Xenonauts 2 - Preview @ PC Gamer

[HiddenX]

Henriquejr spotted a Xenonauts 2 preview on PC Gamer:

Xenonauts 2 is a comprehensive but overly safe tribute to classic X-COM

Expect brutal combat and mounting panic as you save the world from aliens again, but don't expect much that's new.

The problem with saving the world from alien invasion is it can be difficult to know what to do next.

Transforming a clandestine global organisation from being clay pigeons for alien sharpshooters into the kind of force that can take down extraterrestrial motherships is an experience that's difficult to beat, and every successful X-COM game has grappled with following up such an alluring premise. Julian Gollop looked to the sea for inspiration, resulting in 1995's Terror from the Deep. Firaxis's XCOM 2, meanwhile, solved the problem with a clever bit of retconning. "Surprise sucker, you lost!" it yelled in the player's bewildered face. "Now you're fighting a guerrilla campaign against a hybrid human-alien dictatorship! How do you like THOSE bananas?"

Both games were ingenious ways of building a sequel that followed logically from the first game, while reinvigorating the entire concept at the same time. By comparison, Xenonauts 2's response is "What if you saved the world again, but... more?"

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More information.

 

[Couchpotato]

Now this is a game I rather play over JA 3. Don't look at me like that. Fine it's just an enhanced version of the first game I enjoyed, and JA 3 well I wrote my opinion already.

Edit: Damn auto-correct and tablets.

 

[Carnifex]

Oh man, I do so love reading a headliner like 'Brutal combat'. I say bring it on!!

 

[JDR13]

It looks exactly like Xenonauts 1 to me.

Nothing wrong with that of course, but I was hoping for something more.

 

[Stingray]

It looks exactly like Xenonauts 1 to me.

Nothing wrong with that of course, but I was hoping for something more.

Do you mean the graphics, or something else? They don't look much alike to me graphically, the first one looked a lot more cartoonish.

 

[screeg]

Aside from the decades-recognized world master of releasing the same game 17 times—Jeff Vogel—this guy is a nice second.
An early demo of Xenonauts 2 to me played like Xenonauts 1 (which I played the hell out of) with a bit of polish. It was an early demo, but it sounds like what he promised was pretty much what he delivered, a 10% improved X1.

 

[ArcaneMagix]

I see there will be alien tech to research - I wonder if they have included psionics/mind-control.

 

[JDR13]

Do you mean the graphics, or something else? They don't look much alike to me graphically, the first one looked a lot more cartoonish.

Yes, the visuals. X2 does look less cartoonish, but it still doesn't seem very different to me. Both games have a very basic look. "Steril" comes to mind. I don't know how else to describe it.

I wish

 

[JDR13]

Anyone know if the tech tree expands into alien technology? All the artices/images I see only seem to show earth type conventional weaponry for soldiers.

It does. Here's a Beta tester talking about his playthrough and strategy. He talks about upgrades.

Playthrough-Feedback of Xenonauts 2 with V.27.5 from an Main-Betatester

Hi Guys, this is again an Gameplay-Feedback from an Main-Betatester, which begunn Beta-Testing the Game from the first playable Beta-Version on with many other Main-Betatesters. The Beta-Version 27.5 is actually the best fully playable one, with many new cool and interessting Features / Content i...

www.goldhawkinteractive.com

 

[ArcaneMagix]

It does. Here's a Beta tester talking about his playthrough and strategy. He talks about upgrades.

Playthrough-Feedback of Xenonauts 2 with V.27.5 from an Main-Betatester

Hi Guys, this is again an Gameplay-Feedback from an Main-Betatester, which begunn Beta-Testing the Game from the first playable Beta-Version on with many other Main-Betatesters. The Beta-Version 27.5 is actually the best fully playable one, with many new cool and interessting Features / Content i...

www.goldhawkinteractive.com

Perfect thank you - day one buy for me. Should hold my attention until XCOM 3 some day.

 

[Couchpotato]

Me as well but sadly the owner and current developer of XCom has had some internal trouble lately. Firaxis released Midnight Suns and that game was a massive flop.

Which lead to layoffs, restructuring, and more focus on the Civilization games.

From the looks of it, it will be another decade or longer if XCom 3 ever gets released.

 

[JFarrell71]

Me as well but sadly the owner and current developer of XCom has had some internal trouble lately. Firaxis released Midnight Suns and that game was a massive flop.

Jake Solomon left Firaxis, yeah. He wants to do something besides tactical games.

 

[Couchpotato]

A lot more then that but sure buddy I'm wrong again on this site.

https://www.axios.com/2023/05/31/firaxis-layoffs

 

[Carnifex]

If they have well implemented psionics/mental abilities, that's just superior icing on a lovely cake!

 

[Couchpotato]

Just realized it's only launching on Early Access. Funny enough with all the PR and updates I assumed it was almost finished. Oh well as they say about assuming.