Forums > Submission Feedback > Suskie's XCOM 2 review

Wow. Scathing, but well-deserved.

The miss every time thing is down to the SEED sums XCOM uses to crunch percentages. Basically, it works out every probability before you make a single move so, if you take an 80% shot and miss it, no matter how many times you take the shot under the exact same circumstances, you will always miss it. Take a step to the left and have your to-hit chance dip to, say, 60%, and there's a better than average chance that you'll now make the shot. Not sticking up for it; just saying that's how it is. It's a good way to skewer save scumming, I suppose. I'm still not playing XCOM 2.

Stifle your gasps! As soon as I read there was a doomsday countdown ticking away in the background, I lost a lot of interest. I spent hundreds of hours - hundreds! - in the original because of an OCD-like desire to trick the hell out of everything and attack the home base when I'm bloody ready to do so. Doing everything in a mad rush does not appeal to this. So I didn't bother; maybe I'll do so later down the road but it was a huge red light to me. That you've just doubled the wattage on. Good kicking whilst it's down.

For us. For them. For you.

Yeah, that's how I assumed it worked. Again, I'm not knocking that system per se, but good luck beating this game WITHOUT save scumming given how punishing it is.

Thanks for reading, y'all.

I know that exaggeration is the way of increasing the number of people checking your review, but this went overboard.

1/5 would mean a game that is totally, utterly unenjoyable and for someone who claims to have enjoyed XCOM that is just an attention-whoring lie.
Your gameplay problems:
- Hit percentages sometimes unusal? Yeah, but you get a complete explanation why, an this is just like XCOM was.
- "Extensive" research needed for bigger squads? You mean you need 1 (one) building that is available to build right away and a low rank solider. Just like in XCOM? And why you ask? Because it is one of the ways to tie the strategic layer to the tactical one. Why not complain about not being able to use all weapons right away? And the best: this is because you see more seats in the cutscene? Oh come on, you are not this stupid I'm sure, is it really your big complaint? Would it have been totally fine if the seats were removed until you do the "extensive research"? Jesus.
- Another huge "gameplay" problem is that you see bullets hitting in animatins when they don't. Yeah right.

As for the unfairness: the early situation you described is from activating multiple enemy groups at once (again, just like in XCOM). The difference is that you get tools to work around it this time: concealment.
XCOM 2 gives a bigger tactical challenge but it gives better tools at coping with it: that is a win for a strategy game. Seems like you never even tried to figure out the game. Maybe not a genre you enjoy?

As for technical problems: they do exist, but guess what, for 95% of the people they are not crippling. Sure it should have been smoother, but an "absolute technical catastrophe"?

It seem like you really wanted to hate it and never even wanted to learn the game. Or maybe you wanted to create a click-bait (which I apparently took). Well, mission accomplished then.

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I wouldn't say I know Mike Suskie very well, but I've learned enough about the guy to say that "attention-whore" is not a term I'd associate with him. "Passionate," on the other hand, would be more appropriate. Having read this review, I'd say that's more likely the case.

The only thing my milkshake brings to the yard is a subpoena.

The case against save scumming is well made and to the degree it bothers the reviewer, I don't take issue with the score. Relying on save slots mid fight has bothered me as well, and I'm not sure how hardcore thing will get later in the game. I'm ~10 hours in and having a blast so far, though.

And aside from the occasional sword-through-wall glitches the game runs perfectly for me. I turned SSAO off and get a great framerate. I suppose I am fortunate!

I'm just confused as to why this guy thinks I have an agenda here when the positive review for Enemy Unknown that I linked to was written almost three years ago.

You know, I think you went into this review wanting to hate it, man.

Because clicks, remember? Every click gives you power and brings you closer to godhood.

The only thing my milkshake brings to the yard is a subpoena.