X-COM: Classic Thread

While 2K Marin attempts to revive X-Com, let's take a look at the original classics.

I just recently started playing UFO and Terror From the Deep again, and I am starting to get the hang of things. I've adopted a new more agressive strategy, which has been working wonders in the former game. As for TFTD...not so much, but that's because the latter game is Nintendo Hard.

I've lost over three Skyrangers now, and I've lost the support of the U.S. and India, but I'm still going strong! I've defeated two Battleships in a row. And earlier, I had defended my main base against a Snakeman attack...with only ONE unit.

I'm keen to check these games out. Are they on GOG or something? And will I need DO Sbox for them?

They are in Steam. And even if they were in gog, you don't need to download DOS Box separately. Same in steam.

Actually, I didn't get them from either Steam or GOG. My dad has copies of the original X-Com games, from UFO and TFTD to Apocalypse and Enforcer. I was able to play them by installing DO Sbox to make them compatible with my computer. Since then, I had spent many hours hunting alien raiders.

If you guys are planning to play TFTD, be very careful. Terror From the Deep didn't get its name for nothing. Basically, it's UFO Meets The Cthulhu Mythos, with some dinosaurs thrown in the mix. Some of the aliens, especially the loathsome Tentaculat, are guaranteed to give you nightmares. I'm still afraid to go to the bathroom at night, cause I'm afraid one of those creepy brain bastards are waiting for me in the bathtub...

There was also a bug in the first one that was fixed for the second that contributes to people finding the latter more difficult.

In the first one, no matter what difficulty level you set, it would revert to the lowest difficulty, where the alien AI is somewhat less than optimal, to put it mildly (though even at "newbie" the Chrysalids are a pain in the ass; even if you don't screw up by the numbers, a Snakeman/Chrsalid terror raid can very easily lose you an entire squad even equipped with flying Powered Armor).

The aliens in TFTD expand as fast as NPC empires in Master of Orion, so you can expect at least one Alien Colony at the end of the first month.

Also, if you don't get enough research into weapons technology in the first three months, they'll start throwing Tasoths and Lobstermen at you. At that point, you're effectively screwed.

You have to be fast to get anywhere in TFTD. Race up the tech tree, load your troops with the best equipment available ASAP, get another base or two. Do ANYTHING that will get you ahead! If you fall behind JUST ONCE, you're finished.

edited 12th Sep '11 10:59:09 AM by DemoralizedAnt

Oh, I played several XCOM games in my life. I played XCOM Ufo Defense, and it took me many tries before I could eventually beat it. Then again, I was a kid at the time, and I didn't quite understand what I needed to do to be a winner. I beat the game without relying on Psi-amps or any mind control devices. I was playing the game on the easiest difficulty setting. Of course, I've heard that there's a bug in the game that will set the difficulty to the easiest level, regardless of which setting you've picked. Apparently, this bug is the reason the difficulty was cranked Up To Eleven and Nintendo Hard in XCOM Terror From The Deep.

I played a little bit of TFTD, but I couldn't get far into it. The copy I got my hands on had some technical difficulties, and I think I was turned off by the difficulty.

I played a demo of XCOM Interceptor, but I couldn't get far into it. That was because I was unable to hit a single enemy ship. I tried and I tried, but I just kept missing. I must suck big time.

I played the game XCOM Apocalypse. Oh man, I loved that game. It took a lot of time and effort, but I eventually managed to win that game. I was playing on the easiest difficulty, but the game was no pushover by a long shot!

It's a pity that the XCOM franchise went straight downhill after that. Maybe the reboot will bring the franchise back onto its feet.

edited 12th Sep '11 3:04:21 PM by TiggersAreGreat

I know almost nothing about the reboot, besides the protagonist being an agent of the Department of Defense.

What the fandom fails to understand is that there really is no difference between X-Com and the Dept. of Defense. Both are covert security organizations that operate in secret to protect the goodwill of humanity...or something like that...

As far as I'm concerned, a secret agent's a secret agent. Hopefully the new Xcom secret agents will be total badasses, like James Bond or Lt. Commander Snipes.

edited 13th Sep '11 4:29:27 AM by DemoralizedAnt

I've only played Apocalypse, but I do rather like it. I know of no other game like it.

^^ Dept of Defense is for one country. X-COM is international beyond relatively loose alliances like RL's NATO (at the very least, member nations pay directly to X-COM's bank account, whereas NATO members pay for their own respective militiaries, then put them to use elsewhere as a team).

My dad told me that Apocalypse was a little lackluster compared to the prequels, so I haven't even tried it yet. UFO Defense and TFTD are the only ones I have played. Also, I recently started playing UFO: Aftermath, which is based on the X-Com series. From the looks of it, it's a lot more complex than UFO or even TFTD. Victory will not be easy for this veteren of the Great War...

Oops! I lapsed into Freespace there! Sorry!

That's okay!

