XCOM 2 reminds me why I didn't quite like XCOM EU when I played it on console.

If you've read around at all, the usual suspects criticizing this game aren't exactly wrong in their gripes about XCOM's core gameplay mechanics:

This Game Is a Roulette Table

No pun intended on this game's apparent seeded RNG mechanic (That's a Random Number Generator for you non-nerds).

Seeded RNG would be more like a loaded digital slot machine, which is exaclty how is games core mechanics funtion, but anyways...

I love strategy games, so I know quite a bit about the niche, from classic cardboard table tops like Chess, Risk, Catan to old school computer titles like Starcraft, Warfrcat, Z etc. to modern day games like Front Mission, Homeworld, and so forth. But, XCOM feels more like being in a sketchy casino rather than a strategy game; It's like betting a big stack of money on an post-apocalyptic alien invasion coin flip.

The never ending dice rolls is what takes so much away from this game. No matter what amount of skill a player has in this game, randomness is what sends you spinning out of control, epecially in missions on the harder difficulties.

There is so much work lost through random-chance character deaths and mission losses, that any enjoyment and reward are overshadowed from the amount of frustration and hours of grinding and reattemps.

And I can attest. I completed the last game on its hardest difficulty and played this one on its "Legendary Ironman" mode just to say that I did. So, I can honestly say I gave this game a complete and comprehensive playthrough before criticizing it.

If you've read anything about this game, you'll have picked up on the flame wars in several threads between the highbrow critics and fankids. I suppose I am the former, but the issue is apparent.

However, I am a patient completionist.

As I said, I played the previous XCOM and beat it (Reluctantly, after several attempts) on its hardest difficulty.

It wasn't fun. I did it simply to say I did it.

And now I am playing this one on its "Legendary Ironman" and will beat it (Eventually, after several begrudged attempts). But, I gotta say it's really not fun. Needless to say, its really hard.

But, it's so hard that it's not fun.

I'm just going through the motions for some achievements.

Playing it on its hardest modes only bring out the reasons why its reliance on its All-or-Nothing RNG gameplay is just not fun.

I suppose this is what the game was intended to be like. That's just XCOM, as they say right? You could play it on easy mode, but why buy a new game at 60 bucks just to play it on easy mode a couple of times? Is that worth it?

The gameplay mechanics not only make the game unenjoyable and frustrating, but seems to make alot of things unbalanced as well.

I purchased this game with it's AAA price tag in hopeful expectation that I'd see some refreshing new core gameplay and a better level of enjoyment, but I rolled the 2K's RNG dice and it let me down once again as it has so many times before. Sigh

Maybe I am the demographic that XCOM is targeting, along with the other gambling addicts and "masochists"?

I cannot recomend this game with it's current $59.99 price tag and have usually told my friends who are strategy buffs to avoid it, as most wouldn't enjoy it. The majority of whom I know that have tried this or the last XCOM game have been disappointed, unfortunately.

If you really want to try this game I'd say wait for a price drop or give an older XCOM game a go. Preferably try a free demo. Like I said, you might not enjoy this game because of it's core mechanics. It tends to put off many players.

In the meantime, I hope that 2K takes heed from other turn-based tactical games like Square Enix's Front Mission series and reward skill, not gambles.

[h1]6/10[/h1] XCOM 2 reminds me why I didn't quite like XCOM EU when I played it on console. If you've read around at all, the usual suspects criticizing this game aren't exactly wrong in their gripes about XCOM's core gameplay mechanics: [b]This Game Is a Roulette Table[/b] No pun intended on this game's apparent seeded RNG mechanic (That's a Random Number Generator for you non-nerds). Seeded RNG would be more like a loaded digital slot machine, [u]which is exaclty how is games core mechanics funtion[/u], but anyways... I love strategy games, so I know quite a bit about the niche, from classic cardboard table tops like Chess, Risk, Catan to old school computer titles like Starcraft, Warfrcat, Z etc. to modern day games like Front Mission, Homeworld, and so forth. [i]But, XCOM feels more like being in a sketchy casino rather than a strategy game; It's like betting a big stack of money on an post-apocalyptic alien invasion coin flip.[/i] The never ending dice rolls is what takes so much away from this game. No matter what amount of skill a player has in this game, randomness is what sends you spinning out of control, epecially in missions on the harder difficulties. There is so much work lost through random-chance character deaths and mission losses, that any enjoyment and reward are overshadowed from the amount of frustration and hours of grinding and reattemps. And I can attest. I completed the last game on its hardest difficulty and played this one on its "Legendary Ironman" mode just to say that I did. So, I can honestly say I gave this game a complete and comprehensive playthrough before criticizing it. If you've read anything about this game, you'll have picked up on the flame wars in several threads between the highbrow critics and fankids. I suppose I am the former, but the issue is apparent. However, I am a patient completionist. As I said, I played the previous XCOM and beat it (Reluctantly, after several attempts) on its hardest difficulty. It wasn't fun. I did it simply to say I did it. And now I am playing this one on its "Legendary Ironman" and will beat it (Eventually, after several begrudged attempts). But, I gotta say it's really not fun. Needless to say, its really hard. But, it's so hard that it's not fun. I'm just going through the motions for some achievements. Playing it on its hardest modes only bring out the reasons why its reliance on its All-or-Nothing RNG gameplay is just not fun. I suppose this is what the game was intended to be like. That's just XCOM, as they say right? You could play it on easy mode, but why buy a new game at 60 bucks just to play it on easy mode a couple of times? Is that worth it? The gameplay mechanics not only make the game unenjoyable and frustrating, but seems to make alot of things unbalanced as well. I purchased this game with it's AAA price tag in hopeful expectation that I'd see some refreshing new core gameplay and a better level of enjoyment, but I rolled the 2K's RNG dice and it let me down once again as it has so many times before. [i]Sigh[/i] Maybe I am the demographic that XCOM is targeting, along with the other gambling addicts and "masochists"? I cannot recomend this game with it's current $59.99 price tag and have usually told my friends who are strategy buffs to avoid it, as most wouldn't enjoy it. The majority of whom I know that have tried this or the last XCOM game have been disappointed, unfortunately. If you really want to try this game I'd say wait for a price drop or give an older XCOM game a go. Preferably try a free demo. Like I said, you might not enjoy this game because of it's core mechanics. It tends to put off many players. In the meantime, I hope that 2K takes heed from other turn-based tactical games like Square Enix's Front Mission series and reward skill, not gambles.