I did avoid XCOM: Enemy Unknown when it was first released, fearing it being a poor-quality RTS title on the Xbox 360 and PS3. With outdated graphics, or bad dynamics and controls so I did not experience the game until recently when released free to members of PlayStation Plus. So I downloaded it, and gave it a try and found the turn-based combat and movement was solid, and quite enjoyable in particular movement to roofs, or gaining access to structures. Graphically the game is smooth in terms of graphics, environments are not broken through bugs or graphical issues which gives the game a smooth playability. Control-wise, they are explained earlier on in the game and the basics are easy to remember.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown has quite a fun, interesting premise being a commander in XCOM, you lead men and women of the unit into battle against aliens who are invading the planet. This involves globe trotting missions to countries, that are under attack; and deciding which nations to help have different rewards, but those you do not help will stop funding XCOM with personnel and funds. So you must decide which nations are worth helping, and try to help the country you did not help when they are next attacked by the aliens.
There are many features, from promoting your soldiers who survive missions to gain new weapons or abilities in battle, to using your funds and personnel to research new weapons or attachments for them. There are even options of sending satellites into space, so you may scan for UFO's or aliens already on the planet and find yourself new missions that way.
In terms of controls, I have found no issues with them being that most of your in-game features and such are mapped to buttons on the controller that you would remember instinctively anyway, plus movement and such is explained from going through doors, and windows to climbing drain pipes to rooftops.
The Good:
- A solid story and plot, involving a clandestine military organisation fending off an alien invasion of Earth that involves going from country to country counter-attacking the aliens.
- Solid graphics, that hold up in the heat of combat and are never interrupted by the console's power.
- Features including promotions for soldiers, to researching new weapons and attachments can change the pace of the game, when facing more deadly enemies.
- Controls are smooth, and are not difficult to understand.
The Bad:
- Some minor audio issues.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a solid, smooth game that can draw you in with the features of the game, that make you strive to complete missions, or collect artefacts from the aliens to study and research. It's worth either buying the game as it's quite cheap now pre-owned, or getting it for free if you are a member of PlayStation Plus.