Xenonauts 2 - I Can't Believe It's Not XCOM
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Xenonauts 2 is a viciously difficult game that feels like a hardcore XCOM RPG, so let's dive into the early-access release, and see how many people I can get killed by mistake...
Xenonauts 2 on Steam - store.steampow...
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Fanfare For Space, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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It's old school Xcom. I'd love to see Jon have a go at the original 1994 Xcom. I remember that one being brutal on the difficulty curve sometimes.
1994 xcom is hard, but terror from the deep ... 😱
@stevenvanhoorick1907 We don't want to scare Jon off too soon. We build up his confidence with 94's Enemy Unknown, and then we introduce him to the brain squid.
I'd love for him to see openxcom project. With so many amazing mods and full reworks of the game there is decades of content there to dive in :)
He's need one of the modded up fixed versions. The UI and controls were more a villain than anything in the game back then.
It's actually sad how John talks about things like time units, stat growth and etc. as if it's something new, when xcom (or UFO in some regions) already did it back in 94.
Xcom 2012 is nothing more but a much simplified version of xcom 1994 in a slicker graphical wrapping. Xenonauts is just one of the projects that tries to bring the magic back.
In case anyone's not aware, Xenonauts is almost a 1:1 recreation and update of the original 1994 XCOM: UFO Defense. (Also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown, depending on where you live)
New and old XCOM are very different, but both great.
>Xenonauts is almost a 1:1 recreation and update of the original 1994 XCOM
Except not really ? And it's not as good or fun to play as the original. The first Xenonauts wasnt, at least.
It's probably good that they simplified the inventory management. Old XCOM had separate inventory grids for belt, shoulder pockets, backpack, etc.
I would have settled for a 1:1 but it just isn't. The one thing putting me off is when you shoot down a ufo on the map it is perfectly intact. In the original the ship would be in various damage states.
@@karry299 You're right, it's not 1:1 although it is infinitely closer than Firaxis' version.
While I deeply love the original, it can be a chore to get it to run well seeing as you have to run dos box and the UI has its quirks as well being as it's ancient in terms of PC Games.
Xenonauts "just works" and has a lot of QOL improvements. But no, it isn't the same.
@@Jon-pc6ch The game is still in early access, right? That might be something they aren't done with. I don't know.
I believe the panic works similar to the original X-com's confidence system; it's not about the population but the government.
Cleaning aliens out of the country is always a good thing even if a few civilians get hurt because it shows you're doing your job.
Panic just appears to be the other away around, not doing your job makes them panic that they're unprotected vs reducing that panic by showing you're doing your job.
It makes so much sense
Well Jon Xenonauts is actually a spiritual successor to the original Xcom: UFO defense to the point that Xenonauts 1 was nearly a copy of the original. The original Xcom came with the whole RPG stats and base building and everything which makes this ironically more faithful than the newer Xcom games.
Though of course whether it's better or not is a matter of opinion.
Class abilities are cool and fun but I much prefer the inventory and stat system of this style, the old style feels like it calls for more well thought out tactical movement and planning than the newer style which is generally more fast paced and flashy, like you said neither is really better, it's a matter of what the player is looking for
I greatly prefer the name UFO: Enemy Unknown. :) And yes, Xenonauts is pretty much the closest adaptation to the originals, at least of the actually completed ones.
Having played UFO: Enemy Unknown back in the day this looks like the perfect spiritual successor. Jon, would be great to see you dive in to the original if you haven't already played it 🤔
It's a little depressing that he just keeps talking about this like something fresh and new and original. It's not. It's the original X-Com with modern graphics. Right down to the soldiers growing organically over time.
To those who didn't play it, in the original Enemy Unknown your soldiers improved by what you made them do.
So if they take a lot of auto shots, their accuracy will improve gradually, if they use up all their time units every move they will gradually gain time units and be able to do more each turn.
Seriously, this is UFO: Enemy Unknown/X-Com: UFO Defense with a modern graphical design more or less.
@@glenngriffon8032 It also feels a bit reminiscent of Rebelstar Tactical Command.
