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Games : Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: November 12th, 2013 Movie Release Year: 2013

XCOM: Enemy Within

Overview -

Firaxis is revisiting 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' with a drastically large expansion entitled 'Enemy Within.' 2012's riveting turn-based strategy title surprised everybody with its simultaneous devotion to past glory and progression of gameplay mechanics. And the expansion promises a new human enemy in the form of a shadow organization. It's not a wonder of whether the famed strategy developer can deliver again. Rather, it's a question of just how generous can the offering really be?

OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
VIDEO
AUDIO
Tech Specs & Release Details
Release Date:
November 12th, 2013

Video Review

Ranking:

It seems orange is the new blue. Outside of a palette transition from cold to warm, 'XCOM' has very much remained 'XCOM' in 'Enemy Within.' The new enemy types verge on campy, as does the atmosphere in each of the new maps. Always remember that you're commanding a covert army of super soldiers, now even more super with gene mods and MECs, against an foreign alien race. Firaxis nailed the visual component before, deftly balancing the surreal with the absurd. Without a reason to change much, it falls on the human Exalt soldiers to really toss things around. Far more menacing than the thin men ever were, with their suave suits and gangly composition, the Exalt soldiers takes XCOM further into human characterization than ever before. At the very least, I appreciate that Firaxis is never going to rewrite their 'XCOM' visual style as either realistic or cartoonish. It's good the way it is.

Audio Review

Ranking:

Generally the same deal with the video. MECS boulder their way through a stage with realistic clunk. The music is the background to your heartbeat ever speeding up. It works. No changes needed here.

The bottom line is you'll never play 'XCOM: Enemy Unknown' for the first time ever again. It's okay that 'Enemy Within' doesn't give you that feeling. It doesn't recreate the dread we all felt in those first couple playthroughs. That's where ironman mode comes in. 'Enemy Within' is all about piling on the goods, throwing in some new ideas with Exalt and buffing up the sense of personalization and customization with your squaddies. There's a lot more to do, and with a game as good as 'XCOM,' that's never a bad thing.

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