Introduction
The tagline of an advertisement would announce that “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen” is the expansion for the critically acclaimed strategy game XCOM 2, offering a slew of new features, enemies, and gameplay mechanics that significantly deepen the experience. For most players, mastering these new elements can be hard, and at times the difficulty curve of the game can become obnoxious. That is where console commands come into play. Console commands give players many capabilities of changing the game settings, spawning resources, or sending characters to the player.
This review will take a deep dive into console commands for “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen.” We will go over their uses and the benefits they bring to the table and discuss how they might augment or detract from gameplay. Furthermore, our in-depth study will focus on some of the best commands available, show you how to use them, and explain the effects they will have on your campaign. Console commands can become a serious execution level to getting past tricky missions, playing around with game mechanics, or just having a merry time.
Console Commands in XCOM 2
In XCOM 2, console commands have various uses. For some players, the commands are a way to overcome hard portions of the game or recover from a bad setback. For others, however, commands serve as a tool for experimentation; these players want to test scenarios or builds for soldiers or strategies without risking losing progress. Usually, they prevent the commands from being used to fix a bug or glitch that would otherwise hamper their enjoyment of the game.
Cheating vs. Experimenting:
Perhaps one of the aspects of using console commands is the cheating versus experimenting. Many players may use one to cheat (such as giving themselves unlimited resources or invincible soldiers), while others may use them to experiment with the game in different ways, such as trying new strategies or soldier builds. It all depends on how these commands are used: to get around the difficulty or help better understand how the mechanics work.”
Modifications for replayability:
The mod is known for replayability since every campaign throws different challenges thanks to their procedural generation and based on player choices throughout the game. Console commands enhance replayability by allowing the player to mix up their experiences by setting difficulty, tweaking one aspect of the game, or designing custom scenarios. This level of customization keeps the game exciting for those who have played through several campaigns.
Debugging and Bug Fixing:
Like many complex games, XCOM 2 is bugged. Console commands can be a tool of good use to fix these issues on the fly. Resetting a mission that glitched, fixing a stuck camera, or fixing an issue with soldier abilities are just a few examples that the commands can help with and provide a degree of flexibility to reduce the player’s frustration and smooth out the gaming experience.
How To Access Console Commands
Before getting into console commands for various functions, it is imperative to understand how to access them in XCOM 2.
Enabling the Console:
To access console commands, a player has to enable the console. This is normally done by adding a command line to the game’s launch parameters. Most Steam users would right-click the game in the library, go to Properties, and then add -allowconsole into the launch options. By so doing, it would enable the console within the game and then pressing the tilde key (~) would bring up the console during gameplay.
Using the Console:
With the console enabled, the player can open it during gameplay and enter instructions for different functions to execute. Commands are case-sensitive and must be spelled exactly for a command to work. Some commands may require parameters (such as a soldier’s name or type of resource), so it is critical to know how each command works before using it.
Some Essential Console Commands
The “War of the Chosen” offers a broad variety of console commands, and the purpose of each can differ. Below is a rundown of the most crucial and commonly used console commands, connected with the uses that can benefit you while playing.
Resource and Economy Commands
Resources are among the key components that would ensure XCOM 2’s bad guys win and that the player somehow had time to balance resources. However, there are times when players find themselves in a tight spot, with very few resources in their bags. Console commands can be the way out, supplying the player with additional supplies and intel one way or another.
AddResource [ResourceType] [Amount]:
This command gives the player an inventory of a certain amount of a particular resource. Replace [ResourceType] by the resource required-type (e.g., Supplies, Intel, EleriumDust), and replace [Amount] with the amount you want.
Example: AddResource Supplies 500 would add 500 supplies to your inventory.
GiveTech [TechName]:
It instantly completes research on a specified technology. This comes in handy if you want to quickly bypass the tech tree or unlock a specific upgrade.
Example: GiveTech MagneticWeapons will instantly complete research of Magnetic Weapons.
