt first not having to deal with the aliens on the world map is a blessing, as you have about three-too-many things on your plate at a time. One standout exception is when a UFO is sent to hunt The Avenger, culminating in a desperate encounter reminiscent of Enemy Within's base assault mission. The aliens may have taken over the planet, but it sure doesn't feel that way when you can hop in your airship and cruise around Earth whenever you feel like it. You counter these events by going on missions, creating a sort of tug of war between advancing XCOM's objectives and undermining the aliens.īut this conflict feels passive and indirect. As the days scroll by, the aliens will deploy various 'Dark Events' which can grant them special bonuses and add progress to the Avatar project. Unfortunately, while the aliens really bear their fangs on the battlefield, their presence is missed on the world map. At first this stream of new enemies can feel overwhelming, but after a dozen encounters or so you learn how certain enemies think and can quickly deduce the highest threats from any lineup. Instead of progressing from Muton to Muton Elite or Floater to Heavy Floater, every alien has its own unique design and abilities that require you to switch up your strategy on the fly if you don't want to end up six-feet under. The alien lineup has received a complete overhaul as well, with plenty of new faces ready to pump you full of white-hot plasma. These surprises, and plenty others, keep firefights engaging well into your second playthrough and beyond.

But, even as the last alien falls, the imminent arrival of reinforcements or the constant ticking of your objective's timer will keep tensions running high. One turn your squad may be concealed - a new mechanic that lets them sneak up on enemies - and the next they're 'Going loud!' as you execute the perfect ambush. You'll need every advantage you can get, as the tempo of any battle can take wild, exciting shifts from turn to turn.

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