X-COM Reboot Reactions

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Written by BuckGB on April 15th, 2010

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I knew it was either going to be 2K Marin or Irrational working on this and I have to say, after seeing BioShock 2, I'm not worried that 2K has picked the wrong studio. Story and atmosphere have always been strong elements in the X-COM franchise, and 2K Marin can really deliver the goods in this department. It also makes total sense given the current state of the console market right now, where tense and moody shooters are enjoying tremendous success.

So while I love 2K president Christoph Hartmann's mention of "an immersive new perspective," I'm still not sure what to make of his description of the game as a "gripping narrative ride." It sounds a bit like the new X-COM will be more scripted than other entries in the franchise. While that definitely goes against the grain, it will probably allow 2K Marin to tell a much more specific story, which is an obvious strong point for the studio. Let's just hope the FBI agent angle doesn't turn it into a bad episode of the X-Files.

I also hope that doesn't mean the end of the open-ended gameplay that X-COM is known for. With so many ways to combat the alien invasion in the original game and so many ways to develop your squad, the new game has to offer the player some kind of meaningful choices that have practical consequences for the player's abilities and the progression of the story. Would you want to specialize in straightforward combat, or favor advanced alien technology? Or would you rather learn more about the psionic powers of the aliens and turn the tables on them with mind control? The types of RPG mechanics seen in BioShock are enough to give players a sense that they can adjust their abilities to meet the threats in front of them.

Ideally, "strategic core" means that the administration and customization that has defined the series will be returning intact despite the shift to the first-person perspective. That would make it a squad-based shooter along the lines of Rainbow Six with the kind of customization and stat-driven gameplay we saw in the first Mass Effect (but with less of the jank). Much as I would miss the Valkyria Chronicles-like combat of the original, I could see myself playing and enjoying that sort of game.

Practically speaking though, I sincerely doubt any of that is going to happen. As Mass Effect 2 and other recent games have demonstrated quite clearly, the trend is toward accessibility rather than depth. I honestly have no idea what 2K means by "strategic core," but whatever it is will almost certainly be greatly stripped down. Given 2K Marin's involvement, I'm going to guess that the X-COM revival will amount to BioShock with aliens.

Nothing is certain, obviously, but it seems that the tactical RPG that we knew and loved in the early 90s is gone for good. It's an inevitable reality of a market where publishers are always searching for a surefire hit, but it's one that I'm finding pretty hard to swallow. I'm not terribly interested in another squad-based shooter.

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