SetStratagyFacilitiesSuperSpedUp:
The command greatly reduces the time required to build any facilities in your base, thus allowing you to complete construction projects immediately.
The above commands come in handy for a player who experiments with multiple base layouts or is stuck during a resource crunch that could derail his campaign otherwise.
Soldier Management Commands
Soldiers form the very backbone of your XCOM forces, managing their abilities, stats, and equipment for ultimate success. Console commands grant you several ways to modify and manage your soldiers better.
GiveSoldier [FirstName] [LastName] [Stat] [Amount]:
This command is to adjust any of a soldier’s stats, such as aim, health, or will. Type in [Stat] for whatever stat you want to change and [Amount] for the value you want to add.
Example: GiveSoldier John Doe Aim 10 adds 10 aim points to the soldier named John Doe.
MakeSoldierAClass [FirstName] [LastName] [Class]:
Change this soldier’s class to another, customizing your squad composition with this command.
Example: MakeSoldierAClass Jane Smith Ranger changes Jane Smith’s class to Ranger.
HealSoldier [FirstName] [LastName]:
Instantly heals the soldier and removes all injuries, allowing him or her to become full-health.
Example: HealSoldier John Doe makes sure that the soldier named John Doe is completely healed.
With these commands, players can customize their soldiers to fit their custom form of play, making sure they have the right team for every mission.
Mission and Gameplay Commands
Sometimes, missions in XCOM 2, become a bit overwhelming with the pressing competition, and the player might need an extra hand. The console commands allow one to affect mission outcomes and gameplay scenarios.
KillAllAliens:
This command kills all alien enemies on the current map of the mission thus completing the mission instantly. It is an extreme measure when you think about it; however, it can stand in really well if you ever get stuck in a bugged mission or simply want to go past a really hard encounter.
LevelUpBarracks [Rank]:
Promotes all soldiers in your barracks instantly to the rank specified. Replace [Rank] with the rank you want to promote to (e.g., Squaddie, Sergeant, Colonel).
Example: LevelUpBarracks Colonel promotes all soldiers to Colonel rank.
ForceCompleteObjective [ObjectiveID]:
The command locks the specified objective to be completed immediately so that you can skip various parts of a mission or finish it early. Replace [ObjectiveID] with the ID of the objective you wish to complete.
These commands come in handy for players with an emphasis on the strategic layer of the game, or when trying to bypass the tougher missions to push forward in the campaign.
Advanced Console Commands
Stepping even further into customization and manipulation, a set of advanced console commands is offered in the game. These commands give you intricate control over the mechanics of the game and allow for the creation of custom scenarios or major modifications.
Creating Custom Scenarios
One of the coolest things to do with console commands is setup an entire custom scenario. Using all kinds of tricks, players can customize the mission conditions, kits for their squads, or even several parameters for the enemies they’re facing.
SpawnSoldier [Class]:
Spawns a new soldier of the class specified in your barracks. Replace [Class] with your class of choice (Ranger, Grenadier, and so on).
Example: SpawnSoldier Sharpshooter spawns a new Sharpshooter in your barracks.
SpawnAlien [AlienType]:
This particular command would spawn an alien enemy of the chosen type onto the current mission map. Replace [AlienType] with whichever alien you want (e.g., Sectoid, Muton).
For instance, SpawnAlien Sectoid will spawn a Sectoid onto the current mission map.
SetRngSeed [Seed]:
This command determines the game’s random number generator seed, letting you manipulate the results of some events. Useful for testing a variety of circumstances or making sure something happens in a very special way.
These commands allow players to create custom missions, go through the strategies by themselves, or just try out the different game conditions.
Debugging and Troubleshooting
Console commands can be useful in the debugging and troubleshooting arena for “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen.” Given the nature of the game, a player might encounter quite a few bugs and glitches at times in which their experience could be disrupted. Luckily, there are a handful of commands that can resolve these issues without asking the inconvenience of restarting the game or loading an earlier save.
