90
Augmented XCOM is better, although it does not fix some basic flaws. Great the first time you play it. [Dec 2013]
65
Xcom: Enemy Within is a decent expansion to a slightly flawed original.
80
It doesn't fix larger flaws, but it's still a solid expansion. [Jan 2014, p.80]
9
Only after prolonged exposure to XCOM: Enemy Within, a couple of cracks may begin to rear their ugly head. Sometimes there really aren't enough different maps even for a single playthrough. The UFO mini-game **** for a plethora of reasons. Some enemies are too rare, so researching certain upgrades in the foundry is nigh-on impossible. The early game tends to be a bit too punishing, yet the second you get squadsight on a couple of snipers, the pendulum swings too much in the players' favour, etc... But looking at these **** in the context of the entire game, they become nothing more than exactly that... **** in an otherwise fabulous piece of armour. I don't know how this game can throw so much at the player without feeling overwhelming, but it does this dance almost perfectly. It might be the fact that the game takes its time and allows players to strategically think through every single decision they make, both in the base building and combat sections. It might be the fact that no matter what the player decides to build or research, it almost always leads to an increase in their power/player expression. It might be the fact that the difficulty settings actually DO SOMETHING other than just increase the HP and accuracy of enemies, as they have a clear impact on enemy AI and their decision-making capabilities. All of this, coupled with the fact that at any given moment one wrong move can mean the death of your favourite soldier, the withdrawal of a country from the XCOM foundation, or even an entire mission going awry, makes for some of the most enjoyable high-risk, high-reward gameplay I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Do I think that it's kind of dumb that an entire entourage of aliens is just chilling in the fog of war while heavy fire rains all around them, only for me to end my turn by moving one of my soldiers for a single tile, exposing them, and for these enemies to only now become aggro, killing one or two of my soldiers in the process? Yes, absolutely. This leads to me usually playing a bit too passively for my liking and just in general doesn't exactly feel good or fair. But when my biggest problems with a game are a few nitpicks and a game mechanic that the entire game is built around very rarely feeling unfair, I feel no remorse recommending this game to anyone. Especially if you're into turn-based strategy games.
8
This review is for the base game alongside the DLC. It's hard to explain, but XCOM just does everything right; it's not perfect or anything, but I find myself having a hard time pointing out any significant flaws
10
XCOM on itself is a great game a solid 10/10 but this explansion ? Dials fun to the triple!
XCOM: Enemy Within Expansion
Released On:
Nov 11, 2013
Metascore
Generally Favorable
86
User score
Generally Favorable
8.1
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
86
96% Positive
52 Reviews
52 Reviews
4% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 25, 2013
94
This content takes the game to whole new level of interest and challenge. I thought the game was great as it was, but these additions add so much more and further extend my enjoyment of what is a classic game.
Nov 26, 2013
90
Any fan of Enemy Unknown should pick this up without a doubt. The new upgrades are awesome and the new missions and maps keep things fresh well into the 20 hour mark. Fans of strategy games should look into this as well, as it has something for everyone.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.1
80% Positive
680 Ratings
680 Ratings
11% Mixed
97 Ratings
97 Ratings
9% Negative
77 Ratings
77 Ratings
Oct 28, 2024
10
XCOM on itself is a great game a solid 10/10 but this explansion ? Dials fun to the triple!
Jan 31, 2021
10
xcom enemy within long war is probably the king in the turn based strategy games. unparalleled stategic and tactical options, a ton of mods and a magnificent soundtrack. highly recommended for the genre fans
Nov 11, 2013
90
For all the XCOM veterans out there, you'll find a solid amount of new activities to engage in, as well as an unprecedented amount of squad customization. In other words, this is now the definiive Enemy experience.
Dec 13, 2013
85
The developer failed to eradicate all the bugs from the previous game but it doesn’t change the fact that Enemy Within can be honestly recommended both to veterans and those who want to check out a tactical turn-based game for the first time. [13/2013, p.62]
Dec 30, 2013
80
It doesn't fix larger flaws, but it's still a solid expansion. [Jan 2014, p.80]
Nov 12, 2013
80
Makes one of the best tactical games out there even better, but takes the safest road to do so, and loses some challenge in the transformation. Still, it's a great expansion.
