X-Com on Steam

[FlashIV]

Terror from the Deep has been available for a while now but they finally added the original, Apocalypse, Iterceptor, and Enforcer. I didn't know it but Enforcer seems to be the Unreal Engine; I'd recognize that UI anywhere :)

All for $13 and some change. My impulses couldn't be stopped since I've never been able to get X-Com Apocalypse to work since Windows 98. Looking forward to trying some of the others.

[SleepyHe4d]

I've never gotten around to playing this game even after all the stuff I've heard about it. It definitely looks like my type of game too so I'll be getting it now with convenience! :D

I dunno the screens of the game always reminded me of games like Fallout and those Starcraft custom roleplaying maps and other things like that. Just something about it, something nostalgic. :p

[Airmoran]

Reminds me of when I spotted X-Com Collector's Edition on a shelf for 5 bucks but didn't spring.

Remember kids, sell more scanners.

Edit: Waait. That package isn't "complete". Where's Email Games: X-Com? :mad:

[tomcat ha]

very tempted to buy it.

[pine]

Can somebody here who's actually played the game describe it? I know it's considered a classic by many but I could never get a clear impression of what kind of game it actually was.

[Airmoran]

It's a turn-based strategy game with a lot of management that goes on outside the battlefield.

You manage a seeeekrat organization that monitors world-wide alien activity, then take on aliens in city invasions, UFO crashsites (shot down by you, of course), and so forth. By today's standards, the game's primitive interface and lack of tutorial makes getting into the game difficult, but the game is remarkable for how scary and involving it can be. It's probably the only game that can still make me jump.

[Iron Archer]

um, if I'm not mistaken, you can get X-com for free. (http://www.fileradar.net/files/view/X-COM-UFO-Defense_X-COM-UFO-Defense---Full-Free-Game-for-WindowsXP/1861)

[Airmoran]

um, if I'm not mistaken, you can get X-com for free. (http://www.fileradar.net/files/view/X-COM-UFO-Defense_X-COM-UFO-Defense---Full-Free-Game-for-WindowsXP/1861)
The other 4 games in the package aren't offered for free.

[FlashIV]

Can somebody here who's actually played the game describe it? I know it's considered a classic by many but I could never get a clear impression of what kind of game it actually was.

The start of the game goes something like this:
Pick location for your base on the "Geoscape"
Put your scientists to work on a research project.
Put up some more base facilities (General Storage, Alien Containment)
Shoot down your first UFO.
Go investigate crash site, eliminate any live aliens, bring back their tech.
Start researching alien tech.

You're funded by the various countries in the game, but depending on your ability to handle alien activty in their area, they'll cut or increase their funding.

If anyone actually gets into it for the first time, there's a lot of good info here: http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

There's a lot to it, but I was able to pick it up as a 6th grader, so it can't be that bad. :D

[SleepyHe4d]

Would someone tell me which one is the best version and how the gameplay is on each of them? Also how does the coop or multiplayer work?

I can't decide if I should buy the whole pack or just dl that first one for free.

[FlashIV]

The first is certainly the best. Terror from the Deep is supposedly quite a bit more difficult, though it's one of the one's I have not played. I had a lot of fun with Apocalypse too but some don't care for it since it strays from being turn-based only. I played Apoc. almost entirely using the real-time feature. Apocalypse has updated visuals but for some reason the first has stood the test of time better IMO.

Interceptor and Enforcer stray even further. I can't comment on Interceptor but Enforcer is a 3rd person shooter. Pretty mindless, lots of aliens, kinda reminds me of Serious Sam.

As far as I know the first three don't have co-op/multiplayer, the other two I haven't tried.

I'd say check out the first one for free. PC games were much different in the mid-90's :) You almost have to be in the right frame of mind to get into it now-a-days. There's no cinematic action or WOW! factor, but there is a lot of suspense and "Holy crap, did I just survive that?" The combat scape music always gives me a feeling that's hard to describe, if you've played perhaps you know what I mean.

[Iron Archer]

Yeah, the first one rocked. I played it on Playstation way back when it came out on that system. I should have kept my copy as it's so rare to go for $80 these days. The first X-Com is a good example of "less is more" in that you get less graphical wow factor but you are very involved in the fight once you get on the ground. You can't help but conjure up imagery in your mind of Colonial Marines' incursions into hostile territory in Aliens where everything goes wrong, because things do go terribly wrong, often.

[FlashIV]

things do go terribly wrong, often.

Yeah, when they start to take over your own units, you know your in for it. And those damn Chrysalids...:mad:

[8-4-7-2]

I found "Terror From the Deep" the best. But "UFO Defense/Enemy Unknown" was good too. The rest of the games are less and less X-Com though. It moves from turn-based tactical/strategy to real-time arcade action. Totally losing what made the games interesting.

