UFO: Aftermath, anyone playing it?

Cafe Society
1

A search didn’t reveal any previous topics on this, so I hope I’m not duplicating anything. I picked up this game a few weeks ago, and I’ve been playing it on and off. The game is a sort-of-sequel to the X-com series, in that it has some of the same feel and story elements, but wasn’t done by the same people.

For anyone not familiar with it, the official site is here. The basic story is that the earth has recently been devestated by some sort of alien biological attack, and the player is the head of an elite squad working for one of the few organized remnants of humanity. Much like X-com, you have to go on missions to secure territory, establish bases, capture aliens, etc. Along the way, you have to research what the aliens are up to, their technology, how to get rid of them, etc.

There are a lot of similarities to the X-com series, but a lot of differences as well. Money doesn’t exist, given that 90% of mankind was wiped out, so there’s no selling stuff, or trying to get backing from the world’s (non-existent) nations. Instead, you have limited resources in terms of equipment which you have to augment through successful missions, and a limited ability to manufacture new weapons that you develop through research.

Anyway, I’m having a good bit of fun with the game, though it’s having to compete with Diablo II for my time lately. The graphics are great, and I really enjoy the tactical combat. The research and development aspects really remind me of the great bits of X-com. I’m even enjoying not having to deal with the base micro-management, like inventories and shuffling recruits around. Is there anyone else out there playing this game? What do you think of it?

2

Please don’t play with my emotions. I’ve not been happy with an X-Com game since the first one.

I remember playing it on my PC in my high school dorm room…with the lights out…damn. That was one scary game. Between the alien scream, and the sound of Chryssalids stalking you…shudder

sorry. anyway, I’ve given up on the concept…it’s been mangled by the sequel, the flight sim, the first person shooter (was this ever even made?) and the travest of apocalypse, where all of the ‘improved’ elements ruined the game.

3

I probably should have mentioned in the OP, but there’s a demo available. I don’t know how much of the game it includes.

4

I’ve played it some. I was a big fan of the original xcom.

First of all, you must play on hard. Hard setting is definitely harder than other settings. Any other setting is just too cheezy in my opinion.

The game isn’t great. It doesn’t suck either. In fact, it is quite good, in my opinion.

You do need to get past the start though. The game plays much different from Xcom. At first, it fails to impress. However, if you give it time, the game gets better and it grows on you (at least me)

Xcom folks – this game is worth buying. Trust me in that you may feel let down at first but give it a chance. It is quite a good game IMO.

Once you get used to the tactical combat system, it grows on you. If you like turn based, like me, then you can use the ‘real-time’ combat system like turn based. In fact, it is turn based in that soldiers require time to do actions. If you put the speed on slow during combat, it really does feel turn based. Advantage is also that when you need to look for aliens when mopping up then you can jack the speed on high and search the map.

Combat is much harder than Xcom. Soldier skill matters quite a bit but you will have no super rambos like Xcom. Alien soldiers can be quite tough and there is strength in numbers. In Xcom, after you research plasma weapons and have armor, combat was easy. UFO aftermath combat is a nail biter and you can lose soldiers like dropping flies if you are not careful or unlucky.

Tactical hint - especially on the hard setting (which is all you should play even when you first play IMO) – gernades. Love em - use em. They are not like gernades in Xcom. Grenadier is a perfectly valid soldier in UFO:Aftermath.

In conclusion, this game is worth getting for old Xcom fans. It will not cause the splash for you that Xcom did but I enjoy playing it. Buy it, play it and give it a chance. You probably will like it.

5

I don’t know about playing on hard from the very beginning. I’m getting enough of a challenge from Normal. The combat in this game is lethal. It’s very easy to lose a couple of soldiers in just a couple of seconds, especially against the intelligent aliens. I haven’t gotten all that far in the game precisely because of this.

I’ll definitely echo the comment about grenades, though. Absolutely beautiful things, especially in early game. My favorite is the grenade launcher, though. All the beauty of grenades, at long range.

The thing I really like about the game is the inlcusion of all the human weapons. The differing ammo types actually have an effect on the game.

6

it’s good to know i’m not the only one spooked by a turn based game ^^’

(and i’m not easily spooked, the only others being AvP and the early haunted mansion in Undying.)

7

Undying scared the bejezus out of me. Especially when you went in that Spookyvision thing and saw the paintings were all bloody and weird.

8

I think turn based is scarier. After you take your turn you are helpless as the aliens take theirs. You have to sit there and watch and listen.

9

I tried the demo and thought the controls really sucked ass. Maybe it’s improved in the retail version…

10

What about the controls didn’t you like? I’ll admit they’re not perfect, but I haven’t had too much trouble with them.

I think the thing I miss the most in this game is some ability to automatically have a soldier shoot at an alien if it comes into view. I know you can have the game pause and center on the newly discovered alien, at which point you can command the guy to shoot, but I still miss it. Ah, well.

Had my entire squad mowed down by an alien with some high power laser or plasma weapon the other day. Knocked me back to my previous save, which was more than I cared to deal with at the time. I need to get back to that game.

11

I downloaded the demo, but I get an all-black display when I run it, though I can hear music and menu sounds.

12

sounds like a bug that many demos have with monitors set at high refresh rates. I’d try going to Control Panel and lowering your monitor refresh rate down to 65 or 70 if it isn’t already.

ymmv

btw you guys missed a huge X-Com thread a month or so ago. perhaps a clever searcher might find and link to it. My hamsters are tired.

<S>

13

I’ve run into the problem before, and that’s why my monitor is already set at 60 Hz.

I can probably get it to run windowed, that’s what I had to do to play the XIII demo. I really need a new monitor (video card is a GF4 Ti4400).

14

I’ve been playing this. I wouldn’t say it’s a new classic but I think it’s certainly worth the money. Fun …

15

i just fed my hamster muffins. are you refering to this one? X-Com: UFO Defense(Old game)

Scryeeeee… that set the tone even before i went in the house.

16

Thanks shijinn. That thread certainly had a lot of life to it, and made me remember some ‘good times’ in the old game. I intend on trying out the demo of Aftermath.