This one definitely builds upon the formula of XCOM: Enemy Unkown/Within, while taking the series even further in a different direction than the original X-COM games. The roles are reversed in this one, with you leading a small resistance group against the worldwide alien dictatorship that controls Earth. This game is definitely harder and has a lot more going on than the last one, too. There is a tight time/turn limit to get things done in almost every battle, counting down until aliens bring more reinforcements or lock down your objective, forcing you to be on the offensive more often than not. The geoscape has A LOT more going on, too, with tons of stuff to do and not enough time to do everything. There is a lot of customization options, and a ton of mods on Steam Workshop that add even more options for soldiers, which is nice. Your own soldiers, and the aliens, all have much more potent abilities than in the previous game, as well. While the more powerful abilities are cool and everything, it kind of makes the game about setting up your guys to insta-kill powerful aliens before they can get a turn to do massive damage.

I enjoyed the homages to the old X-COM games. Gauss weapons make a return (previously seen in X-COM Terror from the Deep and later in the Long War mod for XCOM). I think the final mission in particular felt like an interesting homage to the final missions in both Terror from the Deep and Apocalypse.

Compared to Enemy Within, it's basically more of the same, just with more everything. If you liked the last XCOM, you'll like this one.

This one definitely builds upon the formula of XCOM: Enemy Unkown/Within, while taking the series even further in a different direction than the original X-COM games. The roles are reversed in this one, with you leading a small resistance group against the worldwide alien dictatorship that controls Earth. This game is definitely harder and has a lot more going on than the last one, too. There is a tight time/turn limit to get things done in almost every battle, counting down until aliens bring more reinforcements or lock down your objective, forcing you to be on the offensive more often than not. The geoscape has A LOT more going on, too, with tons of stuff to do and not enough time to do everything. There is a lot of customization options, and a ton of mods on Steam Workshop that add even more options for soldiers, which is nice. Your own soldiers, and the aliens, all have much more potent abilities than in the previous game, as well. While the more powerful abilities are cool and everything, it kind of makes the game about setting up your guys to insta-kill powerful aliens before they can get a turn to do massive damage. I enjoyed the homages to the old X-COM games. Gauss weapons make a return (previously seen in X-COM Terror from the Deep and later in the Long War mod for XCOM). I think the final mission in particular felt like an interesting homage to the final missions in both Terror from the Deep and Apocalypse. Compared to Enemy Within, it's basically more of the same, just with more everything. If you liked the last XCOM, you'll like this one.