Not unlike Civilization, XCOM 2 is a bit like a board game that would be just a little too tedious to run with dice and cardboard. What remains of XCOM now leads a guerrilla insurgency, operating out of a stolen alien carrier ship to rally a global resistance and dismantle Advent’s sinister schemes. Now, 20 years later, a semblance of peace has been imposed by the joint alien-human Advent government. Counter to the usual logic of sequels, XCOM 2 starts with the premise that you lost the first game. XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012) was Civilization developer Firaxis’ extraordinary reboot of the classic ‘90s strategy series about leading a force of elite operatives to hold off alien invasion. It’s harsh to make a sacrificial lamb of a fresh-faced recruit on his first mission, but tough choices must be made if we’re going to take back the Earth. The cruel calculus of XCOM leaves little choice: Akira leaps over the wall and makes a heroic dash, collapsing under a storm of laser fire, while Tina escapes to safety in the distraction.

Already limping from an earlier grenade blast, Tina can’t withstand much more.Īcross the way, recruit Akira Watanabe nervously fingers his assault rifle. Tina, top-ranked sniper of the human resistance, had stayed behind to provide covering fire from above, giving her squad mates time to escape, but also allowing Advent reinforcements to close in on her.

Most of the squad has already escaped to the evacuation zone across the plaza, whisked away into the hovering Skyranger.

Fitbit Versa 3Ĭaptain Tina “Butts” Belcher crouches behind the concrete embankment, weighing her options.

Xcom 2 pc review