Hey everyone this week I review the latest edition of Firaxis' sci-Fi turn-based tactical games.
Does Chimera Squad have what it takes to clean up the streets of the blog?
Let's find out!
(best enjoyed with headphones on! trust us BRING POPCORN!)
Firaxis' XCOM series Has been synonymous with the turn-based tactical sub-genre. A case you don't know already, Firaxis is the makers of the highly successful Sid Meier's Civilisation series. Shortly after Civilisation 5 Was Developed, the Team at Firaxis Decided to Express Their Love of the Sci-Fi Games. So, They Developed XCOM Enemy Unknown.
Fun Fact: Did You Know That XCOM Is an Abbreviation? It Stands for Extratriestrial Combat
Since the Series 'Debut, the Gameplay Style of the XCOM Has Been Often Imitated. For Example, Phantom Doctrine and Omerta: City of Gangsters' combat mechanics are taken directly from XCOM's.
The game takes up were XCOM 2 left off. The ADVENT coalition has been overthrown by an organisation of elite soldiers known as XCOM. So, Sectoids and humans are forced to live together in an uneasy peace. To ensure the peaceful coexistence between the two races The government created a new branch of the XCOM project known as Chimera Squad. They are once again, looking to you for leadership. It is up to you to eliminate the organisation present in City 32 that is trying to destabilise the coexistence, plunging both races into another war, therefore conquering Earth!
The accessibility scores are as follows:
Visibility 9
In terms of this category, the biggest criticism is that there is no colourblind mode present. However, the contrast in colour schemes between a friend from foe Is highly accessible to a colourblind person. On the other hand, is said time and time again the gold standard of a feature that will make any game accessible to a colourblind person are interchangeable colourblind modes so that way the colour scheme can be changed to suit the players' impairments.
Audibility 10
There are in-game subtitles during conversations and in cutscenes which can be enabled or disabled of Via games options menu, so you should be able to understand what's being said as the story progresses.
Mobility 11
Apart from the bog-standard mouse interface, you can use any controller that connected to your PC. The hotkeys when using the keyboard and mouse controls can be redefined, but seeing as it's all turn-based, you have as much time as you need to examine your opponent's moves and react to them accordingly, therefore the pace of the combat sections is as fast or as slow as you need it to the. So you should be able to play this game with no issues.
Gameplay 7
This game is more of a spin-off which is marketed as a full-blown sequel. XCOM 2's best mechanics (in my opinion) has been removed completely.
To begin with, Permadeath has been removed completely from the game. This mechanic is the very DNA of XCOM. When a soldier in your squad gets gunned down during a mission, and the rest of his what makes it back alive, the soldier who got killed gets removed from the game, and cannot return to your squad.
This game, on the other hand, allows a teammate to revive that particular soldier. Even when the rest of the team comes back alive that particular soldier gets revived automatically. Therefore the consequence of one of your favourite soldiers running in blindly(leeeroyyyy! jennnnkinnnss!!) And not checking his her corners is completely removed from the game. This mechanic removes the vital elements of tension and excitement from the combat.
The stealth mechanic from XCOM 2 has also been removed. In the previous game, the best way to gain an advantage over your opponent is through espionage, for example setting up ambushes before engaging in to combat. In this game, combat always starts off with your team breaching through a wall or door. Therefore, the enemies in that room immediately know that your team is there (a Metal Gear Solid player's worst nightmare, apart from Survive!)
In summary, XCOM: Chimera Squad is a pretty decent game, but certain mechanics that made XCOM what it is is removed completely. To be honest, you would be better off buying the complete edition of XCOM 2, this game is the best in the series, and it's War of the Chosen DLC would be a more fitting successor to XCOM 2, in my opinion, they could have marketed War of the chosen as an entirely new game. This game, on the other hand, has very good and unique ideas and mechanics, but they were all poorly executed. For the time being, it would be best to hold off, save your money and buy gears tactics on the 28th.
OVERALL SCORE 92.75%
Remember to stay safe, stay inside, stay alive!
See you guys and the next review!
