Firaxis Is Putting Serious Thought Into the Lore
XCOM: Enemy Unknown wasn’t just a fantastic tactical game. As far as simulating an actual alien invasion goes, it did a pretty good job. Yes, the countries of the world would band together to fight the menace (the XCOM project). No, they would not fully cooperate (limited resources). Yes, when it came to choosing their own interests over the global good they’d choose themselves (pulling out of the project). And the game did a fantastic job of making the player care about their soldiers. If there’s a player out there who wasn’t torn up about their chosen one, I’ll cry for them.
And XCOM had a story. There was the initial project. Then, in Enemy Within, EXALT made a realistic cultish stand. As new technologies were uncovered, your researchers questioned the ramifications of their actions. And finally, when the mothership was obliterated, the world celebrated their freedom even as the Ethereals’ last words echoed in your mind.
Now, with XCOM 2 unveiled and a trailer chock full of details, it seems that future came true. The aliens are now a welcomed part of society – on the surface, at least. Odds are that based on the familiar trappings of a seemingly happy but obviously dystopian society (i.e. body scans and armed soldiers on every street corner), the Advent isn’t really the outcome the XCOM project had in mind.
It’s nice to see XCOM 2 continuing the plotline of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Given the Ethereal imagery in the trailer, it’s safe to say we’re in for some story-driven gameplay once XCOM 2 makes its debut.
XCOM Aren’t the Good Guys in Society’s Eyes
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the player controlled the nation’s only real defense against the alien invasion. Literally the entire population of Earth was depending on them.
Now, with the advent of Advent, the player isn’t necessarily the obvious good guy. Even though the trailer screams of a dystopian outcome to the invasion, it is admittedly a peaceful one. Despite the soldiers and scans, there was peace. Even as an announcer describes “1000s of refugees still moving into the city center,” the people moving about their daily lives are at least benefitting from alien technological improvements.
The role of XCOM 2‘s “rebels” isn’t exactly clear. They seem more like EXALT than anything else, cobbling together equipment from whatever they can and fighting against the established power. And just because they are the underdog in the trailer and thus the target of the viewer’s sympathy, who’s to say XCOM 2 won’t cast the player in the role of Advent every now and then? Or even give them an alien squadmate or two? How the new alien races will fit into the pictures of story and gameplay aside from simply being fresh, new additions is anyone’s guess.
Strategic Options Are Heavily Expanding
The trailer’s appeal to fans was obvious. I mean, the rebels took such blatant examples of full and partial cover that it’s very, very, very safe to say that the core tactical mechanics will be making a (revamped) return. But what about that paralyzing drone and the little bits of stealth that were also on full display?
If there’s one thing that XCOM: Enemy Unknown suffered from that Enemy Within made a fairly solid but ultimately lacking attempt at fixing was stealth. Despite some genetic modifications, it was often difficult to predict when an enemy squad would pick up on the player’s location. Now, it seems that stealth and guerilla tactics might make a huge resurgence in XCOM 2 and this would be most welcome.
Looking at the conclusion featuring that massive mobile command center and desert base camp, it also looks like the game will get some improvements on the big-picture strategic scale as well. Multiple fully functional bases, something the Enemy Unknown reboot didn’t revive, might make a comeback here with the mobile command center playing the role of the player’s user interface.
From Riches to Rags
Based on the trailer, it’s a solid prediction that the player will be controlling the “rebels” portrayed as fighting against Advent. This is a far cry from the globally-funded XCOM Project of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. As mentioned earlier, it almost seems like the player will control an EXALT-like faction minus the creepy factor.
Whatever the motives of the rebels, their place on the global rung is decidedly low. Resorting to guerrilla tactics, remote bases, and a mobile command center suggests that given the opportunity, they would be readily wiped from the face of the Earth. Both the rebels and Advent were also completely willing to engage in a conflict in plain view of civilians, which indicates that the dynamic of civilian casualties and “terror missions” will be completely changed due to the player’s new role.
MELEE!
Yeah, we all noticed the sword on Mr. Hood’s back the second its outline was identifiable. And yeah, seeing him go to town on a stealth ninja alien was pretty freaking awesome. Seeing snake alien gnash through an operative was less than awesome, but still pretty cool nonetheless.
XCOM 2 looks like it’s bringing some additional melee considerations to the tactical table. XCOM: Enemy Within made an effort with the MEC troopers, but now it looks like your average soldier can handle him or herself given the right equipment.
Or the right class. It’s already been confirmed that the basics from XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be getting a makeover. What that will mean for the trailer’s foreshadowing and implications is still anyone’s guess. Got any thoughts? Let us know!
About the author
