XCOM: Enemy Unkown

XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Developer: 2K Games

System: Xbox 360
Score of: 2/5

I had recently rented this game based on recommendations from the guys at roosterteeth during one of their pod casts. I wasn't able to rent Halo 4 that day so I tried out something new and I must say I knew nothing about this game going into it.  This game is a military/alien invasion themed game. It is squad based 1-6 members and its also turned based. You were able to perform 2 actions per turn or if you "dashed" (moved an extra few spaces) it counted both. It also pertained RPG style elements with researching new weapons and upgrading the old. It also allowed you to change the name, look and even voice of your characters. It did not however let you change their nationality. As your members got kills they ranked up and were granted further abilities which comes in handy. Would be a really good game to download on the PC. 

Visuals: C
The cinematics were good if the game would have been on the original xbox. Reminded me of the Playstation game Destroy All Humans and Mars Attacks. The players are big and bulky, almost replicas of Gears of War. There were small action cut scenes sometimes when running and shooting weapon, it did add a nice change of pace but nothing spectacular. Your base of operations could have been better. It looked like a 2d scrolling game on Sega. Being the commander it could have been nice to walk around the base to get to certain places not just hit down then right to move. The scenes for the autopsy were repetitive, she looked the same, said the same. Only the creature changed. There was a few destructible objects in the game, cars and trees mainly. Some of the "maps" were the same just with a different mission. You are able to launch an interceptor to take down UFO's but not actually control them, and when they launch it looks exactly the same as Halo: Reach, ship model and launching. 

Controls: A+

Super easy, rotate, move, click. Bumper to change abilities. 

Audio: C

If you let the game go through the mission briefings I did notice that each type of mission was exactly the same as before just a different location and setting. If your looking for a game for the story this is not it, most lines are repeated several times. Very little music and the sound effects were basic syfy. Nothing exciting or distinct.

Gameplay: B+

The mission selection was a nice feature that allowed you to respond to 3 different ones each had their own rewards and difficulty. You did have to also think about what the other countries would have felt if you ignored them too many times. They could leave the council and you would lose funding. The first couple of missions were mostly a tutorial but after the 3rd time restarting you no longer have the tutorial. I mentioned that you could lose funding which could be bad since that is the main thing in the game is money. No money means no new weapons, troops, buildings, etc. You also have to have a certain amount of power to run all the facilities so making power plants are a must and also satellite up links. If you don't have them it takes longer to find the aliens around the world. 

Replay Value: C
Other than the achievements there isnt much replay value to this game. The missions are fairly similar, the upgrades, research will all be the same.