*XCOM: Enemy Unknown* is a turn basked strategy game where you control a
small squad of soldiers to defend Earth against an alien invasion. You've
heard the story a million times before. An unknown vessel arrives on Earth
with a big crash. Aliens inside start killing everyone and a full scale
invasion begins. While XCOM: Enemy Unknown *doesn't have an original story*,
it tries to differentiate itself from other alien invasion games by including
an *interesting turn based combat system and RPG elements*. *Graphics* The
graphics in XCOM: Enemy Unknown are solid but won't blow you away. It uses
the Unreal Engine, which is solid, but fails to impress in the era of
Battlefield 3 and Skyrim. There are plenty of *pretty pre-rendered cut
scenes* but the character models lack some of the intricate details to make
them seem realistic. In game, the graphics are good with a top down, 3rd
person view. XCOM: Enemy Unknown has plenty of neon highlights for guiding
players through a level and in its menus. *Gameplay* This is where XCOM:
Enemy Unknown really shines. While turn based gameplay in a strategy game
isn't new, it combines elements from shooters. You will *rely heavily on
cover* in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. If you place your soldiers behind poor cover,
they will take plenty of damage and may even be killed instantly. You start
off with 4 soldiers under your control with the ability to add a couple more
to your squad when you've leveled up enough. Having a small squad puts more
*pressure to keep them all alive* or you will be at a severe disadvantage.
One interesting feature that XCOM: Enemy Unknown included is the *ability to
climb on top buildings*, giving the player more ways to strategize on how to
approach a level. There is also an interesting attack mechanic in XCOM: Enemy
Unknown. You are given a read out of your probability of hitting an enemy and
the chance of a critical hit. This type of combat reminds me of Fallout 3 and
*makes careful planning important*. *Sound* The soundtrack of XCOM: Enemy
Unknown is good with swelling orchestral scores to increase the weight of the
alien onslaught. Most of the music will be irrelevant as it's clearly written
to be background music as you decide on where to place your soldiers. The
sound design in levels is good, *creating a creepy and tense atmosphere*. The
noises that the aliens make in XCOM: Enemy Unknown can be terrifying, adding
to its creepy atmosphere. Still, XCOM: Enemy Unknown won't scare you with its
sound design. *Preview wrap-up* *XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a solid strategy game
that introduces RPG elements to create a unique experience. While the story
leaves much to be desired, XCOM: Enemy Unknown's gameplay is enough to keep
players engaged.*Download *XCOM: Enemy Unknown Demo* in Softonic