Also a Julian Gollop project
@@glenngriffon8032 Not to mention this sequel is almost just an exact copy of Xenonauts 1. Like there's nothing special about it, they just decided to make 3D models and some new missions and call it a sequel. In the original trailers for Xenonauts 2 they even advertised improved graphics, but that was scrapped in favour of copying the graphics of Xenonauts 1.
@@zrize101 I'd never heard of Xenonauts but as a fan of the original UFO game I'm likely to add this to my collection
Iceland being the only European country left unguarded is very funny considering the Xenonauts lore (basically, the first contact with the aliens was an alien ship crashlanding in Iceland in the '50s)
So how many times do you think Jon will see something that has been a thing in X-COM for over a quarter century, and assume it was something that Xenonauts created whole cloth?
Like, this isn't quite as egregious as that time he played a Jupiter Hell and was blown away by the novel concept... of a rouguelike, despite having played numerous games he himself has called rougelikes; but still...
Oh geez. this is bringing back so many good memories. I played Xenonauts back in the day before XCOM Enemy Unknown came out, and it was a delight. It's the type of game that makes it quite clear from the start that it is not going to carry you. You are fighting an unknown threat. Every shot is life threatening. Your troops are mediocre, your equipment is inadequate, and life sucks. But you can still win.
To save the world, the nations funding you only see fit to give you a bunch of part time gym teachers wearing second hand body armor.
It's great and I love it.
I'd also recommend the Valkyria Chronicles series. The gameplay is basically a cross between XCOM and a third person shooter, but it is more story/character focussed.
Ah yes, *Valkyria Chronicles*, the franchise about anime characters slowly figuring out all the different ways that war can suck
This game is actually closer to what the original 1994 XCOM wad then the newest ones.
I was so close to suggesting you play this on the last XCom video. I'm so glad to see it.
EDIT: Oh and BTW. If you want a game similar to this, but with less aliens and more realism, you can try Silent Storm. It's an old game, but it still holds up. It has destructive terrain soldiers with stats that level up, just like this. It's in a WW2-ish setting.
In Jons own words, "I've had my eye on this for a while" as I love the original Xenonauts. 2 things I have to say one if you want to pick anyone up you have to stand on them and click the backpack icon (under the crouch icon) and my only issue with this is it is just Xenonauts 1 with updated graphics. Other than that love the game and I love your reaction to it.
Now, who of the "Old Vanguard" would loooove to see John play the original X-com, and hear the first scream of meeting a chrysalid on the first terror mission?? Ahhh god that bring back some nostalgia.
I’m sad to see that Jon has never experienced original XCOM (Enemy Unknown and Terror from the deep) but hopefully enough people will comment on it enough that he goes back to actual experience these gems of games.
Also sad to know he has never truly experienced the masterpiece that is XCOMs “interceptor” theme.
Every time Jon explained his intent before an action, relying on his knowledge of the modern Firaxis games I couldn't help but smirk as I've played the actual original XCOM and knew the outcome would be very different :)
For example in the very first mission grenades not blowing up walls and such. The game is, ironically, more realistic. Real grenades don't knock down walls either. Their anti-personel that spray shrapnel around rather than "blowing up" things. There is a reason the default loadout had real explosives ;)
Loved Xenonauts 1.
The game rewards you for making very un-gamey decisions that make real-world sense. For example:
- Everyone carries spare ammo for the machinegun.
- Rocket launchers and shotguns are secondary weapons. Everyone carries a rifle and only busts out the shotguns for room-clearing and the rocket launcher for special occasions.
- It's often not worth engaging in risky room-clearing, drop a brick of C4 inside and bring the building down.
That's not just 'like' X-COM. That's exactly the original X-COM, and I'm totally down once it's done.
New X-Coms action system is fine, but I realy hope we get to see more of those flexible action point systems like old X-Com and JA 2 again...
I never played the OG X-COM, but, every time people talk about the way it worked compared to the newer ones it feels kinda like comparing how the combat works on D&D 5e and Pathfinder 2e.
