XCOM 2 Announced!

Yesterday 2K Games announced that a new XCOM game is due to be released this year.  This new title, XCOM 2, was apparently kept a big secret by the developers.  One of the strange parts of this announcement was the information that the title would only be available on PC.  This seems weird since XCOM itself was available on consoles and tablets.  My money would be on console and tablet versions coming out after the PC version is available.

XCOM:  Enemy Unknown and the expansion Enemy Within are both some of my favorite turn-based strategy games.  I love how challenging they are and the strategic aspect of the missions.  In order to be effective you have to pay close attention to what is going on and always be thinking ahead.  Instead of just blazing through a game in a very unthinking manner, I had to really spend time analyzing the battlefield and running through possible scenarios in my head.  "If I move my sniper there will they be exposed?"  I have probably spent the most time saving and reloading in XCOM.  One mistake can really screw up an entire mission.  The RNG aspect can be frustrating...especially early on, but if you keep at it things get easier and more interesting.  Just thinking about it makes me feel all warm inside...and also makes me want to yell obscenities at my computer.

The announcement for XCOM 2 was also accompanied by this trailer.  If you haven't watched it, check it out--there are some familiar aspects, but some interesting new features too.

The premise in this game is that XCOM is the invading force rather than the defending force.  The trailer features what look like humans, but also some aliens.  I especially enjoy the snake-like creature and anticipate some strangling or poisoning to factor in somehow.  There are also supposed to be several new classes and hopefully they are as cool as the samurai sword wielding soldier in the video.  The drone feature seems somewhat akin to the robots--which I have never used--that were added into Enemy Within.  (Link to article:  "XCOM 2 Coming Out in November for Computers, Not Consoles")

XCOM 2 is slated to be released exclusively on PC in November.  I'll start preparing my stress ball for random deaths due to stupid moves or RNG magic.