XCOM: Enemy Unknown

[Sammy Boy]

Question for those who are playing / have played the Firaxis remake, and those who played the 1994 original.

Which do you like better and why?

I like the Firaxis remake. Better graphics, less micromanagement (unlimited ammo which needs to be reloaded is preferred over budgeting for ammo clips), more diversification with soldiers under your command.

But I did wish they made the Heavy soldier class a bit more accurate (though I suppose their specialty is shooting rockets).

[bigsleepj]

The Fireaxis remake seems to be better and more streamlined, but I've not played either extensively.

[Scarecrow]

Well, I've never played the old one... but I bought the new one on a whim with a couple other games. The Last of Us and Dead Space 2... Played a little of those but I am hooked on XCOM... I LOVE this game. The last game I played that was similar was Valkyrine Chronicles and I think I like this better than that by a long shot and I really liked that game...

I like that it's not really hard to learn but PLENTY of strategy without getting tedious. Played one game and ended up losing nearly all the countries and then the game played again with a good idea how to do it this time and I'm loving it. I never even heard of this game before I bought it but I was happy I picked it up ^_^ I don't think I've spent this much on a game since Mortal Kombat 9 (but that was just cause it's fun to play with others).

Favorite class is def the Sniper... it took a bit to work out how to use him and how to buff him up but... talk about a beast! Heavy Class I gotta work on how I buff them up... They're not the tanks I thought they'd be so I'm still trying to figure the best way to use them... I think I've killed off more Heavy's than any other unit. I know they're supposed to be a killing machine but I haven't worked out how to make them any kind agent of death.

[Sammy Boy]

Scarecrow - Snipers definitely earn their slots in the squad. If you pick up Squad Sight and Dam_n Good Ground, along with something like Opportunist, set them on Overwatch and watch the aliens get fried.

Heavies don't really come into their own until later in the game. When you get them HEAT Ammo, along with Grenadier (two grenades per battle) and/or Holo-Targeting, they are really good for taking on alien machines like Cyberdiscs and Sectopods. Their accuracy isn't great, but you can have them on a rooftop and fire a rocket or Shredder Rocket, then have the rest of your squad focus fire on large threats like the above.

My favourite class is Assault, their Run & Gun is great for covering long distances while still being able to go on Overwatch. I usually pick Lightning Reflexes with Close Combat Specialist for them. Then I give them the SCOPE upgrade and they make great sentries and scouts for the rest of my squad.

[Scarecrow]

Yeah I was actually majored out when I posted that (all my soldiers were almost all majors at least... I just meant I was trying to figure out how to use the abilities as they were picked at random for my first few... I found I like Grenade/rocket heavies... anything else and I think they kind of suck.

I really wish I had a sniper with Snap Shot now that I have ghost armor... Ghost Armor + Snap shot + In the Zone would be amazing. Actually anything + Ghost armor is turning out to be amazingly awesome. I don't even take hits anymore cause I can plan out the attack ahead of time and wipe out nearly everyone before they even know what hits em. I had 9 enemies visible and I took out all but the giant robot chicken walker (I forget what they're called) and a droid before they could get a hit in. I think that's been my crowning achievement so far. Everyone was grouped together so took a shredder rocket to em which got most of their health down where I could basically one hit everything even with out going back into ghost. The rocket killed a droid. 2 assaults took out the two with full health, Double tap took out 2 more... the other sniper knocked another out and the support took out the one with the weakest health. The tall skinny Mind Control aliens aren't even much of a problem. Usually by the time he gets to go, he's half dead and the only one left so even if he MCs, doesn't do much good as I blow him away the next turn. I just wished I had a sniper with snap shot instead of squad sight so I could run in undetected and then shoot the same turn and since they are out in the open, with in the zone, it's like free kills.

Assault with Ghost armor is even more amazing as ya ghost, get right behind em... boom... 100% hit, 100% crit. I'm definately gonna have to try classic mode next time as ever since I got every satellite up, Normal has become far too easy... Sure I didn't advance the plot till I had everyone in Titan armor basically but... I'm having lots of fun now =)

[Sammy Boy]

It sounds like you're having a fun time!

Chicken robot walker = Sectopod

If you want to get a Sniper with Snap Shot, you can hire rookies again and hope they level up as Snipers. The easy way to do this is to get the free Squaddie upgrade in the Officer Training School, then hire a rookie. Then, just one day before the rookie is "transferred" to your base, save your game. Wait and see if it turns out to be a Sniper. If not, reload and try again.

I know some people would think this is cheating, but since as far as I can make out the game totally randomises the class your soldier ends up becoming, this is the only economical way to try for a Sniper.

I don't have Ghost Armour yet, like you I am trying to research more tech before I trigger the alien base assault mission (because I want to get my Heavy Plasma before I go in ... .don't have enough weapon fragments for the research :0 ).

I think there is a new DLC coming out on 20th August, kinda looking forward to that.

Also looking forward to XCOM: The Bureau.

[Scarecrow]

Got around to finishing it off this weekend... last level was the only time I had any issues. Final boss battle totally sucks without ghost armor. First time I ran in without it and was totally eviscerated. Second time, made sure to save up the ghost powers for the last room... they didn't even get a hit at anyone.

Now to play it on classic ironman =D

[Sammy Boy]

Congrats and all the best with the classic ironman playthrough!

I was wrong about the DLC release date - looks like it's November sometime.