An excellent re-imagining of a classic in the genre!
User Rating: 9 | XCOM: Enemy Unknown X360
Well let me first say that I did not spend the amount of time on the original as I am sure many fans of this genre have, but this game certainly grabbed me from the beginning and made me understand what made the original so addictive for its time. I will begin with the negatives, for there are only a few. First, there could certainly be a little more in the way of customization...there are a fair amount of options for design of your troops, but an option to select colors on your own for certain pieces of armor and decor seems to be an obvious misstep here. Also, while this is minor, you are not given the option to choose either the country in which you receive your new recruits, nor the class that they will become when they achieve their first level. Call me crazy, but if I am commanding an elite team of futuristic special operations forces, I think the roles they would fill would certainly be part of my decision making process. And lastly, while your progression has you building multiple satellites and fighters with which to protect the atmosphere of earth, you are never given the option to build any more than the single drop ship that you are initially given, meaning that when an alien invasion hits on three different nation, you are always relegated to choosing only one area to defend. This is the most frustrating of the game's faults, considering you are given the option to have up to 99 soldiers at your disposal, with a max team of only 6 at a time.
Of course, despite all of this, I am giving the game high marks for a reason, right? Absolutely...this game delivers on the strategic level in a unique way that is unlike all others. The base building adds depth (literally, as you build into the earth) and strategic options when deciding what sort of technological or scientific approach will better close the technological gap that is so severe at the beginning of the game. Making tough choices is at the core of this game, and at no point will you feel entirely safe...especially if you choose to follow the path of the ironman (only allowing you one save spot, so you must live with your choices)! All of the research in the game brings with it a unique upgrade to either your troops, air defense, or base building. While the strategy in preparation is excellent, the combat is where this game shines the brightest. The game steadily increases in difficulty, never disappointing on the battlefield. Just when you think that you have achieved that game changing upgrade, you will come across some new class of enemy that will test your hard work and upgrades. The base building and upgrades set the stage for some of the best tactical turn-based strategy that I have played in some time. 
