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New XCOM 2 previews/hands-ons
- Thread starter ashecitism
- Start date
my main issue with EU's difficulty was how frontloaded it was. My classic ironman barely managed to win the base assault, only because I got a lucky early Muton capture and rushed a single plasma sniper out. But from there on it was as easy as normal mode, didn't lose any soldiers except my 'scout' and that was entirely my own fault.
I'm really hoping this game is a bit more even. I might start on Commander/ironman even if it's a bad idea...my first successful classic playthrough was just so much more memorable. It's been years and I can still remember what went down on some of the missions. Like the terror mission that almost ended my playthrough, have a screenshot somewhere of my heavy literally surrounded in chryssalids. She made it out and ended up being in my final squad.
I'm really hoping this game is a bit more even. I might start on Commander/ironman even if it's a bad idea...my first successful classic playthrough was just so much more memorable. It's been years and I can still remember what went down on some of the missions. Like the terror mission that almost ended my playthrough, have a screenshot somewhere of my heavy literally surrounded in chryssalids. She made it out and ended up being in my final squad.
What is the normal setting here? Veteran?
I'll definetly play it Ironman first (couple of times until I get too frustrated and just want to see the rest of the story?) because it gives me a rush that just cheapened and ruined the non-ironman experience forever to me. But I'll also definetly go for the normal difficulty. All firaxis games to me are like, you are going replay this 3000 times anyway, so start low and work your way up.
Edit: Stream is kind of starting, btw.
I'll definetly play it Ironman first (couple of times until I get too frustrated and just want to see the rest of the story?) because it gives me a rush that just cheapened and ruined the non-ironman experience forever to me. But I'll also definetly go for the normal difficulty. All firaxis games to me are like, you are going replay this 3000 times anyway, so start low and work your way up.
Edit: Stream is kind of starting, btw.
Metroidvania
People called Romanes they go the house?
Does this only occur during enemy turns, or yours as well?
If its yours as well, ambush just got significantly nerfed if you can get shot at.
No idea. Also no idea if a soldier being in or out of cover factors at all. All they have said is "now soldiers have a chance to shoot".
Well, he just did a old-school ambush (one shoots, everyone else overwatches) and didn't seem concerned at all with the possibility of an alien shooting back, so it's probably just on their turn.
So essentially Itchy Trigger Tentacle is on by default?
That's awesome. Shakes things up a bit.
Its itchy trigger tentacle applied to xcom 2, I think the designers reasoning for doing it is really weak ("because it was too gamey"). Sure it was a powerful opener but it was fun to watch and I'm sure someone will remove it in a mod down the track just to bring back the tactic.
Actually this is the reason I have, too.
While it was just too powerful, I was fine with it; I still think the first pod out of concealement is meant to be free kills; whatever method people use, I rarely see anyone surviving those ambushes (not counting the pods near the ambush who also wake up due to it).
But reading about it on Reddit, I came to agree with people that it is just... weird. It feels like this group of alien-powered soldiers are running away scared from this one rebel.
TC McQueen
Member
Not really, since it's super terrible to get into a gun fight while you're not in cover/concealment.
I declare you wrong from both points of view. (that's right, I just challenged your opinion on the internet).
From a game point of view, if you find yourself in an overwatch ambush like that, the best course of action clearly is to take the 100% shot in front of you instead of running and being gunned down by the overwatchers.
From a presentation point of view, I've grown to find it weird because while it seems perfectly normal and natural that people who have just being attacked will seek cover (as it happens in real life), it seems off that they will react like that upon spotting a lone soldier standing in the middle of the street.
If advent forces were cops, for example, they reaction would be to point the gun and yell things instead of jumping into cover. Since they are the fascist alien shoot on sight soldiers, shooting on sight makes more sense, too.
In the end, it's just going to force you to ambush out of cover just so you don't take gunfire in the face should they decide to shoot back. If they do, on their turn they're likely to move and trigger overwatch anyway, so it's not like your overwatch is a complete waste of a turn.
xChildOfHatex
Member
That... can't be right. Is there a video showing this?
Metroidvania
People called Romanes they go the house?
Finally managed to watch the stream, and the way the devs say it, the 'chance to shoot' for the enemies during an ambush reveal on their turn apparently only applies to 'enemies' (i.e. xcom members) that are flanked/not in cover.
Which is less bad than I was originally thinking, which was just giving them shots on whomever.