I have to say that the opening intro to UFO Defense is rather misleading. Sure, there's blue armour in the game, but that only comes later on...if you get far in researching stuff. The weapons being used against the Mutons, I don't know if those weapons actually appeared in the game, and I can say that laser and plasma weapons are pretty much the only things that prove to be effective against Mutons. There is no Muton wearing a red and gold outfit, just Mutons with green outfits, and aren't all the Mutons just soldiers with no other rank? That, and Mutons are aliens that you only encounter later on in the game...I think. What would call this? Intros Always Lie?

The Chrysalids definitely qualify as a Demonic Spider, especially with the triple-digit time units they have, turning everyone they come across into Zombies, said Zombies turn into Chrysalids if you shoot them a number of times, and you will need laser or plasma weapons to effectively waste them. Although if you get Flying Armour for your agents and have them fly up into the air, then the Chrysalids will effectively turn into jokes...because they can't fly!

Personally, I think the Ethereals should be considered a Demonic Spider. I mean, they can go anywhere, and they can mind-control your poor agents (I don't think they can resist it very much) without needing to see you. Combine them with other aliens, and you have a tough fight on your hands.

I also find it interesting how the Big Bad alien you need to take down in TFTD is none other than Cthulhu from HP Lovecraft. Yep, the same sleeping squid-faced monster that can destroy the entire world just by waking up. It turns out that it can be effectively killed in its sleep...but that ends up unleashing chemicals that turns the entire world into a toxic wasteland, and undoubtedly caused a lot of people to die. TFTD sure gives a feeling of "Damned if you do, damned if you don't". Oh, well. At least the human race managed to live on into more sequels despite that catastrophe.

edited 13th Sep '11 6:36:27 AM by TiggersAreGreat

Grrrr...

They are not prequels. The word you are looking for is predecessor. A prequel is a work that was made after but set before another. It isn't a catch all term for any previous work in a series.

I'm glad we had this little talk.

edited 13th Sep '11 7:05:45 AM by Talby

If you ask me, Apocalypse is real sequel to first game, the second game is bit more like expansion since its practically identical except for the difficulty xD

It's a Palette Swap Sequel at best. The original X-COM will always be the best game.

Edit: We totally need a trope for Palette Swap Sequel.

edited 13th Sep '11 7:29:53 AM by Talby

:< But Apocalypse is my fav one...

Oh yeah, well your opinion is wrong!

I think its called Mission-Pack Sequel.

;-;

I generally use the word "prequel" loosely, so forgive me for misuses.

Ethereals as Demonic Spiders? Well, their Psi attacks are devastating, and the ability to fly is a neat trick, but they can be dropped in a few hits of Plasma or Laser weapons. The Psi issue makes them an excellent candidate, but their power is offset by their relatively weak damage resistance.

Terror From the Deep, I must admit, completely reused the UFO formula, but fixed a glitch that had made the latter game fun. Turning almost every alien into a Demonic Spider contributed to this, while you have weak troops armed with sticks and harsh language.

edited 13th Sep '11 8:50:53 AM by DemoralizedAnt

Actually, I just found a list of XCOM TFTD enemies, which you can read here. The way some of the descriptions go, some of the enemies are in the Demonic Spider class, and others...not so much.

To my experiance, every alien except for Aquatoids, Gillmen, Deep Ones, Calcinites and Hallucinoids are Demonic Spiders. But once you get sufficient weapons technology and Molecular Control (Psionic) Training, most enemies except for Lobstermen, Tentaculats and Triscenes are demoted to Goddamn Bats. Usually, they're easily dealt with once Sonic Weapons or Displacers (Hovertanks) are available.

The worst of them all, according to UF Opaedia, is the Tasoth Commander. Besides being an Ethereal in lizard form, Tasoth Commanders also carry a game breaking glitch that prevents you from researching the tech you need to beat the game. I've never encountered a Tasoth Commander, but if I do, I'll 'nade the crap out of it.

Just encountered the Cultists in UFO: Aftershock. They're kind of like the Hammer of Light from Free Space, except their taunts bleed liquid Narm. I can't keep a straight face when I'm fighting weirdos dressed like Marty McFly who keep screaming "Screw you!"

edited 14th Sep '11 5:26:20 AM by DemoralizedAnt

(Bumped this in the name of galactic peace. That's my excuse for everything.)

I've been trying to resume playing Enemy Unknown and TFTD, but I've recently been hooked on UFO: Aftershock. I haven't seen a lot of aliens in the besides the occasional Reticulan(read: Sectoid) squads. Most of my engagements have been against the Mutants, who honestly have taken more of my troops than the Aliens. But I'm sure that will change soon. A huge UFO, possibly owned by the Reticulans, is en route to Earth, and it will arrive in fifteen standard hours. To prepare for the UFO, I've been improving my bases, started a race through the tech tree and made a mad scramble for the remaining European/Middle Eastern territories.

Unfortunately, most of the local provinces have been uncooperative with me, and refuse to cede control of their territory. This presents a problem, as I desperately need any and all available strategic resources and base sites. If they continue to refuse my offers, I'll be left with no choice but to take them by force. It's a risky proposition, and it will have serious repercussions with my diplomatic relations with the Terran factions, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Wait, this is on Steam?! How much?

5 Euro? I forgot xD