Games: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Published on 21/10/2012 00:00

Due to their format, turn-based tactical titles are usually a slow-paced plod to victory rather than a high octane shoot ’em up.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

2K Games, PC/PS3/Xbox 360, £29.99-£37.99 (depending on format)

In this remake of 1994’s UFO: Enemy Unknown, you control an international strike force tasked with protecting the world from extraterrestrial insurgents, and somehow XCOM manages to imbue the action with a shot of adrenaline. It’s so slick and user-friendly that the turn-based format just ups the tension as you nervously await your enemy’s reaction to your latest move. The combat is complemented by some sharp cinematics that bring a rare dynamism to the genre. All the while, back at your underground base, you’ll be micromanaging your research and resources, juggling your budgets, upgrading your army and carrying out alien autopsies. The level of control and the sharp presentation makes XCOM one of the most exciting and satisfying strategy games in years.

Henry Northmore