X-Com: Terror from the Deep

Ya, this game is 12 years old and I'm sure that thousands have played it. Its warm up.

So X-Com: Terror from the deep is a classic example of turn based strategy . Developed by the awesome, yet long gone, Microprose, X-Com: TFtD is set in the year 2040 and is a direct sequel to X-Com: UFO Defense. The is pretty much a re-skinning of the game with a different setting, but the graphics were updated and a few things changed around. One of the great things about this game is that every time you play, the game is different. Even on the easiest setting, this game provides a serious challenge to the player, with no promises the required aliens will appear and give you the tech you need to progress. In fact, there are a few bugs that make it impossible for you to actually beat the game is you are not careful, something I learned just recently as I started playing it again. Anyway, lets get to the classic type of review.

• Graphics & Sound
  

Considering this game is 12 years old, the graphics are dated. Installing it on todays "standard" gaming machine will lead to various problems trying to get the game to run. Fans of the series have released work arounds and patches that can be used to get it to work on systems that were not even dreamed of back in '95. There are limited character models for your units, as well as the aliens. There is no real way to just look at the screen and know what alien is a tech, commander or who your soldiers are just by looking at them.

Still, while the graphics are nothing compared to what we have today, they do not look awful unless you are one of those gamers that prefer look over function. If that is the case, I would imagine you are a shallow, vapid idiot who has zero taste in games and probably hates WoW simply because the graphics are kind of cartoonish.

The sound is dated. Aliens have one death sound, same with your soldiers and civilians. Weapons generally make the same noises, a do explosives. The music is well done but recycled from the first game but it does lend to a creepy atmosphere that the game is shooting for. Its not top of the line and you have more complicated ring tones on your cell phone than what is used for this game, but again it is 12 years old.

• Game Play

This is where TFtD manages to shine after so many years. The game play is very solid, a trade mark of Microprose games. Your units follow direction to the letter, even managing do a few things on their own if you save the movement points for the action. The world map encompasses the globe, giving you the ability to place X-Com bases any where in the world. Have a shit-ton of aliens moving around in the Atlantic but your base is half way across the world? Long as you have the cash to fund a new base, supply it and build it up, go ahead and build it. As the "leader" of the X-Com forces, it is up to you to defend the world from the growing alien threat. This is done by shooting down alien subs with your Barracuda attack subs, sending Triton subs to alien invasion locations, downed alien subs and basically fucking the aliens up.

As said fucking up is done, you are able to research various alien tech that you manage to recover. The tech tree is flawed, bad. If you manage to not research the right things in the proper order, the game is fucked and you will have to start all over again. This site has a good break down of what tech to research and in what order, but it does contain some spoilers. It does not take to long to run through the tech tree and make sure your soldiers are on-par with the aliens are far as weapons go.

One of the best thing about this game, and something you should consider for a game that is 12 years old, is that the buildings are able to be torn down by explosives. Have a alien that is locked in a closet and wont come out? Toss a frag in there and blow his ass away. Need a back door to a building the aliens have locked down? No problem, heavy explosives will make a hole for you. This adds a dimension of tactics that some developers still don't use today, which is just retarded. Your soldiers, though, are weak till you manage to research the heavy armors. It is standard for you to be running through soldiers fairly quickly in the early stages if you do not save a lot. I've found having a save game for each type of mission helps a lot in terms of keeping your guys alive, and finding out if you are over your head and need to bug out.

The game play is solid, provides a real challenge and can keep you interested for a few hours with ease. Even on the beginner level, you will find yourself being tested by the aliens. I still haven't managed to beat the game on beginner and I've been playing it off and on for years. Most of that was due to the tech tree bug though.

• Problems

As stated before, this game is not with out its problems. The tech tree is flawed and if you screw up by researching something before you have the item you need for the next part of the tech tree, your game is fucked. The link I provided above can help you solve that issue easy enough.

On my machine, the game will play for a solid while but your saved games can get bugged for no real reason and cause the game to crash randomly. You will find your self having to avoid missions because they are bugged. Key here is to save often so you don't find yourself have to go back a long way and maybe have to re-do some key research.

• Overall

The game is dated but is still a solid turn based strat. If you are able to look past the aged graphics and sound, you will find yourself deeply sucked into the game. From keeping track of what your soldiers stats are, what tech you need to go to next and trying to keep the invasion under control, TFtD provides it all. While it may be old, its still awesome. If you can find the game some where, I'd highly suggest giving it a try and seeing how well you do.