Which is less bad than I was originally thinking, which was just giving them shots on whomever.
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
Interceptors should be expanded upon, not taken out. Interceptors are part of XCOM DNA.
Even X-COM clones have interceptors.
Hell, X-COM Interceptors have their own game..
XCOM doesn't get interceptors this time. You have a flying base that you move around the world to do stuff instead. Radio towers are the new linking method.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmCgynX3CL8
At about 47:40 in this video. Unless I'm just wildly misinterpreting something.
XCOM 2 panel next Sunday at PAX South:
http://south.paxsite.com/schedule/p...cter-customization-modding-and-exclusive-live
TC McQueen
Member
Here's a link to a hidden video of one of the tracks from the XCOM 2 OST:
https://youtu.be/ubWcTCretjM
https://youtu.be/ubWcTCretjM
Poodlestrike
Banned
In terms of fixes to the Beaglerush Manuever, I think I might prefer something that changes more completely how enemies respond to spotting you; give them a half-length move and a free shot at suppressed-level aim.
Shake Appeal
Member
Just booked the day off work for this. First time I've ever done that for a game.
Finished my first evah classic ironman run today. Now it's probably best to just not play XCom until the release so I'm not burned out. 
So many tense moments. So much senseless death that I couldn't reload. I had a full squad of 6 colonels before the base defense. 4 of them died holding the line. Had to pretty much rebuild my squad from... squaddies...
My first sectopod encounter went like this. Due to covert ops/psi testing, I had one col. sniper with a laser sniper rifle and the rest just... a lot of low level everything else with laser weapons.
But on normal, there's only one sectopod on that mission, so I went thinking that, well, I will lose someone, but eventually come out on top. Nope.
Squad advances. two sectopods come right at the start, 4 rookies killed. The 2 snipers in the back go "well, ok.", we double back, return to the base, have a drink and talk about the fallen friends who never stood a chance.
Really just so many little stories this playthrough gave me. Really intense.
I'm definetly going back to ironman on XCom 2. Such a rush.
23 people gave their life to save the world. Acceptable.
So many tense moments. So much senseless death that I couldn't reload. I had a full squad of 6 colonels before the base defense. 4 of them died holding the line. Had to pretty much rebuild my squad from... squaddies...
My first sectopod encounter went like this. Due to covert ops/psi testing, I had one col. sniper with a laser sniper rifle and the rest just... a lot of low level everything else with laser weapons.
But on normal, there's only one sectopod on that mission, so I went thinking that, well, I will lose someone, but eventually come out on top. Nope.
Squad advances. two sectopods come right at the start, 4 rookies killed. The 2 snipers in the back go "well, ok.", we double back, return to the base, have a drink and talk about the fallen friends who never stood a chance.
Really just so many little stories this playthrough gave me. Really intense.
I'm definetly going back to ironman on XCom 2. Such a rush.
23 people gave their life to save the world. Acceptable.
Finished my first evah classic ironman run today. Now it's probably best to just not play XCom until the release so I'm not burned out.
So many tense moments. So much senseless death that I couldn't reload. I had a full squad of 6 colonels before the base defense. 4 of them died holding the line. Had to pretty much rebuild my squad from... squaddies...
My first sectopod encounter went like this. Due to covert ops/psi testing, I had one col. sniper with a laser sniper rifle and the rest just... a lot of low level everything else with laser weapons.
But on normal, there's only one sectopod on that mission, so I went thinking that, well, I will lose someone, but eventually come out on top. Nope.
Squad advances. two sectopods come right at the start, 4 rookies killed. The 2 snipers in the back go "well, ok.", we double back, return to the base, have a drink and talk about the fallen friends who never stood a chance.
Really just so many little stories this playthrough gave me. Really intense.
I'm definetly going back to ironman on XCom 2. Such a rush.
23 people gave their life to save the world. Acceptable.
23 is bloody good, just finished a run not long ago myself and a two sectopod mission is great. I remember one of mine I had to deal with five sectopods and a cyberdisc, was a fucking massacre as the only things that would hit them hard enough was my snipers but they all went into psionics training before the mission popped up...
Lost my best support and heavy, the rookies dont count (had plasma weapons at this point by the way and titan armor, this was three hours off completion of the run). It certainly made the last couple missions interesting but its kind of something I should have learnt from long war but didnt. Great times.
Sacrificing rookies to keep... More important people alive... Is something I sadly learned too well.
