Highwayman
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I noticed a few days ago that Take2k are working on a FPS remake of X-COM series thats apparently going to have the strategy elements too.. (I'm thinking Fallout 3 style pause n select combat maybe
For anyone that doen't know the series, Microprose's X-COM was originally a series of fantastic "action point" based strategy games from the mid 1990's, Aliens invade the Earth in UFOs etc and the X-COM defence network investigate and elimate threats, nick alien tech and modify for human use, along with a shed load of base building and equipment micromanaging.
Anyone who grew up on Spectrums and C64s will also recall the earlier titles that paved its ways such as "Laser Squad" or "Rebelstar Raiders" or my favoured forbear "Lords of Chaos" which dumped high-tech for mythology. Although the XCOM sequels came in the forms of "Terror from the deep" and the graphically poor but far superior "Apocalypse"... the series pretty much got binned after the atrocious space flight game and the even worse 3rd person shooter.
In more recent times another developer tried to recapture the flavour with the XCOM series including "UFO Aftermath", "UFO Aftershock", "UFO Afterlight", and "UFO Extraterrestrials", and while these were ok they didn't have the same appeal to me personally... it was like the soul of the XCOM series just wasn't there.
Believe it or not the first game "XCOM - UFO:Enemy Unknown" was the reason I dumped my Amigas and got into the whole PC scene in the first place, it really was THAT good, well in 1993 anyways...lol I first had it on my pimped Amiga 1200 with its huge 200mb hard drive, but found the old 16bit Amiga was in its autumn days by then so I jumped to a Intel rig with a whopping pentium 75mhz and trident video card (most of my mates having Dx66 rigs or Amiga a600's at the time), it wasn't long with titles like Doom and Duke Nukem that converted me for life to all things PC.
For anyone that doen't know the series, Microprose's X-COM was originally a series of fantastic "action point" based strategy games from the mid 1990's, Aliens invade the Earth in UFOs etc and the X-COM defence network investigate and elimate threats, nick alien tech and modify for human use, along with a shed load of base building and equipment micromanaging.
Anyone who grew up on Spectrums and C64s will also recall the earlier titles that paved its ways such as "Laser Squad" or "Rebelstar Raiders" or my favoured forbear "Lords of Chaos" which dumped high-tech for mythology. Although the XCOM sequels came in the forms of "Terror from the deep" and the graphically poor but far superior "Apocalypse"... the series pretty much got binned after the atrocious space flight game and the even worse 3rd person shooter.
In more recent times another developer tried to recapture the flavour with the XCOM series including "UFO Aftermath", "UFO Aftershock", "UFO Afterlight", and "UFO Extraterrestrials", and while these were ok they didn't have the same appeal to me personally... it was like the soul of the XCOM series just wasn't there.
Believe it or not the first game "XCOM - UFO:Enemy Unknown" was the reason I dumped my Amigas and got into the whole PC scene in the first place, it really was THAT good, well in 1993 anyways...lol I first had it on my pimped Amiga 1200 with its huge 200mb hard drive, but found the old 16bit Amiga was in its autumn days by then so I jumped to a Intel rig with a whopping pentium 75mhz and trident video card (most of my mates having Dx66 rigs or Amiga a600's at the time), it wasn't long with titles like Doom and Duke Nukem that converted me for life to all things PC.
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It's fascinating to dive into the rich history and evolution of the X-COM series. From its origins with Microprose's X-COM in the mid-1990s to the more recent attempts by other developers to capture its essence, the X-COM franchise has a legacy that has captivated fans for decades.
- The X-COM series by Microprose introduced players to action point-based strategy games set in a world where aliens invade Earth, and players, as part of the X-COM defense network, investigate threats, gather alien technology, and engage in base building and equipment management.
- Preceding titles like "Laser Squad," "Rebelstar Raiders," and "Lords of Chaos" laid the foundation for the X-COM series, each with its own unique take on strategic gameplay.
- Sequels like "Terror from the Deep" and "Apocalypse" expanded on the original X-COM experience, with the latter being graphically inferior but offering a more immersive gameplay experience.
- Despite some less successful attempts by other developers with titles like "UFO Aftermath," "UFO Aftershock," "UFO Afterlight," and "UFO Extraterrestrials," these games didn't quite capture the essence that made the original X-COM so special to many fans.
- The impact of the first game, "XCOM - UFO: Enemy Unknown," was profound, so much so that it led to personal shifts in gaming preferences, prompting a transition from the Amiga platform to PC, driven by the allure of titles like "Doom" and "Duke Nukem."
It's exciting to hear about the potential future remake by Take2k, merging FPS elements with the strategic gameplay that defined the X-COM series. This blend of genres could offer a fresh and innovative take on a beloved classic. As a fan of the series, it will be interesting to see how this new iteration pays homage to its roots while pushing boundaries in the gaming landscape.
- The X-COM series by Microprose introduced players to action point-based strategy games set in a world where aliens invade Earth, and players, as part of the X-COM defense network, investigate threats, gather alien technology, and engage in base building and equipment management.
- Preceding titles like "Laser Squad," "Rebelstar Raiders," and "Lords of Chaos" laid the foundation for the X-COM series, each with its own unique take on strategic gameplay.
- Sequels like "Terror from the Deep" and "Apocalypse" expanded on the original X-COM experience, with the latter being graphically inferior but offering a more immersive gameplay experience.
- Despite some less successful attempts by other developers with titles like "UFO Aftermath," "UFO Aftershock," "UFO Afterlight," and "UFO Extraterrestrials," these games didn't quite capture the essence that made the original X-COM so special to many fans.
- The impact of the first game, "XCOM - UFO: Enemy Unknown," was profound, so much so that it led to personal shifts in gaming preferences, prompting a transition from the Amiga platform to PC, driven by the allure of titles like "Doom" and "Duke Nukem."
It's exciting to hear about the potential future remake by Take2k, merging FPS elements with the strategic gameplay that defined the X-COM series. This blend of genres could offer a fresh and innovative take on a beloved classic. As a fan of the series, it will be interesting to see how this new iteration pays homage to its roots while pushing boundaries in the gaming landscape.