SpartanCommander1990 out!
Roll out, Spartan company!
Does Chimera Squad have what it takes to clean up the streets of the blog?
Let's find out!
(best enjoyed with headphones on! trust us BRING POPCORN!)
Firaxis' XCOM series Has been synonymous with the turn-based tactical sub-genre. A case you don't know already, Firaxis is the makers of the highly successful Sid Meier's Civilisation series. Shortly after Civilisation 5 Was Developed, the Team at Firaxis Decided to Express Their Love of the Sci-Fi Games. So, They Developed XCOM Enemy Unknown.
Fun Fact: Did You Know That XCOM Is an Abbreviation? It Stands for Extratriestrial Combat
Since the Series 'Debut, the Gameplay Style of the XCOM Has Been Often Imitated. For Example, Phantom Doctrine and Omerta: City of Gangsters' combat mechanics are taken directly from XCOM's.
The game takes up were XCOM 2 left off. The ADVENT coalition has been overthrown by an organisation of elite soldiers known as XCOM. So, Sectoids and humans are forced to live together in an uneasy peace. To ensure the peaceful coexistence between the two races The government created a new branch of the XCOM project known as Chimera Squad. They are once again, looking to you for leadership. It is up to you to eliminate the organisation present in City 32 that is trying to destabilise the coexistence, plunging both races into another war, therefore conquering Earth!
The accessibility scores are as follows:
Visibility 9
In terms of this category, the biggest criticism is that there is no colourblind mode present. However, the contrast in colour schemes between a friend from foe Is highly accessible to a colourblind person. On the other hand, is said time and time again the gold standard of a feature that will make any game accessible to a colourblind person are interchangeable colourblind modes so that way the colour scheme can be changed to suit the players' impairments.
Audibility 10
There are in-game subtitles during conversations and in cutscenes which can be enabled or disabled of Via games options menu, so you should be able to understand what's being said as the story progresses.
Mobility 11
Apart from the bog-standard mouse interface, you can use any controller that connected to your PC. The hotkeys when using the keyboard and mouse controls can be redefined, but seeing as it's all turn-based, you have as much time as you need to examine your opponent's moves and react to them accordingly, therefore the pace of the combat sections is as fast or as slow as you need it to the. So you should be able to play this game with no issues.
Gameplay 7
This game is more of a spin-off which is marketed as a full-blown sequel. XCOM 2's best mechanics (in my opinion) has been removed completely.
To begin with, Permadeath has been removed completely from the game. This mechanic is the very DNA of XCOM. When a soldier in your squad gets gunned down during a mission, and the rest of his what makes it back alive, the soldier who got killed gets removed from the game, and cannot return to your squad.
This game, on the other hand, allows a teammate to revive that particular soldier. Even when the rest of the team comes back alive that particular soldier gets revived automatically. Therefore the consequence of one of your favourite soldiers running in blindly(leeeroyyyy! jennnnkinnnss!!) And not checking his her corners is completely removed from the game. This mechanic removes the vital elements of tension and excitement from the combat.
The stealth mechanic from XCOM 2 has also been removed. In the previous game, the best way to gain an advantage over your opponent is through espionage, for example setting up ambushes before engaging in to combat. In this game, combat always starts off with your team breaching through a wall or door. Therefore, the enemies in that room immediately know that your team is there (a Metal Gear Solid player's worst nightmare, apart from Survive!)
In summary, XCOM: Chimera Squad is a pretty decent game, but certain mechanics that made XCOM what it is is removed completely. To be honest, you would be better off buying the complete edition of XCOM 2, this game is the best in the series, and it's War of the Chosen DLC would be a more fitting successor to XCOM 2, in my opinion, they could have marketed War of the chosen as an entirely new game. This game, on the other hand, has very good and unique ideas and mechanics, but they were all poorly executed. For the time being, it would be best to hold off, save your money and buy gears tactics on the 28th.
OVERALL SCORE 92.75%
Remember to stay safe, stay inside, stay alive!
See you guys and the next review!
SpartanCommander1990 out!
Roll out, Spartan company!
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