Grenades aren't great at destroying cover as y'know... they're sending out chunks of metal and BB's, not relying on explosive power. Try instead either a shaped satchel charge or C4 - they're intended to destroy cover.
Further, if you get an alien who is suppressed (flash-bang) and in smoke (smoke grenade) and can't easily get out ... there's a good chance they'll pass out and you can capture them. Also works decently in confined spaces like alien spaceships. :) Don't necessarily need stun batons if you're tactical about your smokes.
Don't forget to kneel your soldiers! Adds some defense and helps you hide behind cover when you have it. Also lets your standing soldiers shoot over the shoulders of the kneeling ones rather than shooting them in the back!
Lastly... you can add in early-access backers with their own custom characters. Main Menu > Settings > Custom Soldiers (Selected Soldiers - "Soldier Name Here from the backer list"). ... Modify for other early-access backers. I'd have to look, but you may be able to modify this list for your subscribers(?). I'm enjoying playing with my own custom character from my backer pledge personally. Have fun! :)
DDRJake did a play through of Xenonauts 2 quite recently where the soldier list was completely subscriber submitted, they had a stat allocation budget for the character and then he drew from the pool. Very good and there were some rather unorthodox characters that turned out to be heroes.
Could 100% see this working for MATN’s format either for livestream or a fully blown series. I would think it would be livestream however due to the XCOM2 series being very similar.
if you stand on top of the enemy and open your inventory (the bag icon or I [INDIA] key) then there is a menu where when you stand on the of any individual enemy, npc, friendlies. you can carry their bodies it will only affect weight and go back to the helicraft then bring it back to base
I’m so glad Jon is playing this. I’m loving the XCOM 2 series but I want to see this too!
Jon getting his first tastes of classic-style xcom, this is gonna be fun, can't wait to see how many rookies get thrown into the meat grinder in this video, especially since he's gonna be used to people actually being able to consistently survive hits
Literally all the things that Jon praises as adding more depth to XCOM are things that were IN the original XCOM then removed when they released the new Generation and dumbed it down.
Sure its dumbed down in some ways, but also far deeper in others. Its just a different type of game
NGL, after the grenade launcher demonstration, I was surprised the whole team wasn't carrying launchers on the next mission
Issue with explosives is you lose out on four things: Money, autopsies, analysis and ammo trust me youll need so much ammo in some missions youll have to grab guns from fallen aliens and soldiers.
I get the feeling that just a few missions in you'd get into the flow of the combat. While you've got a bit more depth of choices than in XCOM2, it's not so deep that you'd drown in it.
I really love the different kind of missions. Sometimes its straight up kill them all, another time you have to get in hack 10 computers and get out before being overwhelmed. Missions are very varied here in how they play.
Xenonauts is more XCOM than the new XCOMs from the past years, which is absurd.
Reaction shots are a chance based off of a soldier/aliens reflex stat. It's not like Xcom where it always triggers as soon as someone moves.
19:35 a stun gun costs TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS? At that point, the aliens are doing humanity a favor...
Eh, typical military spending. Add couple zeros to the price, nobody's going to notice.
The backpack icon on the bottom right allows you to pick things off the ground including knocked out enemies
Yes! I was debating on whether or not to get this ... Let's go!
Would be cool to see Jon try the original XCOM/UFO or even the first Xenonauts
If he has already played Xenonauts 2 then there’s little reason to also play X1.
The pain I experienced every time Jon said something was different from X-Com.
(I know he’s only used to XCOM, but still…)
In his defense, it isn't common for games released nowadays to have the depth and complexity of old school pc games after the industry went chasing console market sales.
I would love to see a full playthrough of this, right now or alternatively after the game received some polish!
That was hilarious 😂😂 never change Jon 🤣🤣
There is a recruit soldiers button on the soldier screen,
When standing on something/one open the inventory to pick up stuff,
There is a shot preview, just click where you want to go to once and press shift while aiming at intended target, keep up the fine work ;)
"Not sure where the aliens are! Maybe they've started locking down the building."
