XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a multiplatform computer game developed by the well-known studio Firaxis Games. The global publisher is 2K Games, while the publisher in Russia is "1C-SoftClub." The game was released in the fall of 2012 on three gaming platforms: PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is somewhat of a reincarnation, or one might say, a reimagining of the original turn-based strategy X-Com, which was released in the 90s. The game's plot is based on the invasion of alien armies on the mortal Earth. At first, sectoids and their ilk merely probed the ground, appearing and disappearing in various regions of the planet, but then a full-scale attack followed on all fronts. Individual countries could not cope with the aggressively inclined space guests, so representatives of various powers decided to create a special organization to fight the aliens – XCOM. The player, as many have already understood, must lead this super-secret agency and try to turn the situation in favor of human civilization.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is divided into two important parts – strategic and tactical. Planning future actions must be done in a special bunker located deep underground. It is there that the organization XCOM hides with all its laboratories, workshops, and hangars. Indeed, building something like this on the surface would be tantamount to death – sectoids and other alien creatures vigilantly monitor the situation. Nevertheless, the conditions are created in the earth's crust for a comfortable stay and work.
Essentially, the entire massive complex resembles a slice of a gigantic anthill – the player can observe all levels and underground floors from the side. In the laboratory, scientists dissect the body of an unfortunate alien, just below engineers, gunsmiths, and craftsmen are working on new technology, and off to the side are the rooms for training recruits. The center of the entire organization is a vast room – the command center with a holographic image of the planet hanging in the center. In fact, one could list the various departments (if you can say that) for a very long time. If there isn’t enough space for new structures, the "anthill" can be expanded deeper into the earth's crust.
The tactical component of XCOM: Enemy Unknown consists of those very turn-based battles in which representatives from various countries jointly fight against the aliens. To teleport to the next "hot" spot on the map of Earth, the player must assemble a team of fighters and choose the region of interest. The tasks of the units vary, but they all mainly boil down to one thing – to cleanse the sector of alien presence by all available means. Soldiers differ not only in appearance (the squad can feature representatives from different countries) but also in abilities. One fighter is good at shooting from a sniper rifle, another can fly using a jetpack, and a third excels in close to medium-range shooting. This, in essence, is the basis for the tactics of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Proper distribution of responsibilities is the key to successfully achieving the goal.
When exploring the surrounding territories or during open conflict, it should be considered that all actions of the soldiers are carried out in a turn-based mode. However, there are certain differences from the standard mode of "make a move and pass the turn to the other." If all action points are used solely for movement (i.e., to run the maximum possible distance), then the fighter can neither reload nor shoot. If they only cover half the distance (within the blue zone), the special forces soldier will still have room for maneuver.