Just a few days ago we reported on the just-announced turn-based strategy reboot of the classic X-COM series. Currently in development by strategy specialists Firaxis, and not to be confused with 2K Marin’s shooter reboot of the series, X-COM Enemy Unknown promises to adhere to the game design principles which made the original titles such classics.
“It’s been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. We’re huge fans of the original game and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM,” said Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games to Game Informer.
Now Game Informer has finally revealed some actual details, as well as a series of screenshots.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
When asked how Firaxis’ turn-based reboot will exist alongside 2K Marin’s shooter, Game Informer’s Adam Biessener had this to say: “The shooter takes place earlier in the fiction, chronicling the aliens’ first attacks in the United States. The strategy game we’re talking about here deals with the global response to the later full-blown alien invasion of Earth.”
The game will consist mostly of turn-based strategy gameplay, but there will also be real-time strategy elements. These will be limited to “the global view, where the player keeps track of known UFOs and abductions going on around the world. Managing research and development at the XCOM organization’s secret base can be done at the player’s leisure, and all combat is completely turn-based.”
Firaxis is billing XCOM: Enemy Unknown as a “re-imagining” of the original. While it won’t copy the earlier games’ underlying game systems, it will adhere to the basic concepts. “Players still have to manage multiple resources and threats on a global scale in a seemingly hopeless war against extraterrestrial forces with far better technology and capabilities.”
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Although Firaxis admits that it will be “streamlining aspects of the game and removing no small amount of micromanagement” in order to appease the console audience, they remain adamant that the game is not being “dumbed down”. Instead, the developer is aiming to “get rid of tedium and uninteresting mechanics.”
“Soldiers still die permanently, fog of war and line of sight are hugely important in combat, and you absolutely can lose the game if you screw up too badly.”
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is planned for release on PC, PS3, Xbox 360, and should out towards the end of 2012.
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