Meanwhile, his entire squad is staring at the back wall of the dropship and facing away from the building.
THis game is Xcom oldschool before Xcom became Xcom streamlined with handholding
Also Jon. Loosing people and having people wounded is normal. Hell, you got lucky on your mission that only this many were wounded and not killed. You are supposed to loose a lot of people in early game. You have to hire a lot of chod and you will go through a lot of them.
They arent actiongame superheroes like in modern xcom
"Unlike xcom..."
This is basically xcom, dude
would love to see a wasteland 3 playthrough at some point, best of that fallout humor with the tactics gameplay
heard xcom with more death rather than depth during the intro. Felt that was a fair description, given how my missions usually go.Xenonauts seems to be balanced around you always feeling just a bit overwhelmed.
I've been keeping my eye's on this for awhile. (anyone who's read my Xcom comment thread's know I have a bit of a thing for these games)
I am tempted to jump in, but given the reviews I feel like it's best to wait until this game is 100% complete.
Also I love how jon decided to try a capture attempt on a mission you were specifically supposed to evacuate from. Well played there.
27:54 It’s volume of fire that mostly causes Suppression, like a x3salvo from an Assault Rifle or MG, and even more so a x10 from the MG. In my experience, the inherent x3 salvo from the Shotgun does not tend to cause Suppression. However, Suppression is allegedly somehow added up, so that two x3 AR salvos are more likely to cause Suppression than just one. I don’t think this cumulative effect carries over from turn to turn, but I could be wrong on that. Maybe NPC Morale damage is simulated in some or all cases?
The combat is slow, yes, but it's also constantly tense. The thing that's nice about Xenonauts is the flexibility you have. For example, you know how in XCOM you can only ever send out one squad of soldiers at a time, despite having three full squads waiting in the wings and having multiple terror missions active? In Xenonauts you can have multiple squads on approach to objectives! It's unfortunate you didn't have a chance to experience air combat, or night missions... The air combat is a lot more involved than in XCOM. And the night missions are much more tense.
screaming "Shoot the civilian!!" when jon said he didnt trust that guy 7:04
All i can think of is XCOM: UFO Defence. I'd love to see Jon play that classic
Interesting, but I can't help but remember what Dragon Age 2 did for Dragon Age 1's combat... it was more animated, frenetic, fast-paced and exciting. I don't necessarily think XCOM needs more stats and modifiers so much as it needs more pyrotechnics and heavy metal, but that's the sort of gamer I am. I can certainly see someone being very interested in a more technical team management/combat game, so more power to em'!
@@TheKeyser94 Yeah, I said that and then I remembered that I really enjoyed Wasteland 3, which has a similar combat system to XCOM, but with a lot more tacked on if I recall correctly.
It's old school xcom function go stand exatly were is the dead or unconscious person press i button go to inventory then you can pick weapons and person to your backpack :)
But terror from the deep that is really hard on higher difficult settings👍
That cleaner mission was a disaster lmao. Quick advice though: Getting Cleaner Data (the usb sticks) is basically free you spend no TUs doing it (this is probably too easy and will change), Don't bother doing special stuff like grabbing aliens for interrogation on timed missions like this and the "abduction rescue" one, use shield guys and grenades MORE they're underrated. Use flashbang/stun grenades to supress enemies to prevent overwatch fire, use smoke to provide cover for your friendlies caught out in the open. Avoid using Auto fire on rifles if you need to hit something, they're good for supression. If you need to hit and kill something use the best aimed shot you have.
Ahhh great memories of UFO on the Amiga. much as i love modern Xcom, it lacked the depth and stupidly hard difficulty of the original
Hey Jon, I played this when it came out. I'm looking forward to seeing you play this game. I'm hoping that your going to make a series out of this. good luck and give the aliens hell.
PS. This is all written before your playthrough, but sentry bots are strong, and are overall cheaper than soldiers. they're only capable of defending, but they defend well.