Dec 2, 2020
10
greattttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
Feb 22, 2020
7
This game is overrated. Every mission is same essentially. You have to inch your way forward, Otherwise you run into enemy and lose soldier, which is very bad. Most of the time, you meet no one But than one time, if your soldier is even little bit in front and you don't have everyone on overwatch and covering each other you instantly lose. Just because i order one guy to reload. Hits are complete rng, even if you have 85% chance you miss sometimes and whole mission is over, so you have to replay 30 minute mission again. Also there are bugs and qol issues in the game... Also it is one of these games, which are unplayable without wiki, a lot of things is missing specific description and it is unclear. You have to find tech trees and how stuff works, Othewise you will play inefficiently. It is not that hard, but you have to know how things are, so game is unplayable without wiki, which is not fun to google every 5 second something ! These things should be in game specified, so you can easily learn them on the go. Cmon devs it is not that hard... There is in game wiki, but that is just basic info... These things are so obvious from player viewpoint. But devs don't play their own games. So they have no idea about frustrations player face, or other problem in the game. Also it is strategy game, yet a lot of things are rng and some decisions are completely random, because you don't have information: like how hard mission will be, because you want to exp more soldiers, if some die, or become injured. You have no idea what you will face...
Feb 22, 2020
7
The early game of this game in much difficulties, could result as a headache thats result of the unbalanced enemies and the only early strategy, meanwhile you advance on the game, is everytime more balanced and with good path is even easy on impossible. But, the game contains a lot of bugs and errors that wasn´t fixed, and can ruin potencially a challenge like the i/i, much like invisibles shots, teletransportation of the enemie, or the horrible aiming system deployed on the game. The good thing, is an amazing story about supervivence, and action with custom cutscenes that make the game more interesting, also the varity of enemies such as ablitys to our heroes.
Jun 2, 2014
4
This game is trash on PS3 (may be better on other platforms) I'm sorry to say. I mean it is the most fun game I've ever played in my 43 years of life but only when it's working properly. Most of the time the game works ok but when playing a supply barge mission or a terror mission the game crashes like 70-80% of the time. I have to restart system to continue playing. It's gets very frustrating after doing so many times. However, as frustrating as that is it's not nearly as bad as the base defense mission messing up. Base defense mission goes black every single time at beginning of mission after Bradford finishes his speech. It's impossible to continue. It ruins an entire game. It was working well before last patch but now it messes up every single friggin' time. Exalt missions go black at beginning sometimes also. Also, MP mode is 100% broken. I haven't been able to even connect for an online game in 3 or 4 months. I've finally given up on trying. Even when I could connect, there were certain bugs that made game unplayable. Like floaters being able to go to max elevation and remain invisible for the entire game even when they attack. I sent a tweet to both 2k forums and Ananda Gupta (lead designer) regarding these issues and they both ignored me. So... Firaxis and 2k have lost this customer for life. I will also never buy another game with either Gupta's or Jake Solomon's (EU mp mode was never properly supported either) name on it ever again. Since this game is very fun up until base defense mission comes up and ruins game I give it a 4 rating. There's no way I can possibly give it higher than that because base defense mission halts the game and it can't be continued. Maybe XBOX and PC players have better luck but I'm not the only PS3 player that has serious issues with the game. Just check out 2k forums to see the multitude of players that have exact same problems with game. Be careful, though... The moderators there are a joke and give out infractions and bans like they think they're on a power trip or something. LOL.
Nov 24, 2013
4
I can't see how this is classed as an expansion, it is just an add-on. It is the same story line from the base game except now you can have two different types of soldiers. Over priced for what you get, doesn't make the game any better in fact I feel it has made it to easy. The MEC units are just to powerful, the exalt side missions are ok but just add an annoying stream to the game. This is a poor add-on which is just a money making venture, not a whole new story that was hinted at in the lead up promos.
SummaryXCOM: Enemy Within is the expansion to the 2012 strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Enemy Within adds an array of new abilities, upgrades and weapons to combat new enemy and alien threats. This expansion pack also introduces new maps, new tactical and strategic gameplay, and new multiplayer content providing a renewed gameplay experience... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
