

Over time, they'll also develop new strengths if the XCOM squad isn't quick enough to sniff and snuff them out. Each of the three Chosen-the Warlock, the Hunter, and the Assassin-comes with a basic set of abilities as well as auto-generated names, strengths, and weaknesses. The trio acts like a miniature Shadow of Mordor nemesis system, repeatedly ambushing you on otherwise innocuous missions and referencing past battles. The titular Chosen who now stalk discrete zones across the Earth are most emblematic of this maxim. In short, more fires that grow into raging infernos in the mid-to-late-game. More maps, more enemies, more abilities, more buildings, more to manage between missions, more story and characters, more bosses.
Xcom 2 war of the chosen xbox one release date full#
War of the Chosen, the game's first and likely last full expansion, deals with that problem with a simple maxim: more is more. The overarching strategy layer then became an exercise in endlessly beefing up until you were as ready as can be for the final assault. One crack squad with enough experience, arms, and armor could eventually put any number of aliens to shame in the turn-based ground game. Over the course of a campaign, it became clear that XCOM 2 didn't have enough fuel to keep the fires burning. Not every mission can be tackled, of course, and you just have to live with the extra aliens, reduced monthly income, and encroaching game-ending conflicts from the fires you can't put out. Over time, the game grows increasingly overrun with tasks that force you to pick and choose just a handful of permadeath-laden, turn-based missions to send squads on. Trust me, though: it's really a game about putting out fires.

XCOM 2 looks, sounds, and plays like a turn-based strategy game about beating back an alien occupation. Platform: Windows (reviewed), Max, Linux, PS4, Xbox One