PPS. written after your playthrough, you had to pick up the KO'd cleaners to study them. same for dead cleaners, anything that your soldiers didn't collect from a cleaner mission won't be returned to base. Cleaners can be picked up by standing directly over the body and accessing the inventory of your unit.
32:26 Nah, That’s XCOM baby
We aren't talking enough about the John Stamos stand-in scientist.
This is very much like the original X-Com or Jagged Alliance 2. I like this a lot. Let's hope Jon gives Jagged Alliance 3 a try.
Omg Jon, formation, advance, flanking fire pressure all those pesky tactical thingiys are kinda important. Sometimes you do things that invoke my inner masochist.
Poor Steve, they will never make it home and be promoted.
classic xcom, with a new engine, nice
Things brings back memories of aliens killing one of the members of my squad, causing another one to panic, drop a grenade and take out the entire squad. Good times, good times.
John, this game system is totally "Jagged Alliance", that you totally want to try ^^
Not to criticize anyone's accent, I first thought you opening comment was "..Xxcom but with more death".
this is literally XCom ufo defense with better graphics
Your issue with grenades is those are frag grenades. There are also demolition charges that explode in a smaller radius but almost always destroy what they hit.
Jon: Says he shouldn't charge across the middle of the map because it's easily flanked.
Also Jon: charges half the team through the middle to kill one guy while the team is already being flanked by another person outside.
It worked, though, so I probably shouldn't complain...
4:37 "Put the rifle away" - immediately goes for an example using the class perhaps MOST famous for using rifles. Don't know why that made me chuckle so hard
38:01 Yeah, stun guns are REALLY inaccurate. Optimal range (on real ones, which I assume they translated somewhat into the game) is around 4 metres
frag grenades not being high explosives capable of demolishing entire buildings? what nonsense is this! :O
"Ok trooper, I need you to get the data from that computer"
"Got it commander heading to do it now"
"No, you need to go outside behind this wall to do it"
"Err... are you sure?"
"DO IT!"
"Ok sir..."
"Darnit, how can you not know how to use a computer!"
definitely their fault jon ;)
UM, jon.... It IS XCOM. 1990s OG XCOM! Not to be confused with Fraxus XCOM. I wonder if Jon has played Phoenix Point?
Cleaners are humans working for the aliens.
Day 1097 of requesting Zoo Tycoon. I knew this was coming sooner rather than later, especially with how excited Jon felt about the remake and its sequel. Now what's the pot look like on betting pools related to whether or not alien reptiles with breasts will show up in the second installment of an "x-"related alien franchise?
You have got to play the original XCOM game: UFO - Enemy Unknown. It plays well on DOSBox. Xenonauts 1 was a remake of that and certainly the character attributes came from there.
Can’t have too much XCOM 😁
You're thinking of Chaos Gate. A new part of that one came out recently. Also Mechanicum a while a go, which is realy realy good.
@@greywolf6443 Yes! That’s it! Thank you 👍
I loved the first one. I am looking forward to this one.
Jon, you should give the first Xenonauts game a try once you're done with X-Com. It would be awesome to watch you do the playthrough.
I remember playing that, then getting quite annoyed that the final mission had...
I probably shouldn't throw out spoilers willy nilly. Imma press enter a lot and hope that hides the spoilers from those who don't want them. Wish there was an actual spoiler function tho.
The final mission had sudden time pressure, as a few turns after you started it the Crysalid-like aliens started to spawn enmass in the entry hallway. No other mission had time pressure, and it threw me for a loop. Then fridge logic happened and I remember thinking of an alternate method to beating the invasion without needing to board the mothership and get chased by crysalids all over. I think it involved the final craft weapon (the black hole one) somehow.
I just couldn't think of a story reason why you couldn't just nuke it with the Black Hole Bomb.