But yeah, the first two have awesome atmosphere and gameplay. Especially if you're stuck on night missions.
And TFTD is very challenging indeed. At some point you'll encounter advanced enemies like lobster-men and your dudes are equipped with relatively weak weapons that need 5 hits to kill. I still remember such a mission that I won with no losses, but it took ages. And they'll be sure to invade your base at some point. You also don't have the luxury to decline some difficult missions, because your funding depends on you protecting the countries in your range. If you don't, you're soon out of money.

[tomcat ha]

also couldnt resist:

http://ll-211.ea.com/spore/static/image/500/029/211/500029211787_lrg.png

[SleepyHe4d]

Okay, so I downloaded the first version to see what was up. I set up my base and everything, but sadly I had no idea what I was doing and used up all my money right away. Oh well, I'll just wait I thought. So I'm ready to get my first UFO with my squad of 10. Yay he appears and I shoot his ass down. (Somehow. A box with options popped up and I clicked whatever) Awesome. Time to go in on foot. I go in with my squad of 10. Then they all die by the hands of 4 aliens.

And now I'm love with the game. :-)

Just one question. How were the aliens shooting me through the walls of their ship when I was inside? :lol:

Edit: Yup, I definitely need some strategic help... Sometimes I can't even walk out of the aircraft without being shot on the spot, how do I get around things like that? And also what are the different commands that I cant figure out like the crouching and the 4 buttons that show a guy shooting in the bottom left of the battle screen. :p

Edit2: Okay, I love the concept behind this game but I completely suck at it so until I get some help I won't be able to play. I don't really understand the rules and how the aliens are shooting me through multiple walls while I have to get out of the ship and also get inside the building they are hiding in to be able to shoot them. :(

[tomcat ha]

I never got shot through multiple walls. Maybe you are getting shot through windows.

There is a stand and crouch button. You can switch modes for the individual soldier selected.

The shooting buttons are buttons for saving time points. So that after you finished your turn you can shoot during the aliens turn.

Also important. Dont rush out with all your men. Get out slowly in groups of 2 at least ith 1 covering them.

[Airmoran]

Probably the most important tip I've learned is to leapfrog. Have 4 guys divided into two man teams. Have one team move 2-5 steps forward, and if nothing interesting happens, end the turn.

The next turn, have the other team move ahead of the forward team, and if you see something, it's important to have the guys in the back (that is, the guys with more TUs and is farther away from the enemy) shoot at the alien. Obviously, make sure none of your team is in the line of fire!

If you can't take down the alien, having everyone take cover isn't a bad idea. Alternatively, you can let your reaction shots kill the alien in his turn.

Try tossing a gas grenade to the base of your ship's exit as your first turn. Smoke grenades greatly lowers accuracy and should protect your guys.

As for multiple walls, that shouldn't happen and that's never happened to me, either.

[SleepyHe4d]

Well for instance if I just stay in my ship and end my turn guys inside the ship just start getting shot and dying somehow but I can't shoot anything from inside. Same when they're inside buildings and I'm outside, they somehow hit me but I have no line of sight. :(

Btw is everything supposed to go super fast like the aliens turns and stuff? Or is there an animation when they shoot your guys? Cause maybe the old game is messing up because of faster processors now a days.

[Iron Archer]

Well for instance if I just stay in my ship and end my turn guys inside the ship just start getting shot and dying somehow but I can't shoot anything from inside. Same when they're inside buildings and I'm outside, they somehow hit me but I have no line of sight. :(

Btw is everything supposed to go super fast like the aliens turns and stuff? Or is there an animation when they shoot your guys? Cause maybe the old game is messing up because of faster processors now a days.

yeah, i think there's a program you can run that will slow down the cpu clock cycle or whatever, to make it a bit more bearable. The game wreaks a bit of havoc when you try to run it on a wide screen as well. I wish I could find the PS1 copy of it, the game actually plays quite well with a ps controller. I'd like to run it on ps3... hell if Sony could put this on the PSN I could play it on my PSP, that would own.

[Airmoran]

Btw is everything supposed to go super fast like the aliens turns and stuff? Or is there an animation when they shoot your guys? Cause maybe the old game is messing up because of faster processors now a days.
Muck with your dosbox settings. There should be some forum posts on Steam about this.

Another theory about your guys getting raped through walls: psi attacks. Psi attacks can reach your guys as long as an alien somewhere can spot you. If the game is running too fast, there's a chance the info box flashes too fast to let you know someone's being panick'ed.

[8-4-7-2]

Same when they're inside buildings and I'm outside, they somehow hit me but I have no line of sight
You seem to have some sort of bug, but even when it works, that's often what happens.

Aliens just see better than you. Especially at night.