Sir
I still play the original, and this looks like a pretty good take on it. Definitely on my shopping list!
X-com reboot's gameplay showcased
2K has released the first in-game footage of Xcom: Enemy Unknown, the anticipated refresh of the much-loved RTS. The clip below shows various combat gameplay and a new base, which players can customise and use to interact with characters. The game itself, developed by Firaxis, will seem quite different to those familiar with …
XCom had some special moments which even after all these years I can still remember. My favourite char being out on his own looking for the last alien, pretty much the entire map between him and the only person with TU left, an alien spotted him but he couldn't shoot. An aimed shot from across the map, watching each screen flip by as the bullet moved. 10 seconds later (or near enough) the bullet hits the alien killing it, best shot ever!
Though I'm pretty sure it's a Microprose game and not Firaxis, the sequels to XCom were okay though buggy, after spending days building up my team and getting near end game on TFTD to do one of the final missions and it getting bugged totally destroying the game, that was a bitch.
There have been modern remakes to XCom though too, it'll be interesting to see what this reboot brings to the table.
I loved the original. This actually looks rather good. Maybe time to get the thumbs out of retirement.
If you make it join this list (of remakes that never have been allowed license to the title), I will kill you:
Bionic Commando
Deus Ex
Master of Orion
Spy Hunter
Syndicate
Stop remaking old games. Seriously the probability of failure is very high, and the users will hate you forever. And yet, nobody, NOBODY, ever re-makes the games that we could REALLY do justice to nowadays:
Carmageddon
Magic Carpet
Syndicate (yeah, a proper faithful remake could work wonders - not the junk listed above).
Don't even get me started on The Italian Job movie. Yeah, that's right. THE. Singular. Only one. Remake that and you should just shoot yourself.
"The reboot was originally pegged for a March 2012 release but was pushed back to the 2013 fiscal year. Seeing as that kicks off from April, the waiting for Xcom: Enemy Unknown might not be that long."
Or you could actually watch the video and see it's slated for FALL 2012!
Hello ?
"Seeing as that kicks off from April"
I'm not an accountant but.... the fiscal year runs from april to april yes ? So the year begining in april 2012 ends in 2013 and is reported as the 2013 fiscal year !! Comprende ?
RE Carmaggedon
Is being remade, by the original developers no less, stainless games.
http://www.carmageddon.com/home
Not sure how far off completion it is tho'.
Xcom looks good, was really crap at the original tho, but this looks like it might be worth a whirl.
Hmmm
I'm actually intrigued now that I've watched the video - wasn't bothered before as I figured they'd just wreck it (I'm a huge fan of the original, well, OK "Terror From The Deep" more than "Enemy Unknown"... there's just something satisfying about nailing a lobsterman with a vibro-blade)...
... but actually it looks promising. Odds are it won't be as difficult/unforgiving as the original though, which was if we're honest, an absolute bastard in the early game (got much easier once you had some good operatives, equipment and mind/molecular control).
Re: Hmmm
My biggest concern is RTS. To me the original was turn based, and the S in RTS is generally pretty fake.
RTS
RTS part is Geoscape (base/research/production/equipment management and UFO hunting). Turn-based (RPG) part is Battlescape. For me the game always played more as RPG than RTS.
If they can chance their mind so can I.
I remember seeing a reboot that was supposed to be an FPS and the videos at the official site still come out as FPS gameplay.
Back when I saw it I decided that this was not something to waste my time on but if they have picked up the thred of the old series it just landed on my Must Own™ list.
/Steelsky
Before everyone gets too excited:
Only a single base (i.e. removed strategic element of base building)
Maximum 6 in a squad
No base defense missions (obviously given 6 man limit)
But hopefully will not be rubbish despite this
Xenonauts
Xenonauts - http://www.xenonauts.com/ and UFO:AI - http://ufoai.org/ are two remakes in the making as well. UFO:AI is free and open-source as well, so easy to give it a try although it's far from finished at this stage.
Both look interesting though, and seem to retain more of the original features of the X-COM games than the "official" refresh.
Re: RTS ?
Did you even watch the video? Or more specfically, listen to it? Yes, its still turn based. They've just added a lot of cinematic camera moves.
I don't want to jinx it, but contrary to my expectations, this might actually be ok..
Please, Firaxis, no bugs.
Civ V was launched buggy as hell, and it's Steam DRM often crashed on me. I hope Firaxis doesn't repeat that. I also hope I don't need to buy a new computer to play it.
Yah, I still play the original X-COM, and X-COM TFTD, and I agree that it has had many memorable moments - maybe more than any other game I've played.
Hmmm, it's snowing out and I don't have to go to work today.... Where's that disk...
2 games
Interestingly if you go to
http://www.xcom.com/
you're asked to choose a site - XCom and Xcom - Enemy Unknown.
Xcom - the FPS (mentioned on el Reg as part of their Antique Code Show), looks to attempt to shoehorn the old, loved, and much abused franchise into yet another ill-fitting suit),
Xcom - Enemy Unknown, (which is what the video on this article) is all about and seems to be where they try to remake the game using modern graphics and is frankly making me twitch with delight. Sadly it looks like a six man squad but apparently that more for balancing than anything else. Couldn't see anything about only one base. I wonder if that's to prevent my arms factory bases, which made so much money that there was no need for pay much attention to those pesky governments. It would be sad though as bases dotted around the globe were a great tactical nuance.
>"what can happen when 2K gets involved with reboots of popular franchises"
What, you mean they actually bloody deliver?
this really rustles my jimmies.
i'd love nothing more than xcom remade with todays technology, but missing out base building, max 6 squad members etc etc is madness
Instant purchase
The designers do talk a load of waffle, you'd think they've just invented Movement Points.
However, it does look ace.
I've was playing the original series recently (big bundle on Steam), they're still brilliant. Bloody hard too, but there's nothing like a stray grenade taking down an entire building around you :)
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