@@xarm23 Yeah, I totally agree. Super disappointing. Overall Xenonauts has very convincing and well explained lore, even if it's still techno babble. One example is the explanation why at the start we're sending soldiers into battle in nothing more than just blue pajamas. It's said that we don;t even know how aliens perceive surroundings or do they even see colours, and that we have no idea about how alien weapons work so putting heavy armour on our soldiers would only slow them down, which is validated later on, where it's said that even tanks with their conventional armour can't stand a chance against plasma weapons, and only after designing special energy absorbing materials we're able to offer our troops some protection. This was amazingly well thought out! And the quality of writing just continues this way throughout the game. And then we have the final mission. We can land a boarding vessel with an entire squad of soldiers, bring a tank if we wish, but somehow we could not fill it with singularity torpedo warheads (the weapon used by X-120 Fury, one shot killing any UFO)? Surely few dozen of these detonated inside the ship, technically no further away that, what was it, 200 meters, from the end boss, would do the job of killing the alien in charge by disintegrating the entire ship along with Reapers that were threatening to infest the Earth, and then some!
@@xarm23 On that note, a final mission where we would need to actually capture a live end boss, or maybe just it's intact dead body, would allow for the premise that we're not allowed to nuke the mothership. Let's say that we would need the end boss (or it's remains) to send some subspace signal to propagate the anti-FTL effect of our end game device, and it would be only that final boss that's capable of doing it, for whatever the reason writers could come up with. Now that would be a lot more convincing.
Currently waiting for the full release, got a modded old xcom run going anyway, but I'm eager to see the final product as well as what the modding community does with the game
Funny, I misunderstood what Jon said right at the start. I honestly thought he said "X-Com, but a lot more death" not depth. :) Both are likely true.
Yup! Classic X-Com was notorious for its sacrificial lambs. Always lead with a few rookies, 'cause _someone_ isn't making it home alive, and it's better that it be Rookie #54 than Colonel Dave "Outruns a Tank" Beastly!
Could happily watch, may not be able to play without tearing out what's left of my hair. :P
So strange to listen it being compared to xcom and how different it is. It's pretty close to how the old xcoms worked :D
Oh my god the scientist portrait is Gaius Baltar. Watch out for him getting all Pantheon/Jesus/God-ie 😂
This looks like the og ufo: enemy unknown
Jon, if you worked at a meat grinder, you’d be employee of the month every month
The way I like to explain the cleaners is that they are the bad MIB, whereas we (the Xenonauts) are the good MIB.
You can pick up ammo off dead body’s and put unconscious aliens in your inventory
37:39 I think you could have force-fired, using Shift or Control, on the tile in front of the window.
really looking forward to this, loved original Xcom
Another early access title I would enjoy seeing you check out is zero sievert. It's a top down single player pixel art extraction shooter.
I am having XCOM: UFO Defense flashbacks.....
At a very base level, I'm getting Caravaneer vibes
RIP Conspirasteve, a temp who accepted the wrong desk job.
My beloved xenonauts also known as get armor or die in one lucky 150% damage shot from a pistol or I forgor to bring my soldiers loadout
You HAVE to feel sorry for those soldiers though...
If I were one of them and Jon introduced himself as the new CO, I'd consider just shooting myself, save the aliens and Squad mates the effort! 😛
4:04: As an American, I say they can keep him.
Ah yes, XCOM but all of your soldiers are blind drunk, and things are badly explained at best
Crouching mostly prevents your soldiers getting shot in the back by friendly fire, Jon
This was really fun to watch, but yeah, this is just how Xcom is. :D (Not Xcom: EU or Xcom 2, but the much older titles.)
Still dont think i would play this over UFO Defense, but it definitely is super fun and scratches the same itch.
I was hoping Jon would play this and/or Phoenix point.
John, i suggest trying Xenonauts 1, it's the same, but also alot harder considering air combat is there from the start and night fighting is terrifying only being able to use flairs.
Many a True Base. lol nice one
Man, Jon is good at his job lol
Is the researcher Gaius Baltar from Battlestar Galactica?
X-Com MIB would be dope af, so long as they got the humor right.
I deliberately focused on nonlethal equipment in my chimera team so as not to be the Bs that ACAB are. Nonlethal is harder but somewhat useful. from a 'we didn't kill anyone' perspective
This reminds me of police quest swat 2.... ya im old