TacticalShortCircuit:
It ends the active tactical mission by failing it. At first opportunity, it might seem like a worthless command; else, it is a bread-and-butter command to be used when a mission is bugged and cannot continue. In this fashion, players can skip the mission and return to the strategic layer without any reload being forced upon them.
RestartLevel:
This command restarts the current mission and loads it from scratch. This is useful when you want to restart a mission that has glitched or simply start from scratch without having to go back to an earlier save file. This essentially can save you in cases where the auto-save might have saved in a state that was compromised.
SetStrategyFacilitiesInstantBuild:
If you ever have trouble with building facilities in your Avenger base, this command will force instant completion of all facilities. It is thus useful if construction has become stuck or glitched, if construction is simply taking too long due to some issue.
FixSoldierAbilities:
Sometimes the unfortunate soldier may experience his abilities not working correctly. This command refreshes and repairs all the soldiers’ abilities, so that they work accordingly.
GiveAllTechAndWeapons:
If you notice technology or weapon research not proceeding correctly, this command will immediately unlock every technology and weapon in the game. It probably is considered overkill for small bugs, but it surely is the guaranteed way of making sure bugs do not slow down your progress.
Such commands are pivotal for the players who get caught in bugs later in a campaign, where going back or losing some progress is rather hurtful. The console commands provide instant remedies for the common issues, thus facilitating the uninterrupted flow of the game and letting the player continue their campaigns with as little disruption as possible.
The Ethical Question: To Cheat or Not to Cheat?
While console commands present customizations and controls over the “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen” experience, an ethical question arises: can players use those for an advantage in the game? In the end, it is a very personal decision, depending on the sort of experience the player wishes to embrace. Playing for Fun: If a player is generally more interested in the story, going through different mechanics, or simply enjoying him or herself without paying too much attention to challenge, then he or she must consider console commands to be a helpful tool. The commands allow adaptation to the player’s needs, for easier gameplay, perhaps to test out alternative builds, or just to mess around with a bunch of invulnerable soldiers.
Maintaining the Challenge: In contrast, if you consider strategy and skill important and wish to meet the challenge and obstacles, console commands will lessen the experience. Triumphs through cheating do not satisfy the conscience of a truly hard fight. For such players, the inherent lure of using console commands almost has to be checked with the knowledge that doing so would diminish what probably is the major selling point of “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen”—that intense tactical challenge.
Finding a Balance: Plugging in the use of console commands is really a matter of preference. Many players find the right balance by using commands only in rare cases when recovering from major setbacks or just wanting to try game mechanics before fully committing to placing them in a full campaign. Other players might save console commands for the second run where they can interact more with various facets of the game than the outright challenge itself.
Conclusion: The Value of Console Commands in “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen”
“XCOM 2: War of the Chosen” provides a deep yet rather challenging experience that is offered to treat strategy game enthusiasts. The challenge itself disappears into the complexity almost; sometimes, new players find it overwhelming or hit with unexpected difficult challenges. Console commands serve a useful purpose when it comes to managing that difficulty, granting the player the ability to customize the experience, bounce back from setbacks, and simply experiment with the game’s mechanics.
Everything from resource manipulation to soldier management, fixing bugs, or even building custom scenarios-deliberately or inadvertently-have been used as ways to enrich the gameplay experience. They do enable cheating, but they also allow for genuine study and experimentation where players can engage the game in the manner they desire.
In the end, console commands in “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen” seem to exist somewhat in complement to one another. On one hand, they make the game accessible and enjoyable; however, on the other, they can diminish the core challenge of the game. Whether console commands are used as a crutch, for experimentation, or as a bypass to bugs is, ultimately, up to the user’s preference, depending on how they want to experience this deep-layered strategy game. Ultimately, console commands are very much a part of the XCOM 2 experience, bringing a level of control and customization that can only enhance the longevity and replayability of the game for many people.