X-Com - Part 3 - Continuing Classics

X-Com aka UFO: Enemy Unknown is a strategy game about repelling an alien invasion of Earth. You need to shoot down UFOs, capture alien technology, reverse engineer it and use it against them in order to repel their efforts to use Earth for their own purposes. It draws heavily on the UFO mythology involving alien abduction, cattle mutilation and the grey type aliens with the big eyes and spindly limbs.

There are two basic game modes, first the strategic mode involving building bases, sending out interceptors and doing research and development. Then the tactical mode involving turn based squad battles against alien forces. This is how alien technology is acquired.

If you fail to protect the nations from the alien threat, they will withdraw funding and Earth will fall to the invaders.

It's a game that kept me coming back again and again for years. First on the Amiga and then the PC. So it earns a place among my continuing classics.

X-Com on Moby Games:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-com-ufo-defense

"Continuing Classics" is a series of let's play videos of old games that I have come back to many times over the years. These are therefore among my everlasting favourites.

Intro music is from the classic "cracktro" by Hoodlum. The full version can be heard and seen here:
http://flashtro.com/page.php?al=alias6191

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• UFO
• defence
• x-com
• alien
• abduction
• cattle
• mutilation
• squad
• combat
• strategic
• tactical
• turn
• based
• laser
• plasma
• explosive
• spaceship
• greys
• anal
• probe
• let's
• play
• letsplay
• walkthrough
• retro
• classic
• vintage
• computer
• game
• games
• gaming
• gamer
• player
• playing
• demo
• demonstration
• narration
• commentary
• YTGAMINGREVIEWS

[HardWarUK]

You didn't tell the whole truth Jim. You think all the aliens are dead, end the turn, and then there is one alien left after all, true enough. But what you didn't say was that last alien usually kills at least one of your soldiers! :)

[JimPlaysGames]

@HardWarUK hehe, yeah my impatience has often killed many of my poor soldiers. Just call me Zap Brannigan.

[Trusteft]

My fav after 1 is Apocalypse. Though I continue to play it in turn based mode. I just love the retro feel and the very large and complex buildings and maps.

[JimPlaysGames]

@Trusteft yeah I enjoyed destroying those huge buildings, especially when you take out the supports and it all collapses and things start exploding. Wicked.

[JimPlaysGames]

@HardWarUK thanks, I've got quite a few games from GOG during their sales. Lots of stuff to play :D

Haven't tried any that you mentioned though. I tend to go a bit nuts during the GOG sales so I'm trying to not buy more games than I can realistically play.

[HardWarUK]

Searching in pairs is much safer, and those huge beast have armour, not bondage wear. This means they are difficult to kill from the front but easy from the back! :)

[HardWarUK]

@JimPlaysGames Just wonder if you have played any older games, like Ultima Underworld 1 or 2 or Darklands, or Realms of Arkania, etc? GOG.com have a 50% off sale that end's today if they interest you.

[JimPlaysGames]

@impkeeper well I'm probably just going to try one to start with, and I've heard Extraterrestials is the best. Should be coming soon... ish... probably.

[JimPlaysGames]

@impkeeper that's a really good tip. I usually do line up my soldiers, but in a cross fire, so the aliens are getting hit from 2 sides. It's also good when raiding some of the criminal gang slums. I'll have to try the trick of laying out the ammo though and standing them in rows. That's brilliant.

[impkeeper]

oh yeah, on my appinion you should try one of UFO: Aftermath • UFO: Aftershock • UFO: Afterlight thay are realy realy cool redo's of the game :D but in there own spiret and shape, thay are cool :D UFO: Aftermath • UFO: Aftershock • = is on Earth UFO: Afterlight = is on Mars XD ---- UFO: Extraterrestrials i havent tryed and Xenonauts is still under development :D its all on wiki if you do a search on eather of em :D