XCOM: Enemy Unknown for Xbox 360 Reviews by Gamers

So, I played the original X-COM series when I was a kid. Many a long nights were spent playing that game, getting frustrated and learning interesting ways to curse at the computer. And while that may not sound like it's a good thing, I would say that the new XCOM: Enemy Unknown captures that accurately.

The game itself shows that turn-based strategy is, indeed, not dead and is also able to make use of the graphics of current generation systems and high definition televisions. There are a few gripes, but those are definitely outweighed by the praise I have for the game itself.

This game is a very faithful adaptation of the original X-COM, and feels very current-day. The old one felt like you were fighting aliens through the eighties (which you sort of were, or at least the early nineties). With the revamp, there are people walking around with tablet computers and it's completely normal. This is what I would expect an underground research lab to look like.

Base management is simple and still challenging at the same time. You want one of everything, of course, but you also need to take into consideration your power needs and your science/workshop needs. So, do you build that brand new psionic training center? Or do you build that thermogenerator power plant - or do you wait until you research something better and build that instead?!

It has unlimited replay potential, on account of the fact that everything is randomly generated; you can start in any continent except Antarctica; and the new DLC coming out makes it even better to replay it all.

My one primary gripe is that I wish there were more maps. Sometimes it gets boring to play the same map over and over again. A good frame of reference for this is Final Fantasy Tactics. The more you play the same map, the more you can anticipate where enemies will be. So, it makes the game easier that way, than being surprised about your surroundings.

Overall, great game, though. Well worth the rent or buy.