5 sectopods? Jeez. Is that vanilla or long war?
That was vanilla, it can be very unforgiving if unlucky.
Mobius and pet octopus
Member
I'm pretty hyped for this game.
Hopes:
Procedural generation really hits the spot to keep maps interesting and replayable.
Story missions are as good as the final EW exalt "arc".
Mod that reveals soldier perks before leveling up (I'll be playing vanilla first regardless).
The aliens I haven't seen yet are amazing.
The map so far looks like it can become intricate with many choices, I hope that holds true.
I hope I am surprised by multiplayer. I never got around to it in EU.
Fears:
Story missions are not as bad as the final mission.
Crashes and freezes.
Expensive expansion pack.
Hopes:
Procedural generation really hits the spot to keep maps interesting and replayable.
Story missions are as good as the final EW exalt "arc".
Mod that reveals soldier perks before leveling up (I'll be playing vanilla first regardless).
The aliens I haven't seen yet are amazing.
The map so far looks like it can become intricate with many choices, I hope that holds true.
I hope I am surprised by multiplayer. I never got around to it in EU.
Fears:
Story missions are not as bad as the final mission.
Crashes and freezes.
Expensive expansion pack.
The predictability of the maps on EU is something I grew fond of; procedural maps is definetly one of the things that will shake me out of my comfort zone.
I have EU since 2013, only now on the wake of XCom 2 hype that I really delved into it. I became comfortable with the game just enough so my expectations will screw me in the next. lol
Like, how overwatched aliens won't run away from cars about to explode (aliens on EU will very frequently choose to shoot over move when they see you going into overwatch, which is why overwatch traps must be actual traps, done only with soldiers out of line of sight of anyone). It doesn't seem to be quite as rigid on XCom 2 and I am already seeing this screwing me when I want an alien to stand still and he will just call my bluff and charge into my single overwatch meant to hold him in place.
In general, the little things are holding my attention much more than the big, flashier changes. A single enemy escaping and eveventually coming back after having called friends? Oh, that will kill me.
I have EU since 2013, only now on the wake of XCom 2 hype that I really delved into it. I became comfortable with the game just enough so my expectations will screw me in the next. lol
Like, how overwatched aliens won't run away from cars about to explode (aliens on EU will very frequently choose to shoot over move when they see you going into overwatch, which is why overwatch traps must be actual traps, done only with soldiers out of line of sight of anyone). It doesn't seem to be quite as rigid on XCom 2 and I am already seeing this screwing me when I want an alien to stand still and he will just call my bluff and charge into my single overwatch meant to hold him in place.
In general, the little things are holding my attention much more than the big, flashier changes. A single enemy escaping and eveventually coming back after having called friends? Oh, that will kill me.
Man, I am so hyped for this game. Juat watched this Xcom/Bebop fan trailer. So well done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtyw3aURYCU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtyw3aURYCU
Poodlestrike
Banned
Oh god, Chryssalids have armor too?
Same!
1 week to go as well. Working on the OT. Was curious to know, is there a way to export your created characters and all that? Thinking of having a GAF namelist or a way for people to post their custom soldiers somehow for people to maybe get in their games. I've fallen a bit behind on the hype train unfortunately.
Poodlestrike
Banned
Yes.
There is. I have no idea how it works, but you can definetly export characters.
Poodlestrike
Banned
I think there is? Might end up being shareable via the Workshop, but I might be making that up.
That's XCOM, baby!
TC McQueen
Member
We have to wait for the Firaxis PAX stream to see they talk about it.
Having just wrapped up a 75 hour EW run a couple days ago, the demoralization of 95%+ shots missing is still fresh in my memory.
"That's XCOM, baby." (tm.)
Some information regarding exporting characters from a dev in this reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Xcom/comments/40lp17/rxcom_character_pool_database_master_thread/cyvkt2b
HundredEyeMonk
Member
That's XCOM, ba.... ah, you know.
Stevey
Member
ah that was a pretty sweet stream.
livestreamer http://www.twitch.tv/firaxisgames/v/38216559 best -o chryssalid.mp4 to download it
livestreamer http://www.twitch.tv/firaxisgames/v/38216559 best -o chryssalid.mp4 to download it
ah that was a pretty sweet stream.
livestreamer http://www.twitch.tv/firaxisgames/v/38216559 best -o chryssalid.mp4 to download it
The weapon switch bug looks like it's still there with rangers' swords! You can see it at 56:30.